I often ponder
on the story of when Jesus was walking on the water in the storm found in Matthew 14. The disciples of Christ were at first afraid and thought that hey had seen a ghost. They soon recognized the Master's voice even in the storm (see John 10). One dared to draw near to the Lord with faith (James 4:8). He asked Jesus to command him to come. Knowing that if Jesus commands it, then he will be safe (Heb 5:9). Knowing that if Jesus authors the word then he can stand on it and not sink.
Peter asks the Lord to command him to come out onto the water. The Lord obliges. As Peter was drawing near to Jesus, he got distracted by his surroundings. He took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the wind.
We are to keep our eyes upon Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). Once we become distracted and look away we begin to sink into our own reality, we begin to revert back to our old ways, into our own carnal ways of thinking. We begin to go back to trusting the laws of physics that we have always known. And those laws tell us that it is impossible for a man to walk on water. This carnal thinking begins to win and we begin to sink. We begin to sink into ocean of tribulation, become isolated in our fear, and fall away from Jesus at the same time.
Peter's doubt, and carnal thinking was taking over. In retrospect we can see that it was killing him.
Peter did something that we often do when we are facing certain death. Somewhere deep down in Peter's spirit he knew to cry out to the Savior. "Lord, save me!" (Matt 14:30).
Jesus heard the cry and saved Peter before he drowned in the storm.
Jesus , talking to Peter says something interesting.
Mat 14:31 ….O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
At least Peter had a little faith (an improvement from Mark 4:40 ‘No faith’ ). If he had no faith he would have stayed in the boat, and we would never have this lesson. This story is here because Peter had a "little faith".
Scripture doesn't come out and say it, but i believe they both walked on the water and got back into the boat. So Jesus saved Peter miraculously and not by natural means.
I rehearse this story often. Because it is a reminder that even when we are dissuaded by the storms of life, we can cry out to Jesus as we are sinking alone in despair and He will miraculously save us. Even though we may struggle with only a "little faith".
Notice Jesus was nearby the whole time. He was there in the storm with Peter.
He is there with you in your storm too.
Just cry out. Didn't you know that Jesus Saves?
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Peter asks the Lord to command him to come out onto the water. The Lord obliges. As Peter was drawing near to Jesus, he got distracted by his surroundings. He took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the wind.
We are to keep our eyes upon Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). Once we become distracted and look away we begin to sink into our own reality, we begin to revert back to our old ways, into our own carnal ways of thinking. We begin to go back to trusting the laws of physics that we have always known. And those laws tell us that it is impossible for a man to walk on water. This carnal thinking begins to win and we begin to sink. We begin to sink into ocean of tribulation, become isolated in our fear, and fall away from Jesus at the same time.
Peter's doubt, and carnal thinking was taking over. In retrospect we can see that it was killing him.
Peter did something that we often do when we are facing certain death. Somewhere deep down in Peter's spirit he knew to cry out to the Savior. "Lord, save me!" (Matt 14:30).
Jesus heard the cry and saved Peter before he drowned in the storm.
Jesus , talking to Peter says something interesting.
Mat 14:31 ….O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
At least Peter had a little faith (an improvement from Mark 4:40 ‘No faith’ ). If he had no faith he would have stayed in the boat, and we would never have this lesson. This story is here because Peter had a "little faith".
Scripture doesn't come out and say it, but i believe they both walked on the water and got back into the boat. So Jesus saved Peter miraculously and not by natural means.
I rehearse this story often. Because it is a reminder that even when we are dissuaded by the storms of life, we can cry out to Jesus as we are sinking alone in despair and He will miraculously save us. Even though we may struggle with only a "little faith".
Notice Jesus was nearby the whole time. He was there in the storm with Peter.
He is there with you in your storm too.
Just cry out. Didn't you know that Jesus Saves?
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
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