In the evening after Jesus had given bread for the great crowd of people, He told His disciples to go before Him in the boat to the other side of the sea of Galilee, and He went up onto the mountain alone to pray.
The men in the boat rowed out into the sea, but the night was stormy, and they had much trouble to go forward, as the wind was against them, and the big waves tossed the boat. They rowed hard all night, but could not get across.
In the fourth “watch”, which was toward morning, Jesus came near them, walking on the water. But they did not know that it was Jesus; they thought He was a spirit, and were very afraid. Then Jesus called to them, “Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.”
When Peter heard Jesus’ voice, he wanted to go to Him and said, “Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come to Thee on the. water.” Jesus answered him, “Come.”
Peter got down out of the boat, and started to walk on the water to Jesus, but he looked down at the big waves, and was greatly frightened, then he began to sink. He cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter, and they both came into the boat, and the storm stopped.
The disciples greatly wondered at what they had seen: Jesus had before quieted a tempest at sea, and they had seen Him cure many sick people, and raise the dead; and just that evening they had seen Him make a few loaves of bread feed over five thousand persons. Yet, that He could walk on the water seemed even more wonderful, and they worshiped Him, and said, “Truly Thou art the Son of God.”
The trouble of these men on the stormy sea while Jesus was away from them on the mountain, seems like a picture of the time now for the Lord’s people while He is away in Heaven. This world is always “a stormy sea” for those who believe God, and they find it hard to keep on through trials, like “contrary winds”, and they forget the Lord’s care as the disciples did.
But Jesus came to the disciples before the morning. And He has promised to come again for all who trust Him. He said, “I will come again”. John 11:33Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. (John 11:3).
It will comfort us now in trouble to remember that Jesus will surely come, and also that He is near to keep us, for we too have little faith and would sink as Peter.
Jesus and the disciples afterward landed on the shore of a country where the people welcomed Jesus, and sent word to all the people around. They brought their sick ones to Him, and asked that they might only touch the hem of His garment, which shows how fully they believed His power.
ML 06/13/1943