BLOG 14 – “SAVING” FAITH

Each of the gospel writers recorded the time on the shore of the Sea of Galilee when Jesus “felt compassion” on the multitudes who had come to hear Him teach and be healed of their infirmities. He noticed that after several hours, the people were beginning to get hungry, and instead of sending His disciples into town to buy food, Jesus took the lunch basket of a young boy and proceeded to feed five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Each gospel writer felt that this incident was so important to record, as it clearly demonstrated Jesus’ authority and ability to miraculously multiply a “little” bit of food and make it “much,” in fact, more than enough, as there were plenty of left-overs.

Immediately thereafter, Jesus told His disciples to take the boat to the other side of the Sea, letting them know that He would meet them there. Of course, walking along the shoreline would take much longer than taking a straight course across the Sea in the boat, and so the disciples were not expecting to see Jesus until some time later. Beside, after sending the multitudes away, Jesus wanted to have some “alone” time, and so He spent many hours in prayer conversing with His Father. Matthew records the fact that during their journey across the Sea, the wind suddenly became violent and the waves began to batter the boat (Matthew should know, because He was in the boat with the other disciples). Somewhere between 3-6am (the fourth watch of the night), the disciples thought that they saw a ghost walking on the water, and they cried out in fear. But immediately, Jesus assured them this it was He who was walking on the water and to not be afraid.

And then, Peter opened his mouth (as he was accustomed to doing) and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Jesus responded, “Come!” As Peter began walking on the water, he momentarily took his eyes off of Jesus and began to focus upon the turmoil of the wind and waves around him. Matthew records that Peter “saw” the wind (or at least the effects of it, just as we do), and then began to sink. With water quickly moving from his knees to his waist, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus stretched out his hand and took hold of him saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped. Recognizing that Jesus must be the “Son of God,” the disciples proceeded to worship Him.

Before we criticize Peter for his “lack of faith,” let’s not forget the fact that Peter was the only disciple who believed he could walk on water! He believed, but when he noticed what was going on around him, he began to doubt, and to sink. Peter was at least a “water-walker,” the others were simply “boat-sitters.”

“Lord, save me!” Peter’s cry was for his physical deliverance from drowning, but Jesus came with another intention for us, and for the world, and that was to save us from sin. Not too long ago, we celebrated Christmas, and it was then that the angel told Joseph that this child would “…save His people from their sins.” And to the shepherds, the angel said that in the town of Bethlehem they would find a baby lying in a manger, “…a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Indeed, He came to save us from both the Penalty of sin, as well as the Power of sin. He saves us from the Penalty of sin, which is separation from God, both in this life and in the next, as well as from the Power of sin, meaning that we can escape the cycle of sin in our lives because He gives us the Power to live in a manner that would glorify Him.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in the church at Ephesus, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, and it’s not as a result of works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). Salvation is an undeserved gift of God (that’s grace) given to us in response to our faith in the fact that Jesus died for our sins, and that if we confess those sins, He will surely forgive us. It’s not based on good works or merit. There are no scales to be weighed (the good vs. the bad). There is no standing before God telling Him what a good person we have been. No, salvation is not based upon goodness or perceived merit based upon some imaginary point system. Salvation is based solely upon God’s grace (His undeserved gift to us) made possible by our faith (confident belief in what we cannot see, yet are assured of). So, like Peter, it’s just three short, uncomplicated, heart-felt words of desperation, “Lord, save me!” That’s “Saving” Faith. It’s God’s gift to you. If you haven’t already done so, maybe it’s about time! Just three words, “Lord, save me!”

                                    Jesus’ encounter with Peter on the water is found in Matthew 14:22-33