Jesus Walking on the Sea
It had been a busy day with Jesus. On receiving the news of the death of John the Baptist, He had gone by boat across the Sea of Galilee, to an uninhabited place, but was unable even there to find the solitude He desired, for as soon as the people heard of His departure, "they followed Him on foot out of the cities," (Matthew 14:13) and He had spent the day healing their sick. "When Jesus heard of it, He departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed Him on foot out of the cities." (Matthew 14:13)
There is, by the way, something most precious and at the same time most pathetic in this seeking of the multitudes after Jesus. What a blessed thing to be so filled with the attractiveness of God, that people are irresistibly drawn to one. "God was with Him," (Acts 10:38) and He had not to beg the people to come to hear Him speak words of life, that were more than sound.
Yet it is most pitiful to think that among all the multitudes that followed Jesus, there were none who loved Him for himself alone. Though surrounded by thousands, Jesus was always alone, for there were none, even of His most intimate disciples, who understood Him.
As the representative Man, He longed for human sympathy, and was helped by it whenever He found any of it; but with
Him it was all giving, and very little receiving. He spent no time, however, in self-pity, but was "moved with compassion," (Matthew 14:14) when He saw the needs of the people, "and He healed their sick." (Matthew 14:14)
That in itself would have been more than sufficient for a day's work, for the healing of every case was a drain upon His vitality: "And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: for there went virtue out of Him, and healed them all." (Luke 6:19) "And Jesus said, Somebody has touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me." (Luke 8:46) "When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses." (Matthew 8:16-17)
But the thousands of people were in the desert place without food, and Jesus would not send them away hungry. He regarded them as His guests, since they had come out to see Him, and as a Son over His Father's house, He felt bound to fulfill all the duties of hospitality. "But Christ is faithful over God's house as Son." (Hebrews 3:6,ESV)
So He set to work to feed them all, drawing upon the treasures of His own life for the supply. No wonder then that, having sent His disciples and the multitude away, "He went up into a mountain apart to pray." (Matthew 14:23)
There was One who understood Him, and from whom He could receive comfort and encouragement and a renewal of strength. "And when the evening was come, He was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves; for the wind was contrary." (Matthew 14:23-24)
Jesus was alone, and the disciples evidently thought that they were alone, for one record contains the words, "It was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them." (John 6:17)
This seems to indicate that the disciples felt a little nettled, to say the least, at the thought that Jesus had constrained them to leave Him, and to cross the sea alone. But they did not know Him. They were to learn that however lonely He might be, He never for a moment lost sight of the needs of others, in thinking upon His own condition. That night they were to receive a practical demonstration of the promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
They were to have an experience which in all their after lives would make them appreciate the reality of the words, "Lo, I am with you always." (Matthew 28:20) "In the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea." (Matthew 14:25)
But the disciples did not know Him. They had seen His power over the elements, yet since they had never seen the power manifested in that particular manner, they did not think that it could be a real person walking on the water.
They were still superstitious fishermen, and cried out in fear, that it was an apparition, a phantom. The very term that is used to designate the thing seen, condemns their foolish fear; for if it had been really only a phantom, an apparition, a creature of their own imagination, it would have been nothing to fear, since nobody can be injured by that which does not exist. Men in general, however, are more affected by the figments of their own imagination than by that which is real. Most people live in an unreal world.
Jesus however soon brought the disciples to a sense of the real, by saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." (Matthew 14:27)
There is in these words a deeper meaning than appears on the surface as we have them translated. The translation is undoubtedly correct. "It is I;" but in the assurance of His presence there is the revelation of His universal presence; since the words, literally rendered, are: "Be of good cheer; I am; be not afraid."
The Greek words are identical with those used in: "Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:56)
"I Am." That is His name. Everywhere and always, He is. He is the truth; and when we trace the word truth back to its ultimate root, we find that it signifies "that which is." "[He is] the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Revelation 22:13) "[He is] the faithful and the true witness." (Revelation 3:14)
Take the words, "I am," as the name of Christ, and add as the complement to the sentence whatever good thing you desire and long for, and you have it. He is all that, and more; for: "[He] is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." (Ephesians 3:20)
Yes, He is in us with all His Divine power; for: "The Word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart." (Romans 10:8)
Jesus was in reality just as near the disciples when He was alone on the mountain praying, as when He got into the boat with them. So from this lesson we are to learn that He is always present. There is no trouble, no storm, so great that it frightens Him away.
Peter seized upon the words, "I am," and said, "Lord, if You are, bid me come unto You on the water." (Matthew 14:28)
Jesus said, "Come." (Matthew 14:29)
And in the strength of that word he went; but soon he forgot Jesus, and then he began to sink. He believed the words, "I am," that Jesus said of himself, but he did not continue in them. To us the exhortation is, "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith." (Colossians 2:6-7)
Peter began to walk by faith in Jesus, but he began to look at the things that were seen, instead of the things that were unseen, and so he sank. The waves were to be seen round about him, and Jesus seemed to be at a distance. He could not see that Jesus was at his side, and round about him closer than the waves, but it was so. The cry, "Lord save me," (Matthew 14:30) found instant answer. Peter had not yet come to Jesus, for he was walking on the water to go to Jesus when he began to sink; but as soon as he cried out in his extreme need, Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him. The intervening space was nothing, for Jesus was there, even though He seemed to be at a distance.
He who sometimes seems to us to be far off in the heavens, is so near that the shortest prayer uttered in sincerity finds immediate answer in our salvation.
It is worth noting, too, that there was no necessity for Peter to get out of the boat to go to Jesus. In a few minutes at most Jesus would have been in the boat with them; but Peter, with childish impulsiveness, could not wait. We need not lay it all to vanity; nor to the spoiled child's desire to "show off," although there may have been something of that element in the request.
But Peter loved the Lord, and his nature was as simple as that of a child, and his love was ardent and spontaneous. Moreover his request showed confidence in the Lord, and the heart of the Lord as well as the heart of every man, is touched by every expression of confidence and trust. Jesus says, "Him that comes to me, I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37)
No matter how mixed may be the motive, the heart of the Lord can never repel any indication of childish confidence. The Lord does not require certificates of good character, or enquire closely into the motives, before He receives anyone, but takes every request, every profession, at its face value; and even though the profession of faith be mingled with pride and self-love, He accepts it, that He may, by coming into closer relationship with the individual, be able to win him to a more sincere and more intelligent faith.
He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the dimly burning wick. "A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth." (Isaiah 42:3; see also Matthew 12:20) What an incentive to confidence in God, that He has accepted us in the Beloved, even though we have been unworthy, and what an admonition concerning the tenderness which we should manifest toward the weak in faith, we find in this lesson. "Wherefore did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31)
The meaning of the word doubt is, "to waver, to hesitate." "Faith ... works by love," (Galatians 5:6) "[and] perfect love casts out fear." (1 John 4:18)
Faith means confidence and boldness. The believing man does not fear. "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid." (Isaiah 12:2) "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." (Psalm 46:1-3)
We need not say, "If He is," but, since God is, we can do all things in Him. If we know that we are walking in Him, we can walk with boldness and our steps may be as firm on the raging billows as on the solid rock.
But we must not forget, nor be frightened by appearances. We must "hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end." (Hebrews 3:14)
God is; His name and all His fullness is in Christ, in whom all things are, and: "As He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)
His existence is ours, so that all that He is, we may be. Therefore be not faithless, but believing, for: "He is faithful that promised." (Hebrews 10:23)--Present Truth, June 21, 1900--Timeline: IV-39 (Jesus Walks on the Lake)--Matthew 14:22-33.