«Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away» (Matthew14:22).
The command was strange. Why just at that moment? The crowd was ready to crown Him king. What more did they want? He healed them and gave them to eat. He satisfied their needs. Perhaps He was too modest, and they needed to insist a little more? They were willing to do so, but they did not understand.
As our parents often made us obey quickly in a state of emergency without asking why because they anticipated something that we were not able to see, Jesus commanded the disciples to leave. It had all ended up in nothing! However, Jesus spoke to them with an authority that He had never used with them. He knew that if their expectations were met, His whole plan would be made difficult! How different our eyes are …
Things were getting serious. Jesus needed to pray, to intercede for His people, for His disciples, for His plan, for the future.
The disciples obeyed in part. They did not set sail immediately but waited on the shore to see if He was coming.
What must they have talked about in those moments? They were unhappy, impatient, denied, and blamed for not having insisted more.
“Unbelief was taking possession of their minds and hearts. Love of honor had blinded them. They knew that Jesus was hated by the Pharisees, and they were eager to see Him exalted as they thought He should be. To be united with a teacher who could work mighty miracles, and yet to be reviled as deceivers, was a trial they could ill endure. Were they always to be accounted followers of a false prophet?.” (The Desire of Ages, ch. 40, p. 380). Thus they continued in their machinations until the dark night became only a reflection of the spiritual darkness that blinded them. The infuriating storm arrived and with vain efforts, they saw that they needed their Master.
«Not for a moment did [Jesus from afar] lose sight of His disciples. With deepest solicitude His eyes followed the storm- tossed boat with its precious burden; for these men were to be the light of the world (ibid, p. 381).
Perhaps your plans and ideas that are “better” than God ‘s have blinded you spiritually today. However, if, like Peter, we cry, «Lord, save me,» Jesus will immediately hold our outstretched hands. We, too, must be the light of the world.
