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- 1164
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- 1129
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- 792 This makes us think of two things we know about Peter. He was a very *impulsive man*. That is, he often acted without thinking much. Once he was fishing in his boat, and saw Jesus walking on the shore. He could not be patient and let the boat come to shore, but jumped into the sea and embraced the Master with his dripping garment. On another occasion he drew his sword and cut off the ear of a servant of the High Priest, without stopping to think that the
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795 little band of disciples could be no match for the crowd of enemies by which they were surrounded, and that the Master did not want any such defence of himself.
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797 Now we all like to see people act quickly from noble and brave impulses, provided that, at the same time, they show good judgment. But quick impulses without judgment often get us into trouble. I have in mind a boy who will make a grand man; but he will have to get some hard knocks to teach him more discretion. In the class-room, if a question is asked of another scholar, this fellow cannot help snapping his fingers and calling out the answer. In playing foot-ball, he cannot keep his own place, and guard against his proper antagonist, but rushes pell-mell after the ball, and often spoils some fine play that his side is making by getting in the way of better runners than himself. The teacher calls him the “Irrepressible.” The boys call him “Fresh.” I should call him “Little Peter.”
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799 PETER WALKING ON THE SEA
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803 During the war a company was ordered one night to move in perfect silence so as to secure a position of advantage without alarming the enemy. A soldier in advance, seeing some gray coats in the distance, but within range of his rifle, could not resist the impulse to fire. The noise, of course, put the enemy on guard and spoiled the plans of the general. He was a brave “Peter.”
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805 A good engineer keeps his hand just as ready to use the air-brake as to pull the throttle and let on steam. A strong sense of propriety is the air-brake for an impulsive disposition. Unless you learn to use it you will be apt to jump the track.
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807 But Peter was a *presumptuous man* as well as an impulsive one. He was officious, pushing, self-asserting, presuming that he was wiser, stronger, and of more consequence than he really was. While the other disciples looked with awe at the Lord’s miracle, so fitting the character of Him who came to represent the Godhead
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810 to men, Peter presumed upon the propriety of his taking part in the stupendous deed. He, too, a man, would walk on the sea! He would add his little annex to the House Wonderful.
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812 Our Lord did not suggest this; He only permitted Peter to try the experiment that He might teach him his folly.
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814 And how miserably Peter failed! He not only could not walk on the water, but lost even his ordinary fisherman’s courage. I doubt if there was another man in the boat who would have been frightened if he had fallen overboard. But Peter, a strong swimmer, lost his presence of mind, became frightened, and cried out, “Lord, save me!” I wonder if some of the disciples did not whisper, “Served him right!” when they took him from Jesus’s hand and lifted him back into the boat?
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816 Somebody who reads this will say, “If Peter had only had faith enough he might have walked on the water,” for Jesus rebuked him, saying, “O thou of little
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