THE
SECOND STORM AT SEA
I. Scriptures described two
events relating to storms at sea. In the first, Christ was
with the disciples in the boat; in the other, Christ was not with
them. The first incident showed Christ in the boat with His
assuring presence. In the other, He left them alone to test
them further, to incite a greater longing for Himself and a
continual remembrance of Him.
II. In this incident, Christ did
not appear at once. . .to teach them not to hastily seek for
deliverance from pressing dangers but to bear all occurrences
manfully.
III. Instead of delivering them,
Christ increased their fear by appearing as a ghost. He did
not calm the storm nor manifest Himself, thus instructing them
further to endure. Thus, Job, before being delivered from
sorrow, suffered more: first, from his wife; then, servants and
friends. The more we are alarmed by troubles, the more we
welcome His coming.
IV. Peter, in his ardour,
required of Christ to do great things. Peter knew the power of
obedience; he was not after display; he did not say, "Let me walk on
water." Instead, he said: "Bid me to come to you." Peter
made a request of love. And Christ said: "Come." Christ
allowed him to come that he may see his defect. . .that he lacked
faith, therefore, he sank. Peter was doing something great,
but human nature crept in and he feared. This shows it is
useless to be near Christ physically unless you are near Him by
faith.
V. Though Peter was the roughest
and probably the most uneducated, the apostles gave him the first
honours because Christ made him superior.
Why didn't Christ stop the wind when Peter
sank, but merely took his hand? Because he was wanting in
faith. For when our part in the act of faith is wanting, we
will sink. It was not the wind's fault; it was his lack of
faith that was Peter's downfall. "Why did you doubt?" So
Christ let the winds blow to show it does not harm when faith is
strong. Peter was like a nesting bird jumping out of the nest
before it is ready to fly. Mother bird usually puts it back
into the nest.
VI. In the first storm at sea,
Christ calmed the storm and the disciples uttered a common adage,
"Thou art the Son of God," In the second storm at sea, Christ
did not calm the storm, but the disciples uttered a deeper truth, "Of
truth, Thou art the Son of God." Henceforward, they came to a
true and full knowledge of HIM.
St. John Crysostom, "On Matthew"
(02-04-06)
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