Hey All,
Read this passage from Matthew 14 and I will set up a discussion afterwards:
Matthew 14:27-31 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 be thou, bid me come unto thee 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.
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
You have to give Peter his due. All of the disciples were afraid. Peter does not know for sure who it was walking towards them. When Jesus tells them "it's me; don't be afraid," Peter still has his doubts. He makes a request, probably before he had time to think about what he asked. "If its you (Jesus), let me walk to you." Most of us know the rest of the account--Peter walks on the water, takes his concentration off the Lord, sinks, and cries for Jesus to save him. (Do you think the other disciples were laughing at Peter? You know they ribbed him about it later. Its what guys do.)
Peter often gets bashed here for letting the circumstances of life interfere with his walk as a believer. (Even Jesus asked him why he doubted.) And that becomes the focus of a sermon.
However, I believe we need to give Peter way more credit. In a raging storm, on choppy waters, in a relatively safe boat, some dude our there says "its me, come."
This is where Peter gets his due from me. He got out of the boat! He is the only one of the twelve to do it. Peter had guts.
This is not a parable. It is a real life historical event.
What can we learn from this account?
Was Peter a believer at this point?
Peter took focus off the Lord and it got him in "deep" trouble. (Gee that could never happen in real life.) Actually, does that sound familiar?
How did he resolve the situation?
Any answers?
Keep walking everybody. May G
od bless,
Taz
Read this passage from Matthew 14 and I will set up a discussion afterwards:
Matthew 14:27-31 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 be thou, bid me come unto thee 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.
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
You have to give Peter his due. All of the disciples were afraid. Peter does not know for sure who it was walking towards them. When Jesus tells them "it's me; don't be afraid," Peter still has his doubts. He makes a request, probably before he had time to think about what he asked. "If its you (Jesus), let me walk to you." Most of us know the rest of the account--Peter walks on the water, takes his concentration off the Lord, sinks, and cries for Jesus to save him. (Do you think the other disciples were laughing at Peter? You know they ribbed him about it later. Its what guys do.)
Peter often gets bashed here for letting the circumstances of life interfere with his walk as a believer. (Even Jesus asked him why he doubted.) And that becomes the focus of a sermon.
However, I believe we need to give Peter way more credit. In a raging storm, on choppy waters, in a relatively safe boat, some dude our there says "its me, come."
This is where Peter gets his due from me. He got out of the boat! He is the only one of the twelve to do it. Peter had guts.
This is not a parable. It is a real life historical event.
What can we learn from this account?
Was Peter a believer at this point?
Peter took focus off the Lord and it got him in "deep" trouble. (Gee that could never happen in real life.) Actually, does that sound familiar?
How did he resolve the situation?
Any answers?
Keep walking everybody. May G
od bless,
Taz
