The next miracle in our series is Jesus walking on the water …This miracle is recorded for us in Matt 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:16-21
Immediately after our Lord fed the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes, He sends the twelve into a ship to Bethsaida. His disciples cast off, leaving Him behind to send away the multitudes and to be alone to pray on the mount. After His time of prayer, the Lord sees His disciples fighting against the winds and and waves of the storm tossed sea. He departs from the shore, walking upon the water to meet them on the boat. When His disciples see Him, we are told that … “they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.” Jesus responds “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid”. Peter desires to walk on the water also. Jesus beckons him to come to Him on the water, but Peter due to the fear of the storm and waves, begins to sink. Jesus rescues him and then explains that Peter’s failure was a lack of faith in Christ.
Probably the portion of this miracle account that is the most condemning to us all is, at the conclusion, it is said that, “ and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”
Keep in mind, this miracle of Christ walking on the water had taken place a very short time after Christ had performed the miracle of feeding the 5000. The disciples’ amazement and fear exhibited that they had forgotten His miraculous power on display as He fed the 5000. Why did they forget all He had done previously? “their heart was hardened”.
Normally, the Bible reserved the hardening of one’s heart to the lost that have rejected the truths of God’s Word. But in this case, we find it is possible for Christians to have a heart hardened as well. For the Christian, a hardened heart is developed when we no longer recognize and appreciate all that He has done for us. All of the details involved in having a hardened heart I will leave for another posting; for this posting, I would simply like to remind of us of the need to recognize and appreciate the miraculous works He performs on our behalf.
Let’s be sure we look back and remember all the many times He has worked on our behalf and use these events to build up our faith that He will work on our behalf again. This is exactly what David had done before He faced the mighty Goliath. Let us do the same as we face the Goliaths of our lives…
1 Sam 17:32.. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.
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