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 Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it is you, bid me come unto you on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.”, and in chapter fourteen and verse thirty of his book, Matthew shares how Peter, “saw the wind boisterous … was afraid … and cried, saying, Lord, save me” where we read:
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid;
and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
The verse reads, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid;”. Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless, moreover and” “when he saw the wind” or “at the time and moment Peter noticed, perceived, discerned and discovered the violent agitation and stream of air or the tempestuous wind” “boisterous” which means “strong and mighty”, “he was afraid” or “Peter was frightened, ceased with alarm and startled”. Matthew shared how Peter noticed how “violent” the winds were around him and was very frightened.
The verse continues, “and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” Matthew added the words, “and beginning to sink” which means “and commencing and starting to plunge down, submerge and drown”, “he cried” or “Peter shouted aloud, vociferate and screamed”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “Lord” or “One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”, “save me” which means “rescue Peter from danger and destruction”. Matthew shared how Peter began to submerge below the water and drown, and he called upon the Lord Jesus to “rescue” him.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we notice how Peter took his eyes off the Lord Jesus and began to see the effects of the winds. This caused him to doubt, and immediately Peter began to sink and drown. Fortunately for Peter he knew who to call upon while in distress, and as he yelled out to Jesus, he did the greatest thing he could ever do. God desires for people to have “faith and trust” in Him through His Son Jesus, and when they take their eyes off Him, they are subject to “drown” in their troubles and storms. Let all who read these words know who to call upon when “drowning” in troubles and remember to keep their eyes focused upon the “Savior and Lord” Jesus no matter how violent and troublesome the winds and waves may be.
Next time we see Matthew shares how Jesus, “stretched forth his hand, and caught him”, 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.
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