Friday, July 12, 2024
"Peter got out of the boat and came to Jesus on the water. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid. Beginning to sink, he cried out, 'Lord, save me.' Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him."
(Matthew 14:29-31)
The original gospel song, "Love Lifted Me," was written by James Rowe in 1912. The song was based on two stories about Jesus.
One inspiration was from Matthew 14:22-33. The disciples were in a boat, far from land and beaten by waves. They saw Jesus walking on the water. At Peter's request, Jesus commanded Peter to join him. Peter began walking on the water, but the storm scared him and he began to sink. Jesus caught Peter by the hand and lifted him up as they reached the boat.
The second influence was from Matthew 8:23-27. Jesus was asleep in a boat during a great storm. Thinking the boat would be swamped, the disciples wake Jesus. He rebukes the storm and calms the wind and waves.
Rowe used sinking into the sea as a picture of "sinking deep in sin...sinking to rise no more." Jesus, "Master of the sea," hears our cry for help, reaches out to us in love, and saves us.
In this version, the traditional lyrics for the chorus are set to a new melody, with two new verses and a bridge.