Peter of the New Testament was truly just an ignorant fisherman. No education in the ways of the world, especially an education of spirituality or an awareness thereof. Living his life pretty much "asleep" and reacting to whatever came his way. He was then awoken to a life that can't be described by a simple invitation of Jesus of Nazereth. "Come Follow Me" was the invitation and choice was given for Peter to stay asleep or to wake up, be born again and to be raised from the dead. He chose a Master to follow and in doing so woke himself up to a new perception, a new life, a new world; one that would shake his very core and test him in ways he could never imagine.
Jesus taught Peter and others of this new kingdom, doing it in a way that was truly awesome. I can only imagine how many times Peter just stood there wide mouthed and speechless at what was shown and taught him. There were many occasions that Jesus showed and taught Peter but I want to focus on one in particular instance. I believe a truly powerful one.
I want you to imagine being in a boat with the Apostles of Jesus. Just sitting and observing what is happening and not engaging. Listening to the conversations, feeling the air, smelling the smells of a fishing boat, seeing what is around that makes the moment fully enjoyable and content. Then suddenly one of the men goes to the edge of the boat and brings attention to something out a ways a way on the water. Everyone then turns their attention to whatever it is and perspectives are thrown about. The peaceful situation turns somewhat frantic when someone suggests its an evil spirit and the group's fear peaks. You come to the edge of the boat as well and you can hear it speaking, and the group quiets to be able to hear what it is that "it" is it saying. An instant peace comes over the boat once it is recognized as Jesus...but he is on top of the water walking! One more mouth-dropping experience to add to the list, I am sure. Even you can not take your eyes off of Jesus. Your thoughts, like everyone else's, I am sure, swimming with every possible explanation. Then Peter speaks up and wants to come out to Jesus, to walk on water as Jesus is. A pin could drop and deafen everyone for how quiet and locked everyone is on what is going on. Jesus stretches out his arms and tells Peter to come to Him. Peter, with a look of a child wanting to run to his father, steps out of the boat and to the shock of everyone, starts to walk on the water! Then something shifts in his countenance and he sinks. No one knows what fear arose in his mind, but it stopped him from continuing. You watch as Jesus helps him up and into the boat then climbs in Himself.
Where is the power in this story? Could it be that Peter had enough faith to walk on water? Yes, there is so much power in that faith to go beyond what one would consider possible. But I would ask you to consider the power behind the fact that Jesus believed in Peter. Jesus invited the god within Peter to show itself. And it did. Jesus knew Peter was a god.
Peter had moments from time to time where the god-within appeared and manifested, but to the frustration of Jesus it didn't happen to the potential Jesus knew it could be. Something had to happen for Peter to progress even further. Jesus as Peter's master was blocking his progression because Peter was always looking to Jesus and never truly allowing himself to move into the teacher/master mode that Jesus knew he could be. It took Jesus to die for this to happen. Jesus Himself needed to move on in His progression for Peter to move into his. This was the block of the master.
We all have these "Masters" that we follow, looking for guidance and insight to help ourselves on our paths. They may be in the form of books, teachers, gurus, retreats, camps, etc. But there comes a time that we have the knowledge to move on but the master blocks us for the mere fact that it is a master. We have to let the master go and move in to being the master ourselves. Now this doesn't always mean that we become masters of others, but it most definitely means becoming the master of ones "Self", our higher selves. To step into the shoes of those we follow and "be" what we are meant to be....Masters.
Jesus taught Peter and others of this new kingdom, doing it in a way that was truly awesome. I can only imagine how many times Peter just stood there wide mouthed and speechless at what was shown and taught him. There were many occasions that Jesus showed and taught Peter but I want to focus on one in particular instance. I believe a truly powerful one.
I want you to imagine being in a boat with the Apostles of Jesus. Just sitting and observing what is happening and not engaging. Listening to the conversations, feeling the air, smelling the smells of a fishing boat, seeing what is around that makes the moment fully enjoyable and content. Then suddenly one of the men goes to the edge of the boat and brings attention to something out a ways a way on the water. Everyone then turns their attention to whatever it is and perspectives are thrown about. The peaceful situation turns somewhat frantic when someone suggests its an evil spirit and the group's fear peaks. You come to the edge of the boat as well and you can hear it speaking, and the group quiets to be able to hear what it is that "it" is it saying. An instant peace comes over the boat once it is recognized as Jesus...but he is on top of the water walking! One more mouth-dropping experience to add to the list, I am sure. Even you can not take your eyes off of Jesus. Your thoughts, like everyone else's, I am sure, swimming with every possible explanation. Then Peter speaks up and wants to come out to Jesus, to walk on water as Jesus is. A pin could drop and deafen everyone for how quiet and locked everyone is on what is going on. Jesus stretches out his arms and tells Peter to come to Him. Peter, with a look of a child wanting to run to his father, steps out of the boat and to the shock of everyone, starts to walk on the water! Then something shifts in his countenance and he sinks. No one knows what fear arose in his mind, but it stopped him from continuing. You watch as Jesus helps him up and into the boat then climbs in Himself.
Where is the power in this story? Could it be that Peter had enough faith to walk on water? Yes, there is so much power in that faith to go beyond what one would consider possible. But I would ask you to consider the power behind the fact that Jesus believed in Peter. Jesus invited the god within Peter to show itself. And it did. Jesus knew Peter was a god.
Peter had moments from time to time where the god-within appeared and manifested, but to the frustration of Jesus it didn't happen to the potential Jesus knew it could be. Something had to happen for Peter to progress even further. Jesus as Peter's master was blocking his progression because Peter was always looking to Jesus and never truly allowing himself to move into the teacher/master mode that Jesus knew he could be. It took Jesus to die for this to happen. Jesus Himself needed to move on in His progression for Peter to move into his. This was the block of the master.
We all have these "Masters" that we follow, looking for guidance and insight to help ourselves on our paths. They may be in the form of books, teachers, gurus, retreats, camps, etc. But there comes a time that we have the knowledge to move on but the master blocks us for the mere fact that it is a master. We have to let the master go and move in to being the master ourselves. Now this doesn't always mean that we become masters of others, but it most definitely means becoming the master of ones "Self", our higher selves. To step into the shoes of those we follow and "be" what we are meant to be....Masters.