Matthew 14:22-32
King James Version (KJV)
22 And straightway Jesus constrained His disciples to get
into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side, while He sent the
multitudes away.
23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart: and when the evening was come, He was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water.
29 And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart: and when the evening was come, He was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water.
29 And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
In the above text, in verse 26, upon seeing Jesus walking on the sea, they were all at first "troubled", saying: "It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear". But, Jesus reassured the disciples saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." Then Peter said, "Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water." Jesus replied to Peter (in the 29th verse) by stating, "Come." The scripture then states, "And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus". While Peter trusted in Jesus' miraculous power, he looked to and depended on JESUS...Look at the results: Peter actually "walked on water"! Verse 30 follows with what happened when Peter started "worrying" about "what" was troubling him : the boisterous wind". Peter then began to be "afraid'. Instead of "continuing" to remember to focus on JESUS - amid the storm and winds around him..... Peter momentarily lost focus of "WHO" CAN HOLD YOU UP DURING A STORM! When "he (Peter) saw the boisterous wind" Peter then became "afraid" and began to "sink".
When Peter "stopped" looking to JESUS (WHO IS OUR SAVIOR, OUR LORD, OUR DELIVERER AND OUR GREAT PROBLEM SOLVER) .....Peter began to be afraid and began to "sink" when he focused on "his problem"!
But did Peter stay down.....NO.....what did he do...after he started "sinking"? He CRIED OUT TO JESUS - HIS LORD AND SAVIOR!
PETER CRIED, SAYING, "LORD, SAVE ME!"
VERSE 31 SHOWS HOW OUR LORD IS ALWAYS THERE TO CATCH HIS CHILDREN WHEN WE CALL OR CRY OUT TO HIM.....
JESUS LOVES US AND HE IS THERE TO REACH OUT HIS "UNCHANGING HAND" ...IF WE "FALL"....OR BEGIN TO "SINK" AMID OUR PROBLEMS...OR BECOME AFRAID.
ALWAYS REMEMBER...WE CAN CRY OUT AND SAY, "PRECIOUS LORD, TAKE MY HAND" TO HELP US IN OUR TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS, PROBLEMS, WORRIES AND FEARS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE OVERWHELMED WITH WHAT "COMES AGAINST" US...WE HAVE JESUS ON OUR SIDE! JESUS CAN HELP US DO WHAT WE CAN'T DO ON OUR OWN.... WE MUST BELIEVE IN HIM, OBEY HIM, PRAY TO HIM AND TRUST JESUS - AT ALL TIMES!
HEBREWS 13: 5 REASSURES US - "I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE":
Hebrews 13:5
5 Let
your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye
have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
1ST PETER 5:7 REMINDS US WHAT JESUS WANTS US TO DO BECAUSE HE CARES FOR US:
1 Peter 5:7
PLEASE ENJOY THE BELOW SONG AND VIDEO BY THE LATE, GREAT GOSPEL SINGER, MAHALIA JACKSON, SINGING, "PRECIOUS LORD, TAKE MY HAND" (WRITTEN BY THE LATE THOMAS DORSEY AFTER HIS WIFE AND SON DIED AFTER CHILDBIRTH. IN HIS GRIEF, HE SAID THAT THE "WORDS" OF THIS FAMOUS GOSPEL SONG CAME DIRECTLY FROM GOD).
(I do not own the rights to this song.)
BE BLESSED!
