SERMON VII. JESUS WALKING ON THE WATERS TO HIS MATTHEW XIV. 22-33. "And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 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 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? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God." EVERY part of this portion of the divine word is full of important instruction and comfort to those who desire to know and do the Lord's will. Let us then consider the different parts of it; and may the Holy Spirit apply all to our soul's good, and to the glory of the Redeemer's name. First, then, we have to notice the circumstance of our blessed Lord's remaining behind alone, not either detaining his disciples until he himself was ready to depart, nor going away with them in the vessel; as was his usual custom. No, he had great and important business to do, and he wished no human eye to see him, no human ear to hear him. He went, therefore, into a mountain apart. But why did he do so? What business could then be so important, so necessary to be done by him in that mountain? He went thither to pray. He went thither to hold communion with his Father in heaven. And had he any sins to confess, any pardoning mercy to implore? No, he was spotless and undefiled, free from sin, and filled with the Holy Ghost. But it was the refreshment and delight of his soul thus to commune with his beloved Father. Moreover, there were others whose case and circumstances required his continual prayers and intercession. A world of sorrowful, suffering, guilty, sinners stood, as it were, all in his sight; these must either be saved or lost for ever. They could not be saved unless his prayer was heard; they could not escape everlasting destruction, unless he poured out his soul unto death for them; they could not obtain one good and perfect gift from heaven, unless he pleaded for it, and purchased it by his obedience, merit, and sacrifice. All this was the case also with respect to his disciples who were so very near and dear to his heart. Hence, he remained behind to pray for every grace and mercy that these stood in need of to meet the common trials and dangers of life, and also to fit them for all the important work he had for them to do, as his heralds of salvation to mankind. No doubt but they would rather have had him present with them in the vessel; but he was doing the very best thing for them that could be done, although they knew not at the time why he tarried behind. But he sent them on that night's voyage, and continued so many hours from them, and permitted that storm to head them, and to endanger their very foundering, that he might further instruct and establish their souls in the knowledge and experience of his divine power and godhead. As yet these disciples had much to learn as to that power and glory which their beloved Master possessed in himself and had possessed from all eternity. They had, indeed, that afternoon beheld the miracle of his feeding five thousand persons with five loaves and two small fishes; but they had never witnessed such displays of his divinity as he privileged them with when, in the fourth watch of that night, he went to them walking on the sea. Had he detained them with him in the mountain; or had he embarked with them when the vessel left the shore, then they would have lost these proofs of his power and godhead, as well as the advantage of other lessons then taught them, and of other tokens of his tenderness and love then manifested in their behalf. Thus it frequently happens now. On many occasions does the Lord, in the dispensations of his providence, send even his own beloved disciples away, as it were, to encounter the storms, and toils, and dangers of this world and of this life, while he seems to keep at a distance; and then the poor soul begins to think that all these things are against it. No doubt but, as the storm rose and the sea got up and the danger increased, the disciples often thought and said, "Oh, that our kind Master had but allowed us to remain behind with him! Oh, that he were but with us now; perhaps he would be able to bring help and deliverance!" It may be that some of them were tempted to doubt whether he knew the danger they were in; or whether, if he did know it, he could deliver them from it. At all |