Matthew 14 begins with the account of the beheading of John the Baptizer. When news of this reaches Jesus, He wanted some alone time to mourn and pray. However, a large crowd found and followed Him. The compassion of our Lord led Him to set aside His own needs and take care of the people, healing many of them. Then the disciples told Jesus to send them away because they needed to eat and there was no way to feed that crowd. Jesus simply blessed the meager supply of food they had and fed more than 5000 people until they were satisfied.

Right after this, Jesus sent the disciples in a boat to go ahead of Him to the other side of the lake. Then He went and had His alone time. The boat was having a hard time crossing the lake because to the wind. Then they saw Jesus walking on the water, and thought the worst. They thought they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus identified Himself. Peter wanted to know for sure, so he said, “If it is you, invite me to walk out there and join you!” Jesus offered the invitation, and Peter went out. He was walking on the water toward Jesus. Then we read these words.

Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

One of the thoughts I have always had when I read these words is, “Why don’t we call him ‘Doubting Peter?’  He was chided for doubting just like Thomas was after the resurrection, but he wasn’t saddled with that label like Thomas was.”

But something else occurred to me recently when I heard these words read in church. It says Peter “saw the wind.” I know this may be splitting hairs, but you cannot see the wind. You can see the things the wind blows around and you can feel the wind when you are in it, but you cannot see the wind. You can certainly see the effect of the wind. A few weeks ago we had a big storm and saw the rain going sideways. Afterwards, my neighbor’s grill that belongs on her porch was out in the yard. The slide was ripped off the playground I built for my grandkids. And our heavy metal gate was pushed the wrong direction, ruining it and our gate opener. I saw the effects of the wind, but not the wind itself.

This led me to think about the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. It it interesting that the Hebrew word for “spirit” is also the word for “wind.” And just as you cannot see the wind, we cannot see the Holy Spirit. But we can certainly see the effect He has. His power is evident. He led people to write God’s Word so we could have it still today.

2 Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

He works through the Word and Sacraments to lead people to faith.

1 Corinthians 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 12:3 no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

If it were not for the Holy Spirit, I would not have known that Jesus died to pay for my sin and earn my forgiveness. If the Spirit had not worked in me, I would never have believed in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I cannot “see” the Holy Spirit, but He is just as real as the wind. And I am grateful that His power is at work in me.