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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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His Presence. We must still bear in mind <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

former excitement, now greatly intensified by what<br />

<strong>the</strong>y had just witnessed, in order to underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

request <strong>of</strong> Peter: ' Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come<br />

to <strong>The</strong>e on <strong>the</strong> water.' <strong>The</strong>y are <strong>the</strong> words <strong>of</strong> a<br />

man, whom <strong>the</strong> excitement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> moment has<br />

carried beyond all reflection. And yet this<br />

combination <strong>of</strong> doubt (' if it be Thou'), with<br />

presumption (' bid me come on <strong>the</strong> water'), is<br />

peculiarly characteristic <strong>of</strong> Peter. He is <strong>the</strong><br />

Apostle <strong>of</strong> Hope—<strong>and</strong> hope is a combination <strong>of</strong><br />

doubt <strong>and</strong> presumption, but also <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

transformation. With reverence be it said, Christ<br />

could not have left <strong>the</strong> request ungranted, even<br />

though it was <strong>the</strong> outcome <strong>of</strong> yet unreconciled <strong>and</strong><br />

untransformed doubt <strong>and</strong> presumption. He would<br />

not have done so—or doubt would have remained<br />

doubt untransformed; <strong>and</strong> He could not have done<br />

so, without also correcting it, or presumption<br />

would have remained presumption untransformed,<br />

which is only upward growth, without deeper<br />

rooting in inward spiritual experience. And so He<br />

bade him come upon <strong>the</strong> water,' to transform his

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