If all that Jesus intended was to rescue his fearful disciples from the threatening storm, then why did he not simply rebuke the storm with his word? He would not have needed to leave his place of prayer on the mountainside. What did Jesus then mean by coming to them in the middle of the night ~ walking on the waves of the sea?! Obviously to me, he purposed to impress them with a display of his power and authority. Still, there was more . . . .
The entire scenario thus appears to have been a setup ~ for something other than what the situation appeared to be on its face.
Jesus was teaching; though, not just anyone. He was teaching his "disciples".
On very many occasions when Jesus manifested his power to heal and/or to perform miracles, he took care to do it in secret. Oftentimes, he even commanded them who received, or who witnessed, such miracles, not to tell anyone. Yet when Jesus was alone with his disciples his conduct toward them was very different. Jesus did not seek to conceal from them his power. Rather, it is clear that Jesus wanted his disciples to know him, to know his power . . . moreover, to know that his power was available to themselves, through him.
That, I believe, is the golden key that opens the door of true discipleship: that is, to know that the power of God is available, through Jesus Christ, to his disciples, for whatever need or purpose may be presented to them.
Peter was the one whose faith, evidently, was sufficiently developed to enable him to get out of the boat ~ in the midst of the sea. Even so, he recognized that he could not do such a thing by any power of his own. "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water", Peter said to the surreal-looking figure standing out there on the stormy sea. Peter had been around Jesus enough by then to know there was divine power in that man's word. Besides, Peter was a fisherman: doubtless he was a good swimmer. What did he have to lose?
Jesus answered with one, simple word: "Come".
We weren't there. We didn't hear it. Perhaps, none of the other disciples "heard" it, either. But to Peter's ears, there was divine authority in that word. Who else but Jesus could it have been that spoke that word? Who else but Jesus could exhibit such supernatural power as to walk on the water?
What I find difficult to understand is ~ not that Peter dared to get out of the boat and go to Jesus; but, Why did none of the other disciples assay to do what Peter did? Apparently, they were not yet, then, ready. Even Peter's faith faltered ~ when he was within arms' reach of Jesus.
I dearly love what Jesus said to Peter, after that Jesus lifted sinking Peter from beneath the waves: "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Why did you doubt, Peter? Jesus was not in the slightest perturbed because that Peter wanted to experience walking on the water ~ just like Jesus. No. Nor did Jesus reprimand Peter for his last-second 'failure'. Instead, Jesus showed to Peter, in that very moment, the cause of his inability, that is to say, his last-second lapse of faith. Peter had momentarily ~ only momentarily! ~ allowed his focus to become distracted by the storm and, probably, by the otherwise unbelievable nature of his circumstances.
Had Peter only kept his eyes upon Jesus, Peter would not have faltered. I'm sure he did not miss the import of that lesson.
I love, too, to think about the fact that Peter continued to stand and to walk upon the water as he returned, with Jesus, to the boat. I imagine that, when Jesus and Peter both stepped into that boat, the other disciples were beyond amazed. Jesus, they all knew by then, was a very special kind of man. But Peter ~ they also knew very well, was a man just like themselves.
But from that night, everything was different. At least, in a real measure . . . .
They were becoming "disciples" of Jesus Christ.
Am I a disciple of Christ? Or do I just know a lot of facts about him?
I pray, God help me to be a disciple.
Why did Jesus not still the storm as he approached the boat where his disciples were? To be sure, he did not. The storm raged on whilst Jesus stood at some distance away from the boat . . . waiting . . . .
The entire scenario thus appears to have been a setup ~ for something other than what the situation appeared to be on its face.
Jesus was teaching; though, not just anyone. He was teaching his "disciples".
On very many occasions when Jesus manifested his power to heal and/or to perform miracles, he took care to do it in secret. Oftentimes, he even commanded them who received, or who witnessed, such miracles, not to tell anyone. Yet when Jesus was alone with his disciples his conduct toward them was very different. Jesus did not seek to conceal from them his power. Rather, it is clear that Jesus wanted his disciples to know him, to know his power . . . moreover, to know that his power was available to themselves, through him.
That, I believe, is the golden key that opens the door of true discipleship: that is, to know that the power of God is available, through Jesus Christ, to his disciples, for whatever need or purpose may be presented to them.
Peter was the one whose faith, evidently, was sufficiently developed to enable him to get out of the boat ~ in the midst of the sea. Even so, he recognized that he could not do such a thing by any power of his own. "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water", Peter said to the surreal-looking figure standing out there on the stormy sea. Peter had been around Jesus enough by then to know there was divine power in that man's word. Besides, Peter was a fisherman: doubtless he was a good swimmer. What did he have to lose?
Jesus answered with one, simple word: "Come".
We weren't there. We didn't hear it. Perhaps, none of the other disciples "heard" it, either. But to Peter's ears, there was divine authority in that word. Who else but Jesus could it have been that spoke that word? Who else but Jesus could exhibit such supernatural power as to walk on the water?
What I find difficult to understand is ~ not that Peter dared to get out of the boat and go to Jesus; but, Why did none of the other disciples assay to do what Peter did? Apparently, they were not yet, then, ready. Even Peter's faith faltered ~ when he was within arms' reach of Jesus.
I dearly love what Jesus said to Peter, after that Jesus lifted sinking Peter from beneath the waves: "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Why did you doubt, Peter? Jesus was not in the slightest perturbed because that Peter wanted to experience walking on the water ~ just like Jesus. No. Nor did Jesus reprimand Peter for his last-second 'failure'. Instead, Jesus showed to Peter, in that very moment, the cause of his inability, that is to say, his last-second lapse of faith. Peter had momentarily ~ only momentarily! ~ allowed his focus to become distracted by the storm and, probably, by the otherwise unbelievable nature of his circumstances.
Had Peter only kept his eyes upon Jesus, Peter would not have faltered. I'm sure he did not miss the import of that lesson.
I love, too, to think about the fact that Peter continued to stand and to walk upon the water as he returned, with Jesus, to the boat. I imagine that, when Jesus and Peter both stepped into that boat, the other disciples were beyond amazed. Jesus, they all knew by then, was a very special kind of man. But Peter ~ they also knew very well, was a man just like themselves.
But from that night, everything was different. At least, in a real measure . . . .
They were becoming "disciples" of Jesus Christ.
Am I a disciple of Christ? Or do I just know a lot of facts about him?
I pray, God help me to be a disciple.
I never thought about why none of the other disciples ask to walk out to Jesus. I think fear is one of our strongest emotions. We can be gripped by it even when it is not that strong. It certainly is one of the hardest motivations to "get around" It is showing it's ugly face during this pandemic. Will we walk out amongst the people as Jesus walked on the water?
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