Following Jesus is not safe or easy.

Jesus taught that following him was not safe or easy.

Matthew 14:25-33 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." 28 Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Peter goes through a range of emotions here that aren't unlike many of our spiritual journeys.  We start out not really knowing who Jesus is and he scares us a little.  Then at some point many of us have said, "If you are real... prove it" and we hop out of the boat excited to get to walk on water with Jesus, the rock star.  But we hadn't noticed that following Jesus means a difficult life... lots of strong wind... lots of scary stuff.  And so we go back to being afraid and start to sink.  Peter shows us we can cry out "Lord save me!" And Jesus pulls us to safety.  But he doesn't coddle us... he says, "Why are you doubting?"  In other words, "Pull yourself together.  Remember who you are and who I am!"  This is the same Peter whom Jesus will later ask to "Feed his sheep" - to shepherd Jesus' followers.  What most people forget is that Jesus asks Peter to do this right after telling Peter that he will die a humiliating death if he follows Jesus.   And Peter wants to follow him anyway - he expresses his love for Jesus and agrees to tend to Jesus' flock.  But right out of the gate Peter fails big time and denys he even knows Jesus.  And yet, Peter is the rock of the church... and Jesus doesn't give up on him, but uses him - despite his flaws - to build his kingdom... all because Peter wanted to be used.

Do we ignore what Jesus' taught Peter... that following Jesus is not going to be safe or easy.  Do we still want to follow him anyway?