That Instant in Peter’s Life — Whatever Happened? Part 2.

BUT what really happened to Peter in Matthew 14:29-31? Why did he take his eyes off Jesus?The physical sensations of the rocking waves and the blowing wind overrode Peter’s focus.  The life experiences of the past twenty-four hours some how got lost in his rational thinking.  He forgot about the miracles he’d just seen. He must have thought, “Oh, my God, what am I — a mere man — doing walking on water?” At that moment he stopped walking by faith. He let sight and sensations take over.  He took his eyes off Jesus. And he started to sink. Peter called out.  “Save me.” (Greek  for save = sozo.)  That request “sozo" encompassed several pleas:  “Keep me safe.  Don’t let me suffer.  Deliver me from my punishment.” Immediately Jesus reached out and took hold of Peter’s hand. The verb “took hold of” [his hand] is packed with meaning.  The Greek word is epilambanomai (e-pi-lam-bahn’-no-my). It combines a preposition that speaks of position, epi,  with the big verb lambanomai. Epi refers to a position of coming from all directions.  Specifically epi  means before, against, over, on. — you name it.  It means “all around”, like an epicenter.  Lambonaomai  suggests some marvelous ideas, such as:  to lay a hold of something;  to take up something in order to carry it; to take the thing unto oneself so it becomes one’s own; and to select it specifically. So when he reached out his hand, Jesus did several things for Peter: Simply put, the Savior took hold of his hand, and literally kept him from sinking.  Also, operating within all dimensions (epi) — before, after, above, below —Jesus carried Peter wherever the LORD wanted him to go.  Here in this act, the Messiah also pulled Peter unto himself to be his own beloved disciple.Finally,  the Master selected Peter specifically and uniquely for a special relationship. Whatever happened in that instant when Peter took his eyes of Jesus?  Was it a mistake? Did something good come out of that lapse of faith? Yes, indeed.  Peter experienced the marvel of Jesus’s taking a hold of him, not just to save him from drowning, but to carry him far and to establish a precious relationship. Peter braved a tough storm, felt terror and the humiliation of near-drowning.  Yet, Peter experienced a moment of the miraculous.  He did walk on water.  And, despite his shaky faith, Jesus did take hold of Peter in a mighty way.  Peter was named “the Rock,”  and upon him, the Church was built.