“How can these things be?” is a very natural question when the human mind contemplates the works and ways of God. It is, however, the query of unbelief, not of faith. Whether it be the collapse of Jericho’s walls, Jonah’s three days’ abode in the fish’s belly, our Lord’s walking on the sea, or any other wonder—nothing staggers the heart that has learned to trust God and believe His word.
When the Saviour refused to be made king after the feeding of the five thousand, He went up into a mountain to pray, bidding his disciples cross to the other side of the Sea of Gennesaret. It is a picture of what was soon to take place—His going up to God to enter upon His present ministry of intercession, leaving His disciples to face the billows of this stormy world during His absence. The twelve found their passage rough and trying, as followers of a rejected and crucified Lord have ever found life and testimony here. Many a storm has Satan raised in the hope of destroying all witness to the Name he hates. In the fourth watch of the night the Lord went to the disciples walking on the water. Thinking it was an apparition, they cried out in fear, but were soon calmed by His cheery call: “It is I; (or “I am,”) be not afraid.” He has never failed to draw near to His own in their hours of distress and need. He is the “I am” of Exodus 3:1414And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14). The possibilities involved in such a name forbid the smallest questioning of unbelief. “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains he carried into the midst of the sea” (Psa. 46:22Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; (Psalm 46:2)).
The boat is the emblem of the old system of things in which our Lord left His disciples at His glorification. The Book of Acts shows how tenaciously they clung to the old order, with its earthly sanctuary, its successional priesthood, etc., and how very slow they were in learning that Christianity is essentially a heavenly and spiritual system. Instead of being a graft upon Judaism, Christianity is its total opposite in character and spirit. Judaism, with its gorgeous ritual, appealed to the senses; he who understood Christianity better than any says, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:77(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (2 Corinthians 5:7)). Satan’s aim has always been to corrupt the work of God; hence when the old boat of Judaism was destroyed by Titus he set to work to prepare another boat under Christ’s name. Earthly sanctuaries, priests claiming successional rights, etc., soon appeared, to the complete falsification of the testimony of God.
Matthew, Mark and John all tell us of our Lord’s walk on the water; Matthew adds another feature (Matt. 14:24-3324But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. (Matthew 14:24‑33)). Peter, when he learned that it was the Lord who was approaching, begged for permission to go to Him. This being granted, he leaped into the sea and went to Jesus. For a moment he faltered as he saw the wind and waves, but a cry from his lips and a touch from the Master’s Hand made his feet secure. In like manner the individual believer of to-day who turns his back on Christendom’s religious boats in obedience to the call in Hebrews 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13), must look to the Lord alone for sustainment in his walk of faith. But the first act of faith, without which nothing else is possible, is the soul’s humble obedience to Him for pardon and salvation.
The storm ceased when the Lord and Peter stepped aboard the boat. Similarly the world’s raging will be hushed when Christ and His saints show themselves once more in the midst of Israel.