The Walk Upon the Waters # 1

The Walk Upon the Waters # 1

Matthew 14:22-33

"And immediately Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray; and when the evening come, He was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, waling on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, 'It is a ghost!' - and they cried out for fear."

But immediately Jesus spoke unto them, saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."

And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, bid me come unto you on the water."

And He said, "Come."

And when Peter had come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried saying, "Lord save me!"

And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto Him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

And when they went into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."

This was just after Jesus had fed the multitude with the five loaves and the two fish. Before they went away, and probably while they were still sitting on the grass, He made His disciples get into a ship (most likely a fishing boat) and cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Then He sent the people away, and He Himself went up into a mountain to pray; and there He was alone when night came on.

Doubtless He was many hours in prayer. Meanwhile how did it fare with the disciples in the boat? They had no easy work. The wind blew strong against them, the waves were rough, and, though they rowed hard, they made but little headway. Did their Master forget them? No! Mark tells us that "He saw them toiling in rowing" (Mark 6:48). His eye was upon them, even when He  was far away. And though engaged in prayer, His thoughts were with them still - perhaps He was praying in part for them. Even from where He was on the mountaintop, He saw them on the rough sea. Their difficulty and trouble were not unknown to Him - not unknown, and not uncared for.

Sometimes when we are in trouble, we are ready to think that we are forgotten by God. We do not see Him; there is nothing to show us that He is near; our feeling is that we are helpless and alone. In Himself, he is helpless indeed; but his Saviour is a sure helper and an ever-present friend. While he is "toiling" with difficulties, and buffeted by the rough waves of trouble, and while all things seem contrary to him - Jesus sees him and cares for him. From that high and glorious place where He is, the Master's eye is upon him - perhaps He is even then pleading for him there.

We like to read that Jesus saw the disciples "toiling in rowing," and that when they thought they had gone quite away from Him, His eye was upon them still - let us believe the same about ourselves when we are in trouble.

Jesus had sent them away - yet still He kept them in view. Sometimes He send us away too - away from friends, away from home, away from comforts, away from spiritual privileges - and thus seems, as it were, to send us away from Himself. But He does not do so really; for He Himself tells us to abide in Him. He would have us seek that His presence may be always in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Even if He does send us among rough waves and contrary winds, into sickness and trouble and difficulty - yet He does not send us away from Himself. He is always near. He always cares for us.

This went on for hours - Jesus on the mountain and the disciples on the sea. In the same way, our troubles often do go on for long - but that is no proof that we are forgotten. At length, "in the fourth watch of the night," that is, when night was almost over, Jesus went to them.

~Francis Bourdillon~

(continued with # 2)