His gait on that edge of steep slope proved his rider to be a reckless cowboy for whom no heights or depths had terrors.”
–Zane Grey (The Mysterious Rider)
“The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is over many waters.”
“The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is over many waters.”
–Psalm 29:3 (NKJV)
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Jesus, after feeding and preaching to the five thousand had His disciples depart in a boat and He would meet them later on the other side. He would go away and pray for a while. There must have been some haste for Matthew records, “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side while He sent the multitudes away.” (14:22, NKJV) He would send the crowd away, but he wanted them to leave immediately.
There is so much to this story. It was out in the sea, a dark night, and the winds arose. It was the fourth watch meaning that it was between 3:00-6:00 in the morning. Jesus was somewhere out on a mountainside praying when the winds arose. I like the concern that William Barclay gives the story. “Jesus looked from the mountainside out across the lake. The lake was only four miles across at that point, and in the light of the moon it lay stretched out before Him. The wind was up and He saw the boat, with His men in it, having a hard struggle to reach the other side… Immediately Jesus saw His friends in trouble and His own problems were set aside; the moment for prayer was past; the time for action had come; He forgot Himself and went to the help of His friends. That is of the very essence of Jesus. The cry of human need to Him surpassed all other claims. His friends needed Him; He must go.” (capitalization of deity is mine)
Before He reached them the disciples saw a figure approaching the boat. They cried out in fear; they said it was a ghost. Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” (14:27, NKJV) Literally this could be interpreted as, “It is I am; do not be afraid.” The I AM, the great God of creation was walking in the midst of the sea. Then comes the cry of Peter.
“And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”
–Matthew 14:28-32 (NKJV)
I have heard many sermons on this topic, and I cannot recall one where Peter is not criticized. When he began to sink beneath the waves, the critics raise their voice at his little faith. Yet not one has repeated his feat. Where was Andrew? Why didn’t Simon or Nathaniel walk out on the water? Or even more where were the “Sons of Thunder” with their faith? Should they not have walked beside Peter?
When the winds assailed Jesus commanded Peter to “Come.” Peter obeyed. The key, which Peter learned, was that in the midst of life–all that it may bring–we must keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the “author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV) Obedience, we must remember and learn, is doing what Jesus says and then faith is taking the step. Obedience and faith, they go together.
“Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.”
–J.H. Sammis
Mark Driscoll wrote, “Fear will sink you. When Peter had faith, he walked on water. When he had fear, he sank in the water. The same is true for you. Fear will sink you.” In all situations and issues of life we need to have faith. Fear is detrimental, but faith brings the victory. And notice that Jesus didn’t say that Peter didn’t have faith, but he had little faith. There are dangers all around–pestilence, war, inflation, famine in some areas, terror, the unknown, and myriad others–don’t sink in the midst of them. Don’t let their waves overcome you. Keep your eyes upon Jesus–learn the lesson that faith requires focus.
Oh, and by the way, I don’t think that Jesus drug Peter to the water back to the boat. They walked back together, arms around each other’s shoulders. And then, only when Jesus and Peter stepped back into the boat did the winds cease. Augustine wrote, “He came treading the waves; and so he puts all the swelling tumults of life under his feet. Christians–why afraid?” To focus and walk with Christ will cause us not to notice the winds and waves and we will find peace in the midst of the storms of life.
———————————–
Jesus, after feeding and preaching to the five thousand had His disciples depart in a boat and He would meet them later on the other side. He would go away and pray for a while. There must have been some haste for Matthew records, “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side while He sent the multitudes away.” (14:22, NKJV) He would send the crowd away, but he wanted them to leave immediately.
There is so much to this story. It was out in the sea, a dark night, and the winds arose. It was the fourth watch meaning that it was between 3:00-6:00 in the morning. Jesus was somewhere out on a mountainside praying when the winds arose. I like the concern that William Barclay gives the story. “Jesus looked from the mountainside out across the lake. The lake was only four miles across at that point, and in the light of the moon it lay stretched out before Him. The wind was up and He saw the boat, with His men in it, having a hard struggle to reach the other side… Immediately Jesus saw His friends in trouble and His own problems were set aside; the moment for prayer was past; the time for action had come; He forgot Himself and went to the help of His friends. That is of the very essence of Jesus. The cry of human need to Him surpassed all other claims. His friends needed Him; He must go.” (capitalization of deity is mine)
Before He reached them the disciples saw a figure approaching the boat. They cried out in fear; they said it was a ghost. Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” (14:27, NKJV) Literally this could be interpreted as, “It is I am; do not be afraid.” The I AM, the great God of creation was walking in the midst of the sea. Then comes the cry of Peter.
“And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”
–Matthew 14:28-32 (NKJV)
I have heard many sermons on this topic, and I cannot recall one where Peter is not criticized. When he began to sink beneath the waves, the critics raise their voice at his little faith. Yet not one has repeated his feat. Where was Andrew? Why didn’t Simon or Nathaniel walk out on the water? Or even more where were the “Sons of Thunder” with their faith? Should they not have walked beside Peter?
When the winds assailed Jesus commanded Peter to “Come.” Peter obeyed. The key, which Peter learned, was that in the midst of life–all that it may bring–we must keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the “author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV) Obedience, we must remember and learn, is doing what Jesus says and then faith is taking the step. Obedience and faith, they go together.
“Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.”
–J.H. Sammis
Mark Driscoll wrote, “Fear will sink you. When Peter had faith, he walked on water. When he had fear, he sank in the water. The same is true for you. Fear will sink you.” In all situations and issues of life we need to have faith. Fear is detrimental, but faith brings the victory. And notice that Jesus didn’t say that Peter didn’t have faith, but he had little faith. There are dangers all around–pestilence, war, inflation, famine in some areas, terror, the unknown, and myriad others–don’t sink in the midst of them. Don’t let their waves overcome you. Keep your eyes upon Jesus–learn the lesson that faith requires focus.
Oh, and by the way, I don’t think that Jesus drug Peter to the water back to the boat. They walked back together, arms around each other’s shoulders. And then, only when Jesus and Peter stepped back into the boat did the winds cease. Augustine wrote, “He came treading the waves; and so he puts all the swelling tumults of life under his feet. Christians–why afraid?” To focus and walk with Christ will cause us not to notice the winds and waves and we will find peace in the midst of the storms of life.