7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
In our verses for today we discover the impulsive and passionate Peter zealously rushing to Jesus’ side – his conduct eminently characteristic with his nature. Acting on his present feelings, Pete wraps his outer garment around him and jumps out of the boat making a beeline through the water to the Lord. Zeal for Christ deserves respect even if it leads one to hasty and often reckless actions. Hot enthusiasm is much better than lukewarm indifference. Indeed, we discover this disciple fleshing out to us Paul’s words of Romans 12:
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11 (NIV)
I find it interesting to compare the two incidents that deal specifically with Peter on the water desirous of meeting with his Master. One where we discover him literally walking on the water and presently where he is wading or swimming through the water – both displays a passionate and earnest desire to get to the side of the Lord. I have to believe as Peter jumped into the water his mind raced back to a past time where he jumped out of that same ship to meet with the Jesus. God uses the memories of our past to jostle us in our present – always with an Eye towards our improvement and betterment - reminding us of His prior love, kindness, grace and faithfulness as well as calling to mind both blessings in our obedience’s and consequences in our disobediences. He is all about conforming us to the image of His Son and His tools of conforming are always according to the bents of His children. He individually woes and teaches us all in the ways best for us and he uses our circumstances to grow and mature us. He never wastes anything in our lives particularly our pain. We find in Matthew Peter’s walking on water experience:
25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matt 14:25-29 (NIV)
“Everything that happens to you is for your own good. If the waves roll against you, it only speeds your ship toward the port. If lightning and thunder comes, it clears the atmosphere and promotes your soul’s health. You gain by loss, you grow healthy in sickness, you live by dying, and you are made rich in losses. Could you ask for a better promise? It is better that all things should work for my good than all things should be as I would wish to have them. All things might work for my pleasure and yet might all work my ruin. If all things do not always please me, they will always benefit me. This is the best promise of life.” C.H. Spurgeon
It is also noteworthy that in his zeal Peter forgot all about the huge catch, the net, the boat and even his comrades – he appears to be very much a “one thing” person. Like the Samaritan woman who left behind her “water pot” at His feet, like Mary who sat listening to Him leaving her temporal duties behind, like Paul who counted all a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus His Lord – Peter demonstrates to us a love and affection for Christ that is supremely focused and extreme and one, I might add, worth emulation.
In the same token, we do not all possess the same spiritual gifting. Some disciples are granted by God very eminent gifts and graces as Peter and John; others - more ordinary disciples – who being more obscure, mind their duty and remain faithful to the Lord. There is a great difference between people in the way they bring honor to Christ – the main thing is to use our gifting to bring Him honor. Man may consider one gifting greater than another but God certainly does not. He cares only that we use the talent He gives us to bring Him glory. We must never forget all believers – the prominent and obscure alike - will one day sit down and dine together with Christ in heaven – praise Jesus for that! Paul tells us:
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:6 (NIV)
“The good news of the gospel is not that God will provide a way to make life easier. The good news of the gospel, for this life, is that He will make our lives better. We will be empowered to draw close to God and to love others well and to do both for one central purpose, to glorify God, to make Him look good to any who watch us live.” Larry Crabb, Shattered Dreams