The Wednesday after the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany of our Lord
Posted on February 5, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 14:22-33 (NKJV)
14:22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
Devotion
Storms on the Sea of Galilee are fierce and arrive with little or no warning. The seasoned fishermen among the disciples were of course aware of this, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t get frightened when their lives hung in the balance. Their journey across the sea started in the evening, and it was now the fourth watch (3 a.m. to 6 a.m.). They had been out a long time and the wind was against them, so they had little human resource left. In the stormy darkness they saw a shape, but assumed it to be a ghost (a common ancient superstition). But when they recognize the figure as Jesus, they know they are safe. Peter even becomes so bold as to leave the boat and meet Jesus on the water. But he soon succumbs to doubt as he enters the domain of the stormy sea. Jesus rebukes his weak faith as well as the wind, and all is calm once again.
In this miracle we see the helplessness of man when faced with storms from without. More importantly, we see the lack of man’s trust in his deliverance, even when the Deliverer is at hand. Dangers are inevitable in this sin-wracked world, and doubts will continue to haunt us as Satan uses such events to his advantage. May we never drift from our Savior. Let us feed our faith often, that our doubts may starve to death.
Collect: Almighty God, Who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant to us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
