Did you ever wonder what the other disciples were thinking?

Jesus tells them all to get into the boat and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee while he dismisses the crowds. These crowds are the over 5000 people who dined on the 5 loaves and 2 fish.

The disciples must have been rather tired that evening to say the least. They had been stressed out about what to do with the massive crowds as it got to be supper time. If they had their choice, they would have sent everyone home. But Jesus told them to give them something to eat ...

So what could they do but try to distribute the little that they had... even as they wondered amongst themselves what would happen with the crowd when they ran out of food. They knew that a hungry crowd could quickly become an angry crowd. And 5000 people were no match for this small band of disciples.

Nevertheless, Nathaniel and Bartholomew, Matthew and Andrew, Judas and John and the rest did as Jesus commanded and fed the people. And from that little, there was enough. There was more than enough. The people were filled and there were leftovers to collect - 12 baskets full.

Perhaps seeing their fatigue - and also maybe knowing that they had something they needed to talk about, Jesus tells them, "Okay - you go on ahead, I'll dismiss the crowds." And they get into the boat to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

They row through the night. This day just doesn't seem to end. The Sea of Galilee is 8 miles wide, the wind is against them, and the waves are battering against the sides of the boat. Finally, past midnight, in the glow of the moon's gaze, one of the disciples looks out and sees something coming towards them...

"Hey do you see that?" "What do you think it is?" "Is it another boat?" "No - it's not a boat...it looks like a person...walking...on the water...and it's coming closer to us!"

Terrified, they exclaim, "It's a ghost!"

But this ghost talks. And its voice sounds familiar rather than frightening. Jesus says to them, "It's me. Don't be afraid."

The disciples look at each other. Could it be? Could it be Jesus walking on water? Sure he's done other miracles - he's healed the sick, he even calmed the sea once before, and I don't know how those 5 loaves and 2 fish multiplied ...but I've never seen him actually walking on water, have you? Could he do that?

Peter can't help himself. Drawn to the voice of Jesus, he says, "There's only one way to find out...I'm going out there! Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."

And Jesus calls Peter. Jesus says simply, "Come."

Responding to the call, Peter does a truly amazing thing. He fixes his eyes on Jesus, and stands up even as the boat continues to toss and turn beneath him and the waves rise up against it. He puts his hands on the edge of the boat to try to steady himself a bit and then he puts one leg over the edge and into the sea.

Now that's pretty amazing in itself. I wonder if he paused before moving his other leg. Or if he second thoughts as he let go of the edge of the boat completely. But he doesn't stop, he continues. And still looking at Jesus, Peter begins to walk towards him.

Did you ever wonder what the other disciples were thinking?
"Is he crazy?"
"That's my brother - doing something foolish again."
"Does he know how to swim?"
"Anybody have a rope - we're going to have to get him out of there soon!"

And then Peter falters. He stops focusing on Jesus, looks around, notices the wind and the waves, and begins to sink.

The disciples back in the boat continue,
"I told you so!"
"He should've known better!"
"What was he thinking?"

As Peter begins to sink, he cries out in a confession of faith, "Lord, save me!" Jesus reaches out his hand, catches him, and says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

And the disciples continue,
"Did you hear what Jesus said?"
"He said that he had little faith!"
"I would never have gotten out of the boat!"
"No way - me neither!"
"It was safer here - didn't I tell you?"
"I knew the storm would pass!"
"Little faith - yep that's right - that's Peter!"
"He sank like a rock - just like a rock!"

But you see, this isn't the first time - or the last time - that Jesus tells his followers that they are people of little faith. In fact in the gospel of Matthew it seems that it's one of the favorite phrases Jesus has to describe his disciples.i

Jesus tells his disciples not to worry about clothing. "Look at the lilies of the field...if God so clothes the grass.. will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith?" (Matt 6:28-30)

Or when a different storm comes up on the Sea of Galilee and Jesus is sleeping in the back of the boat. The disciples frantically wake him up and tell him to do something! He says, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" (Matt 8:23-26)

Or later, when they forget to bring bread along on a journey and they worry they might run out. Jesus says, "You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand?" (Matt 16:5-10)

You see, it seems that they - Peter - might have just a little faith...but that just a little faith is enough. After all, just a little faith - the size of a mustard seed -- is enough to move mountains.

Just a little faith is enough to get Peter to stand up in the midst of the tossing and turning of life beneath him.

Just a little faith is enough to get Peter to consider that Jesus is calling him - calling him to leave the relative safety of the boat, to leave his friends and family and step out over the edge to follow the call.

Just a little faith is enough to get Peter to begin walking toward Jesus.

And when he begins to sink, just a little faith is enough to get Peter to cry out in a confession of faith, "Lord you are the one who can save me."

So like the disciples perhaps, we can rag on Peter for faltering...but no one else got out of the boat. No one else heard Jesus tell them to "Come" to him. No one else took the risk to respond to the call. And therefore, no one else had the opportunity to mess up and then realize that only God could save them.

When the disciples got back to their families, I wonder... Did they tell them the story of how Peter with his little faith sunk - like a rock? Or did they tell them the story of how Peter with his little faith stepped out and was saved by Jesus?

...You know, a different gospel - the gospel of John -- has later story about Peter and the disciples in a boat on the sea. This one takes place after the resurrection and Jesus appears at a distance like he did before and like what happened earlier, the disciples don't recognize him at first.

This time, when Peter hears that it's Jesus he once again goes into the water. But this time he doesn't try to walk. This time he jumps in - both feet at once. And rushes toward Jesus.

Just a little faith is what Peter has.

And just a little faith is enough to get out of the boat.