"And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be You, bid me come unto You on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out ofthe ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus." (Matthew 14:28-29)
The greatest use that is made of the incident of which this is a partial record, is to moralize over Peter's subsequent failure. It is well to learn from it to look steadfastly to Jesus instead of to self and the dangers around us; but there is more than this that may be learned from the narrative.
In the first place, however, let us guard against the idea that it was pride or vainglory that prompted Peter's request that he might come to Jesus on the water. The request was evidently the impulse of Peter's warm heart.
It was quite natural that a feeling of vainglory might come over him when he found himself walking on the waves as on the solid earth; but there was no time for selfish calculation in the instant that Jesus was revealed to His disciples; and selfish calculation was not a part of Peter's disposition.
There was no real need for Peter to go to Jesus on the water. There was no material object to be gained by it. He wanted to be with the Lord, it is true; but the Lord was coming direct to the boat, and Peter could have been with Him in a minute or two at the most, by sitting still in the boat.
Yet it was not foolhardiness on the part of Peter, and the Lord did not reprove him for desiring to come. Why not?
Did you ever see a man coming home from his work in the evening, and then see a little way down the road a little form rush out of the gate and run to meet him? The child saw its father coming, and could not wait for him, but must run to meet him on the way. Would you try to reason with that child, and tell him that his action was wholly unnecessary? That the father could be with him in a moment if he could only wait? And would you expect the father to reprove the child for his impatience to get with him? The child's eagerness is most refreshing to the weary father.
If you know anything about such a scene as this, and can appreciate it, then you can understand Peter's request to be allowed to meet Jesus, and why the Lord said, "Come." Peter's ardent love, that was impatient of delay, was most grateful to the Master.
What if there was no real need of Peter's coming? Love does not take account of such things. Such love as Peter's must not be discouraged by the slightest rebuff and the Lord on His part was too desirous of winning the confiding love of His children to say, "Nay," when one of them said, "Let me come."
With what fresh delight we can now read the gracious invitation. "Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
And how forcible are those other words, "Him that comes to me, I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37)
So I am glad that the loving Lord said to Peter, "Come," and that there was power in that word to bring him, at a time when it was not specially necessary that he should come: for now I know that much more will He gladly receive me when I fly to Him for refuge from the sins that beset me.
The invitation has been given. His arms are stretched out for us; as soon as His love awakens a response in our own hearts, and we wish to be with Him, we are there, for His love draws us. "[Nothing can] separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39)--Present Truth, January 10, 1895--Original title: Front Page--Timeline: IV-39 (Jesus Walks on the Lake)--Matthew 14:28-29.