As if the last miracle-when Jesus fed the 5000 people with a boy's lunch of bread and fish-wasn't a bonafide miracle, then his walking on the water had to be. Oh, there wasn't the huge fanfare of that one as there had been in his feeding the 5000 because this walking on the water had been reserved for a select group. His disciples.
And while you and I did not actually witness this miracle, we see it thousands of years later, through the pages of scripture. Mathew 14:22-33
Jesus had just finished his miracle of the fishes and the loaves and wanted to be alone for a while. So he told his disciples to get on a boat and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. While Jesus was praying (on dry land I might add) a storm had blown up and the boat and its passengers, the disciples, were in a real pickle.
I have no doubt that they wondered where Jesus was at. He had left them alone to go off and do his own thing. Why wasn't he there with them?
Before dawn, Jesus went onto the water and was actually walking on it, not in it. When they saw him, they were very much afraid. It had to be a ghost. But Jesus told them to have courage and not to be afraid. Peter wanted to know if this was his Lord and so he told Jesus, "If this you, tell me to come out on the water to you." Jesus said, "Come."
And then what did Peter do? Well, he started off believing Jesus would keep him safe and then because of the wind, he began to be afraid and started sinking down. "Lord save me!" he cried. Immediately Jesus reached out his hand to Peter to catch him saying. "You of little faith. Why do you doubt?"
When they climbed back in the boat, the disciples worshipped him saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."
Why do you suppose that Jesus left them to go off without him, so he could be alone? Did he know the danger that awaited them out on the water? Was he just being selfish? Did he care? And if he knew there was going to be a danger to them, did he expect that they would fear it or have the faith to stay safe within the boat? Was this a test?
And lastly, what has this miracle got to do with those of us today? Is it just a good bible story for the children in Sunday School? Or does it have real substance? Come back tomorrow for some insight on those questions.
February 17, 2019 Promise: Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Psalm 32:1
Thanks for your visit today Friends. Have a blessed Lord's Day! For this is the day that he has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:24
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