Matthew 14;25-31 (KJV)
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?
Ephesians 5;21-33
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
I HONESTLY AM BEING LED TO CONNECT THESE TWO PASSAGES AND LET YOU KNOW THAT IT IS FOR THOSE CURRENTLY QUESTIONING MARRIAGE. WHETHER TO BE WED, STAY MARRIED, OR THE ENDING. THIS IS FOR ALL OF US!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was awaken this morning to these two passages facing each other. Through prayer, I confessed that I didn't desire to, publically, comment on any stage of marriage; from an instructional standpoint, due to the failure of my marriage. Plus, I do not desire to call into question any of the actions my ex-wife may have committed. I have dealt with all of that; to come to terms with what has occurred: right or wrong. What Christ directed me to concentrate on is actually focused between Matthew (14;27) and Ephesians (5;32), but these entire passages: in their total combination, are 'good' for learning; for the single person, married spouse, or divorcee with hopes, prayers, and desire to be married again. Yes!!!! I got a little fearful too, but as soon as I released myself I saw the glorious benefit Christ is given to us through this presentation.
We must get a good, overall view of Peter in this section of Matthew's account. First, and foremost, Peter was, by far, the boldest of the disciples: his zeal in protecting Christ, willingness to speak the truth of who Jesus truly was; the Christ, and his quick utterance of devout partnership with Christ, "I will not ever deny you."
This is also a few of the reasons why I confess that Peter is my favorite apostle. I like to think I have his passion for alerting those I come into contact with about Christ, and that I am a bit 'roughshot' as a representor of the Gospel. Read about him, you will understand about me a little better.
Anyway, in this text Peter, along with the other disciples, are out on the water: a sea of water, so their senses are affected by the physically present set of circumstances. Also, it at the darkest point of the night (I pray this registers to you), and as the text shows these individuals are by themselves in this boat. In the same situation, surrounded by the same set of physical circumstances; being beat about upon the sea by the wind (v24). When Christ comes unto them, walking on the water, they become fearful. It is at this point the area of marriage comes into view. The times when the hardness, harshness, difficulty, and press of "what do we do" occurs.
These individuals have never experienced this type of situation, especially since thy began walking with Christ. It is night; the darkest part of the night, this boat (situation) is rocking, being tossed around, they probably are sick to their stomache, probably crying, praying. And by the text, we know without doubt they are scared because as soon a they see Christ coming toward them, they cry out. More like scream I would surmize. This is probably what a section of you single people envision marriage to be like: even if you are in church. Maybe that is why Paul, in Ephesians, stated that marriage IS a mystery? Maybe your mind, as a single person, cannot fully comprehend the situation (being in the boat) until you are actually in it?
Seeing their state of panic, not recognizing that he is present with them, Christ calls out to them to, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."
Now, it is at this point in being shown these two passages that Christ said, to me, "Do you see how Peter walked out, physically, what Paul wrote to the Ephesians concerning marriage?" This is where I raised up and said back to Christ, "Are you stating that I didn't perform, faithfully, according to Ephesians, the instructions given to the husband?"
"Well son, if you allow me to show you, you will actually be able to see the EXACT place of divorce."
Okay, back to Peter. He, hearing the familiar voice; but not exactly sure it is Christ, calls out to him and asked for permission to be where Christ is standing a that very moment. (Here is the place in the passage that is expressly meant for us divorcees). Christ tells him, "Come". Understand? There wasn't no instruction other than 'come'. Just like in Ephesians, the instructions are clear, simple, easy, with room for more inquiry if needed. Peter stepped out on an unfamiliar substance: unfamiliar to his natural senses, his reasoning about physical properites of water to man's weight, and very unfamiliar to his internal warning system called "Trust". Not to mention the mindset of those who were in the boat (situation) with him. They are witnessing this man; their fellow student of Christ Jesus, get out onto this unfamiliar place, and he ain't sinking!!!!! What is it doing to their state of being; their solidification of trust in Christ? (Run back to Ephesians 5;25-26) Watching Peter go before them, boldly, depending only on the simple instruction of Christ HAD TO readjust these individuals mindset concerning any further instruction given by Christ. This is why it is very important we, divorcees, see what is being shown at this point. Peter didn't concern himself with the 'what ifs' before stepping out onto the water, and as he began walking he didn't take his eyes off Christ. This is what I have to believe is why he, Peter, was as bold as he was. What do I mean? The boldness placed within him was the character trait that moved Peter to not only ask to go out onto the sea; to be with Christ, but it is also what propelled him to make the step. Something I didn't allow when my marriage was being tossed, and beat about by the wind.
Which brings us to the area of the passage that is for those who are still married and maybe encountering that situation (the boat). Peter, is walking out to Christ and he is now "seeing" the wind. Seeing it get a little more forceful, rapid, rough to his flesh, and it is getting scary. His warning system "Trust" goes to DEFCON 6, which is registering imminent death is coming. For this reason, most of us wouldn't blame Peter for becoming fearful, but once again if we bounce, real quickly, over to what Paul wrote to those individuals in Ephesus, (Ephesians 5;22, 25, 33,) we can see that if Peter would not have taken his focus off Christ Jesus, he wouldn't have given acknowledgement to the wind. Why can that be said? Well, like most married people who may be sinking due to 'looking' at all of what they are dealing with, they are crying out, to Christ. "Lord, save me." (Matthew 14;30b)
And, this presentation has come, just like Christ's outstretched hand that reached for a sinking Peter, to grasp all of us: no matter where we are when it comes to marriage. That is why we must study those set of scriptures in Ephesians in conjunction to this passage in Matthew. It is because Christ is asking us, just like he asked Peter, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (The place of divorce)
We have been given a playbook, of sorts, to follow for success. If we pay more attention to the situation, circumstance, or our reluctance to trust then we will sink. Our efforts to have a successful marriage will come under jeopardy of failure. Yes! This is another bitter pill we have to swallow. If I were to place all of my actions committed during my marriage against the instructions given to me by Christ, I would definetely see where I was taken out: by the wind as soon as I stepped out of the boat. For I allowed for my attention to be immediately consumed by it. I didn't focus on Christ at all. And, when I cried out to Christ for assisance my ex had already found another way to save herself. Leaving me to have to focus on Christ for myself. Feelings of failure, depression, mistrust, foolishness, and doubt I gave to Christ, for him to save me out of the aftermath of the sinking. Again, this probably why Paul made the statement that it is a 'mystery', because all of those instructions are speaking solely to Christ and the church. This presentation is not mainly meant for singles, married couples, or divorcees. No, it is meant for Christ's church; his bride; his body. Yes, I speak of us; all of us. We must be prepared for reception of our Bridegroom more than we prepare ourselves for a wife or husband (earthly).
Prayerfully, this given presentation has reached the individuals it is meant to reach. Know that Christ is right there, with you, instructing you and ready to reach for you in the moments of blowing winds, when you may lose focus of him. He saved me from sinking.
Holla,
Yer Brova Catalyst
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