LOOKING TO JESUS

January 1, 1987 Issue
Doug Edwards

In Matthew's account of the gospel we find an incident recorded dealing with Peter walking on the water. The Lord had just fed the 5,000 and then "constrained" his disciples to go by boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. It was at the fourth watch of the night that Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. At first the disciples were afraid, thinking He was a spirit. As soon as Jesus revealed himself, Peter asked to walk on the water to Him. Matthew then writes, "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" (Matthew 14:29-30).

I wonder if there is not a little lesson in all of this for us to learn. Im sure there is and it deals with keeping our spiritual eyesight looking to Jesus. What was Peters problem? Peters faith wavered when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the waves around him. What makes my faith weaken? My faith weakens when I look at the things around me (self, money, afflictions, problems) and not at Jesus.

The Hebrew writer encourages us to "run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (12:1-2). What happens in the Christian race when we look at Jesus? We become as Christlike as possible. It is a law of nature that we are molded in our moral feelings by those individuals with whom we associate. We are like a sponge. We soak up their opinions, copy their habits and imitate their manners. Their ideas become ours, their ways our ways.

So it should be when we look on Jesus. His image will be reflected in us. Paul words it this way, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18). May we always look on Jesus!