The Year of our Lord, Jesus Christ
Matthew 14:29
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Herein we read the great invitation of the New Testament. Come! Jesus invited Peter to come to Him as He was walking on the water, and Peter did! He came to Jesus, but in going to Him, Peter began to falter. He noticed the wind, the rain, and the waves and in the disciple’s natural understanding of sea waters Peter knew he should not be out there walking on water. As he began to sink the Lord stretched forth His hand, rescuing Peter.
This is how it is. Someone hears the Lord compelling them to “Come” to Him. No, they do not hear with an ear; they hear in their soul. Just a few chapters earlier the disciples heard Jesus cry: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 The Word “come” is used 673 times in the New Testament alone, 408 times (over half) this word is used in the four gospels. This is the Christian invitation; Come. Proof? In the last chapter of the Bible this invitation is still being given. Revelation 22:17 invites: And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. This invitation Come has continually been echoed down through the tunnel of time, throughout the over 2,000 years of the church age.
The Lord desires for each and every person on earth to come unto Him. He sends His ambassadors around the world to spread His Gospel and give His invitation. Pastors, preachers, missionaries, and evangelists are called, trained, and sent for this purpose. Parents, teachers, deacons, and church members in general have invested time, ego, finances, and prayer for the chance to extend to those in their realm of influence the invitation to simply come unto Jesus.
Yes, His call may be “Follow Me,” but His invitation is simply “Come.” For those who do, here is His promise: And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35 Now that is something worth accepting the invitation to Come.
Until Next Time,
William T. Howe, Ph.D.