CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA.
The miracle I have to tell you of to-day, my children, is called—Christ walking on the waters. It followed closely upon that I described in our last Sunday talk; I mean, that of our Saviour feeding a multitude of people with five barley loaves and three small fishes.
As evening came on, the multitude that had been fed, dispersed; and Christ desired His disciples to enter into their boat, and go before Him to the town of Bethsaida, where they might pass the night, while He went up into a mountain alone, intending seemingly to spend the night in prayer.
The disciples had not gone far upon their voyage, when the light breeze which was bearing them on their way, changed into a strong adverse wind. It had become dark, “and the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew, and the ship was tossed with the waves.” They were overtaken in fact by one of those sudden squalls to which the lake, or sea of Galilee is liable. In vain they rowed with all their strength; the contrary wind drove them out of their course into the middle of the lake.
In such an hour of danger they must have thought of the time, not long before, when they were caught in another storm on the same sea. But then their Master was with them in the boat; at His command the sea became calm, and the wind ceased. How they must have wished that He were with them now, or that they could call Him to them, that His voice might once more hush the tempest into peace, and control the winds and waves! They had entered the fourth watch of the night, which, as the night was divided into only four watches, means that the morning was approaching, and the storm was still raging fiercely, when they beheld a human figure approaching, walking on the surface of the water as if upon firm ground.
Sailors and fishermen have been in all ages superstitious, and those of that day generally held the belief that storms were raised by spirits, who delighted in the turmoil of the elements, and in the terror and destruction that were caused. Some superstitious thought of this kind seems to have been the first that entered the minds of the disciples, as they saw the figure approaching on the water. What followed is thus described by St. Matthew:—
“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 be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And Jesus 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?”
The want of a thorough, unbounded faith and confidence in the power and divinity of our Saviour, was a fault which He had to contend against even in the disciples, who beheld His miracles almost daily. Peter and others who were in the boat became afterwards apostles of Christianity, and performed miracles themselves, when their faith must have become perfect; but it seems to have grown up gradually; and the words of Christ signify that Peter failed to walk on the water himself on this occasion only through his want of faith.
St. Matthew goes on to tell us that when our Saviour came into the ship, the wind ceased. Then the disciples came round Him, worshipping Him, saying,—“Of a truth thou art the Son of God.”
