Matt.14:23-25 – He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.
I recently read a comment by Augustine on this passage, he said the fourth watch was the final watch of the night. He believed this was prophetic and that the Lord would come in an amazing display of miracle power during the raging storm at the end of the age. We may not be in the darkest part of the storm yet but we have surely tasted the beginning of it over the last few years. The church has had some headwinds recently, at times it felt as if some of the waves would crash over us and bring us to the bottom of the sea. The disciples were in despair and had given all that they could when Jesus came to them walking on the water. Here are some comments from Augustine on this passage.
“The fourth watch of the night marks the end of the night. One watch consists of three hours. This means that at the end of the world the Lord will come to the rescue, and he will be seen walking on the water. Although this ship is tossed by the storms of temptation, it sees the glorified Lord walking upon all the billows of the sea—that is, upon all the powers of this world. For through the voice of his Passion he gave an example of humility according to the flesh. Those waves of the sea to which he willingly submitted for our sake were stilled, in accordance with the prophecy: “I came to the height of the sea, and the storm swallowed me up.””
Maybe you are in the middle of one of these storms, all of us have had our fair share recently. Apparently these recent storms are a sign of the end of the age, the fourth watch of the night. If all that is true we should look again out into the storm and see if we can see Jesus. He may ask you to get out of the boat and join Him in His water walking ways. When the storms are the greatest His glory is greater still. I think some great things are about to happen.
The anticipation is churning inside as the signs and waves move further inward towards the inhabitants. Ready or not……
“The storm is thy shelter from danger and sin,
And God Himself takes thee for safety within;
The tempest with Him passeth into deep calm,
And the roar of the winds is the sound of a psalm.
Be glad and serene when the tempest clouds form;
God smiles on His child in the eye of the Storm”.—?