193. Rock Goes The Gospel - Bad Company - "Holy Water"

Holy Water is the ninth studio album by Bad Company, and their third with Brian Howe as lead vocalist, released in June 1990. It went platinum, selling over 1,000,000 units, and climbed to #35 on The Billboard Top Pop Albums Chart. The first single "Holy Water", was a #1 Billboard Album Rock Track for two weeks during the Summer of '90 as the band toured the U.S. with Damn Yankees. The single "If You Needed Somebody" became a major hit in early 1991, reaching # 16 on Billboards Hot 100 chart and #2 (for two weeks) on the Album Rock chart. "Boys Cry Tough"(#3), "Stranger, Stranger"(#9) and "Walk Through Fire"(#28 Hot 100 chart / #14 Album Rock chart) also received substantial airplay.

In my life, there's been changes
But nothing seems to satisfy me the way you do, no
You make it easy, the way you please me, everytime I'm close to you
All this temptation, I can't see wrong from right
It's a new sensation, you know I'm blinded by the light

[Chorus:]
(Feels like) I'm walking on holy water
Feels like I'm walking on sacred ground, baby
(Feels like) I'm walking on holy water, everytime (that) you come 'round

You were all I ever wanted, never had a girl in my life 'til I met you, oh no
I got a certain feeling, you got my senses reeling
Whenever I get close to you
You're my salvation, I found you just in time
My one temptation, you know I can't believe you're mine

[Chorus]

Ooh yeah, it's funny how it see,s like yesterday, lovin' of the first degree
One word was all I heard you say, ooh baby
It's funny what you've done to me, just wanna see you run to me

[Solo]

All this temptation, I can't see wrong from right
It's a new sensation, you know I'm blinded by the light

[Chorus repeats out]

This song was released in 1990 as part of the "Holy Water" Album. The lyrics are strong with emotions of love. It's a classic rock track in the true sense. It#s about love. It's a track that nails the "Your the only one for me" type lyrics. It's a worship song set in tune to a woman who has captured the narrator's heart. The devotion this morning involves water of a different kind and comes from Matthew 14: Peter with the rest of the disciples is called to have courage and not be afraid, Peter takes this moment to take a step further.

By providing for the crowds, Jesus showed himself greater than a human magician who could just heal some individuals or turn some stones into bread. At the least, Jesus was a prophet like Moses or Elisha (vv. 13-21; Ex 16:14-18; 2 Kings 4:42-44). But by treading on the sea, Jesus now takes a role that the Hebrew Bible had reserved for God alone (Job 9:8; see also Ps 77:19; Hab 3:15; Nevertheless, as in an earlier storm scene, Matthew is interested here in teaching us not only Christology but also about the requisite faith for disciples (Mt 8:26). Of all the disciples, Peter alone begins to walk, and Jesus wants Peter to succeed. this time he fails but there will be other times when Peter comes through.

The Setting for the Miracle (14:22-24)
From the setting we already see Jesus as a man of prayer (v. 23). Rather than sticking around to reap the political benefits of his miracle, Jesus retires to prayer, which, unlike political advancement, is central to his mission (compare Jn 6:15). We also learn that the fact that disciples face difficult situations does not mean that Jesus is not the One who sent us (Mt 14:22, 24).

Jesus' Coming Should Bring an End to Fear (14:25-27)
If the disciples were still struggling against the winds at the fourth watch of the night-the Romans divided the night into four instead of the Jewish three watches-the disciples must have been exhausted. Probably accustomed to awakening around 6:00 a.m., they instead found themselves still trying to cross the lake between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. We may chide the disciples for accepting the popular notion of ghosts, but the biggest offense here is that they still underestimate Jesus' power. It has not occurred to them that he could know their plight, walk on water to come to them or catch up to them in a storm! To their credit, however, the fear issue seems to be solved once they recognise that their teacher is with them. They knew him well enough to know that if he was there, he would bring them through their storm.

Jesus Wants Us to Imitate His Works (14:28-31)
Although the proposal that Peter walk on water is first Peter's idea (v. 28), Jesus' response indicates that he approves of it (v. 29). Peter is gently reproved not for presumptuously stepping from the boat but for presumptuously doubting in the very presence of Jesus (v. 31; compare 6:30; 8:26; 16:8; 17:20;  Disciples were expected to imitate their masters, and Jesus is training disciples who will not simply regurgitate his oral teachings but will have the faith to demonstrate his authority in practice as well. Once Jesus has given the command, walking on water is simply a matter of trusting the One who has performed so many miracles in the past. Peter's failure comes as he observes the wind (14:30), looking to his situation rather than to God's power that is sustaining him. Still, Peter knows by this point whom to cry out to; his feeble attempt to walk on water is no more feeble than our first attempts to walk on land. Our faith may be more infantile than Peter's if we have never even tried to step out in obedience to Jesus' commands or direction for our lives; many of us have less practice walking in faith than a two-year-old has walking physically.It is important to note that while Jesus is disappointed with Peter's inadequate faith, Peter has acted in greater faith than the other disciples-he is learning. Faith cannot be worked up by formulas or emotion, but it grows through various tests as we continue to trust our Lord and he continues to teach us. Faith grows out of a relationship with the Person of Jesus, and in no other way.

Jesus Has Authority to Settle Any Crisis (14:32)
As soon as they enter the boat, the wind grows still. Stilling storms was a sign of God's authority in the biblical record. The disciples may recall an earlier occasion on which Jesus simply commanded and the storm died down (8:26); this time, however, the storm acts out of respect for him-apparently without so much as requiring a word on his part.

Jesus' Power Leads the Disciples to Acknowledge His Identity (14:33)
Their knowledge will still need to be tested outside the excitement of miracles (16:15), but the disciples nevertheless offer the correct response. When we recognise Jesus' works, thereby learning more of his character, the appropriate response is to worship him. This will deepen our relationship of faith with the Lord we love.

A Correct Response To The Presence Of Jesus.

Walking on water is a commitment to a correct response. Whether walking on ordinary water or in the Bad Company song walking on "Holy Water" it is the correct response to the presence of Jesus. It is the correct response that all disciples are encouraged to take. Walking is the response of faith. It did not matter that Peter failed what mattered is that he got out of the boat at all. The other did not. May you get the opportunity today to respond to the leading of Jesus by faith and get yourself out of the boat.