Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus fed the multitude which included five thousand men plus women and children. Afterward, “Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid”, and in chapter fourteen and verse twenty-eight of his book, Matthew shares how Peter said, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come unto you on the water” where we read:
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it is you, bid me come unto you on the water.
The verse reads, “And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it is you, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “and Peter” whose name means “a rock or stone” and was “one of the twelve disciples of Jesus “ “answered him” or “began to speak in answer to Jesus' statement” “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “Lord” which refers to “to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah” “if it is you” or “whether and forasmuch as Jesus is the One walking upon the water”. Matthew shared how Peter presented a request by inserting the condition as to whether it was actually Jesus who told the disciples not to be afraid.
The verse continues, “... bid me come unto you on the water.” Matthew added the words, “bid me come” which means “command and order that Peter arise and go” “unto you” or “toward Jesus” “on the water” or “upon the water of the sea”. Matthew shared how Peter wanted Jesus to invite him to come to Him “on the water”.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we discover the boldness and willingness of Peter not only to confirm that Jesus was speaking to the disciples, but also to be “bid” to go to Him on the top of the water. God loves this, and as Peter wanted to identify Jesus and be invited, so God desires that people will seek Him in this manner and receive Jesus' invitation to “come” to Him. Those who are wise will realize that God desires to have a loving personal relationship with everyone who will yield their lives to His Son Jesus, and let all who read these words identify Him and ask that He receive them like Peter did.
Next time we see Matthew shares how Jesus tells Peter, “come”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
No comments:
Post a Comment