Who Commands?

 November 23, 2024

The other day I was reading in Matthew’s gospel where Peter walked on water (chapter 14). You know the story. Peter got out of the boat and walked on water as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. But when he looked around him at the storm, he began to sink. There’s a boatload of lessons in that, but I’m intrigued by one detail that we tend to overlook. It’s found in verse 28.

“And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.””

Doesn’t that sound like a strange thing for Peter to say? I’ve been puzzling over it for a few days now, until last night when I compared it to another part of Matthew’s gospel:

Those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” —Matthew 27:39-40 

Did you catch the contrast in the “ifs?” Peter’s statement was “If it is you Lord, command me…” The skeptics at the cross said, “If you are the Son of God, come down…” Peter’s “if” invited Jesus to command him. The skeptics “if” tried to command Jesus. There are times when we’re not sure about what God is up to, but if we invite Jesus to command us, we’ll be OK. But if we try to command him, we’ll remain skeptics who keep their distance from him throughout eternity. In the storms of life, we must never forget who does the commanding.