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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
That evening, following the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 men, the disciples sailed off across the lake, but without Jesus Christ.
Now that is always a dangerous thing to do – to move off and away without Jesus.
It was dark, and on that lake, some 13 miles by 8 miles, a storm arose, and they are in danger of losing their lives.
These tough seasoned fishermen were only three miles or so from the shore – right in the middle of the lake. They are worn out – weary – and getting nowhere – when they see a figure walking on the water and coming towards them, and they are terrified.
Sail away from Jesus and when He comes for you, it can be a frightening and terrifying experience. A familiar voice calls out – “It is I; don’t be afraid.” They willingly welcomed Jesus into the boat, and soon they are safely on the shore.
But something else happens first as Matthew seems to focus upon Peter walking on the water!
Jesus went to prayer, following the miracle and following the overhearing that the crowd wanted to make Jesus Christ king.
Jesus went off to seek the face of His Father. Jesus was not always available.
When Jesus saw the predicament the disciples were in, Jesus went to them walking on the water, and when they saw Jesus coming to them they thought it was a ghost but this was no phantom figure, and it is then that Peter speaks.
Verse 28. If it is YOU – and I need to be reassured that it is YOU, Lord Jesus - saving faith is receiving and resting and relying upon the Lord Jesus Christ – command me – tell me – bid me to come to YOU on the water.
True faith means receiving and resting on Jesus Christ. That requires repeating.
If my weak faith is placed in the right person it will be saving faith, or rescuing faith.
You do not put your confidence in someone you do not know.
This is why people need to know about Jesus Christ, and hear about Jesus Christ, and know what Jesus Christ can do.
Faith is more than optimism, and faith is more than mere credulity. We need to clarify for ourselves the nature and workings of true saving faith. It is not being gullible.
We need to learn from this passage the object of faith – and the exercise of faith – the failure of faith - and the restoration of faith.
Two women were talking – one said to the other, who must have indicated that she had some kind of faith – Oh I wish I had faith like you. This second one presumably had some kind of faith – until she replied – “something will turn up!” That is NOT faith.
Tell me to come to YOU – command me to come to YOU – I not only want to know who YOU are – I want to hear Your Voice and hear what You have to say to me. Faith is fed by a knowledge of Jesus Christ, and by hearing His commandments and His voice, and what He has to say.
Faith is taking Jesus’ Word more seriously than any other word.
Peter’s confidence rests in Jesus Christ and Peter steps out in faith. This is not Peter being impetuous. This is Peter being obedience to the voice of Jesus Christ.
Peter goes and moves and acts at Jesus’ Word. All of a sudden Peter is tested.
Is this not our testimony and experience and story? Our faith rises, and we respond to the call of God and to the invitation of Jesus Christ, and suddenly we are tested and challenged.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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