Mark 6:45-51 and Matthew 14:22-33
The disciples are heading over to Bethsaida by boat after Jesus is finished with feeding the multitude. As the disciples are working their way across the lake, Jesus sees them from the mountaintop and notices they are struggling because of the wind. In the "fourth watch," Jesus sees them struggling and goes to them. Instead of using a boat to reach them, He walks to them on the water. The disciples thought it was a ghost and were terrified. I would have been too, wouldn't you, seeing someone walking on water? The account in Matthew adds more details about what happened. When Jesus calls to them telling them not to be afraid, Peter steps up and asks Jesus to prove it. Jesus calls Peter to "Come" and Peter steps out of the boat to walk on the water. Think about it the courage it would have taken Peter to step out of that boat onto water, yet he had just enough faith to at least step out and start. He started off doing well, however, the moment he took his eyes off Jesus and put them on his surroundings, he began to sink. He cried out to Jesus to save him, and Christ reaches down and pulls him up. When Jesus gets in the boat, the wind calms down, and the disciples were amazed. From my perspective reading this, you would think the disciples would be used to events like this when Jesus was around. They have witnessed so much already, calming a storm, healings, raising a dead girl, feeding a multitude, just to name a few. The Bible says they didn't understand because their "hearts were hardened."
There are several parallels I was able to draw from these passages today.
1) I have noticed in my own life when I'm struggling with something that God often comes during the "fourth watch," which is between the hours of 3 and 6 in the morning. You know those times in the early morning when you wake up for what you think is "no reason" and can't go back to sleep or those times when God awakens you before your alarm goes off? In the past, if it was closer to the 3 or 4:00 time, I'd go watch TV or read a book to try to go back to sleep, but failed many times. It wasn't until later when someone pointed out to me what the "fourth watch" hours were that I realized those were the times God wanted to come meet and talk with me. Since then, I've found if I take time to talk to Him and listen, I'm able to go back into a peaceful sleep. For those times when it's too close to needing to wake up anyway, it's a great start to the day being able to spend time with God. It becomes a precious time in the quiet and stillness.
2) Like Peter, I often find myself asking God to prove Who He is; give me a sign that it's really Him speaking to me. You have to love Peter. I am so glad God included him in the Bible. I find I can relate to him in many ways. Peter became a great man of faith, but it didn't happen overnight. Think about the courage and faith it took Peter to step out of that boat and walk to Jesus on the water. I don't think I would have had that kind of faith in that moment. He begins strong with his focus on Jesus, but then he shifts his focus to the wind and his surroundings. Immediately, he begins to sink. How often in my Christian walk, do I take my eyes off Jesus and focus more on my circumstances?
The disciples are heading over to Bethsaida by boat after Jesus is finished with feeding the multitude. As the disciples are working their way across the lake, Jesus sees them from the mountaintop and notices they are struggling because of the wind. In the "fourth watch," Jesus sees them struggling and goes to them. Instead of using a boat to reach them, He walks to them on the water. The disciples thought it was a ghost and were terrified. I would have been too, wouldn't you, seeing someone walking on water? The account in Matthew adds more details about what happened. When Jesus calls to them telling them not to be afraid, Peter steps up and asks Jesus to prove it. Jesus calls Peter to "Come" and Peter steps out of the boat to walk on the water. Think about it the courage it would have taken Peter to step out of that boat onto water, yet he had just enough faith to at least step out and start. He started off doing well, however, the moment he took his eyes off Jesus and put them on his surroundings, he began to sink. He cried out to Jesus to save him, and Christ reaches down and pulls him up. When Jesus gets in the boat, the wind calms down, and the disciples were amazed. From my perspective reading this, you would think the disciples would be used to events like this when Jesus was around. They have witnessed so much already, calming a storm, healings, raising a dead girl, feeding a multitude, just to name a few. The Bible says they didn't understand because their "hearts were hardened."
There are several parallels I was able to draw from these passages today.
1) I have noticed in my own life when I'm struggling with something that God often comes during the "fourth watch," which is between the hours of 3 and 6 in the morning. You know those times in the early morning when you wake up for what you think is "no reason" and can't go back to sleep or those times when God awakens you before your alarm goes off? In the past, if it was closer to the 3 or 4:00 time, I'd go watch TV or read a book to try to go back to sleep, but failed many times. It wasn't until later when someone pointed out to me what the "fourth watch" hours were that I realized those were the times God wanted to come meet and talk with me. Since then, I've found if I take time to talk to Him and listen, I'm able to go back into a peaceful sleep. For those times when it's too close to needing to wake up anyway, it's a great start to the day being able to spend time with God. It becomes a precious time in the quiet and stillness.
2) Like Peter, I often find myself asking God to prove Who He is; give me a sign that it's really Him speaking to me. You have to love Peter. I am so glad God included him in the Bible. I find I can relate to him in many ways. Peter became a great man of faith, but it didn't happen overnight. Think about the courage and faith it took Peter to step out of that boat and walk to Jesus on the water. I don't think I would have had that kind of faith in that moment. He begins strong with his focus on Jesus, but then he shifts his focus to the wind and his surroundings. Immediately, he begins to sink. How often in my Christian walk, do I take my eyes off Jesus and focus more on my circumstances?
3) The disciples hearts were hardened, according to Mark. They had witnessed all these amazing miracles, yet they still didn't have much faith in what Christ could do. How many times has God done things for me? How many miracles have I witnessed in my life and in others, yet my heart is hardened, my eyes still blinded to what He can do?
I need to keep my focus on Christ and not forget what He's done for me. It will help me get through the struggles of life. As the chorus in the song Oceans, by Hillsong, states,
I will call upon Your name,
Keep my eyes above the waves.
My soul will rest in Your embrace.
I am Yours and You are mine.
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