The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 71

not with them In the ship, as he had been once before. There was a great wind; the ■hip was tossed with waves; they were In distress, toiling in rowing. Bnt the Lord saw them in their danger; he saw them from the lonely mountain where he was kneel- ing in prnyer; he saw and came. So ho sees us now from heaven, where he ever liveth to muke intercession for ua. He sees all our trials; and he comes, as then he came, to help anu to save. He sent them from him when they would have made him a Kin" ; he comes to them now they need his help. 2. They ,ee him roming. It was dark:'.... three or four in the morning; they were struggling still with wind and wave. They see, suddenly an august Form moving over the surface of the water, coming towards them, seeming as though it would pass by. It was a strange sight in the darkness of that tempestuous night. It increased their terror. It must be an apparition, they thought. It boded ill. Danger, death, was at hand. They cried out for fear. Then in that moment of agony there came a well-known voice, sweet and clear, amid the din of the storm, " Be of good cheer; it is I ; be not afraid." So the good Lord cheers his people now, in sickness, sorrow, in the hour of death. "It is I," he saitb. He comes to bis people in the hour o! need. He sees them in their distress from afar off, from the heaven where be is making intercession for them. He comes, manifesting himself in all bis love and mercy to those who cry to him in fear and peril. He cometh; it seems some- times as though he would pass by and leave us in our anguish. But it is only a trial of our faith, to make us feel our need of him-that without him we can do nothing. Faithful, earnest prayer always brings him to our side.. When he is with us, we can fear no more. " It is I; be not afraid." He is not afraid who bath the blessed presence of the Saviour. Wind and wave may roar; but when the Lord moves over the tossing billows there is peace and hope for the fearful trembling soul even in the immediate nearness of the king of terrors. " It is I; be not afraid." May we hear that gracious word, may we feel that gracious presence, in the hour of our death I 3. Peter. Peter, ever impulsive, ever impetuous, was not willing to wait for the coming of the Lord; he would go to him, and that upon the water. So ardent souls think to do great things and expuse themselves sometimes to great perils, over-estimating their own faith, under-esti- mating the danger, thinking perhaps too much of self, too little of others. " Bid me come unto thee," Peter said, as if he had a special interest in the Lord above his brother apostles, as if he indeed loved him more than these (John x:xi. 16). He would not come, indeed be dared not, without the Lord's bidding; but be asked for that bidding, Instead of waiting, as the Chri6tian should wait, to hear his Master's will Balaam, with baser motives, sought permission to expose himself to danger; he obtained his request, and it ended in his ruin. Peter was saved, but "scarcely" (1 Pet. iv. 18; perhaps his narrow escape was in bis thoughts when he wrote those words), by the Lord's direct interposition. Christ himself, when tempted to do the like, taught us the courso of duty. "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." But the Lord said, "Come." He said it, we may be sure, in love, to teach Peter his own weakness and the danger of presumption. Peter came, and he too walked upon the water. While he was strong in faith, looking unto Jesus, he felt the truth of that blessed promise, "When thou passest through the w11ters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." But his faith failed. He ceased to look with the steadfast gaze of trustfulness upon the face of Christ. "He saw the wind boisterous," It had been so from the beginning. He would not have seen it bad his eyes been still fixed upon the Saviour. And now he was afraid-be who but a moment before had been so daring. His very skill in swimming (John xxi. 7) failed him in bis extremity. Earthly resources will not help us when our faith gives way; and faith will give way when men look at their troubles, not at their Lord. He felt himself sinking. His friends were near, his brother disciples; but they could not help him in that great peril. In deep distress, in the hour of mortal anguish, One, only One, can help. "Out of the deep have I cried unto thee, 0 Lord. Lord, hear my voice." Peter still believed in Christ's love and power. His faith had not the calm strength which be had attributed to it, but it was true and real; it was like the faith of the poor father at the Mount of the Transfigura- tion: "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Ho looked again to Christ; " Lord, save me I" he cried. It is the prayer of humility and penitence and self-abase- ment. The trial had done him good. The danger had shown him his weakness. The 74 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MAT'l'H~W. [on. XIV. 1--86.