THESE WERE THE FRANTIC WORDS REPORTEDLY YELLED BY PETER AS HE WAS SINKING BENEATH THE WAVES OF GALLIEE. JUST SECONDS BEFORE HE HAD BEEN DOING FINE. AT THE FIRST, ON THAT STORMY NIGHT, HE HAD BEEN TERRIFIED WHEN HE AND THE OTHER DISCIPLES SAW JESUS OUT IN THE SEA AMONG THE WAVES, WALKING ON THE WATER. PETER'S TYPICAL EXUBARANCE LED HIM OVER THE BOAT'S RAIL TO JOIN JESUS AS MASTER OF THE WAVES. BUT SOON THE ROILING REALITY OF THE SEA BROKE THE TRANCE AND PETER BEGAN TO SINK.

THE PAINTING CAME TO ME IN THIS WAY. IN THE MID 1970'S I WAS WORKING ON A SERIES OF BIBLE ILLUSTRATIONS. I WAS VISITING SOME FRIENDS IN TULSA, OK. AND WAS INVITED TO COME WITH THEM TO A BIBLE LESSON TAUGHT BY ORAL ROBERTS ON THE O.R.U. CAMPUS. DR. ROBERTS WAS SPEAKING ON THE STORY OF CHRIST WALKING ON THE WATER FROM, MATTHEW 14:22-33. HE WAS USING THE STORY AS A METAPHOR FOR HAVING THE FAITH TO OVERCOME SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS. IN TELLING THE STORY, ROBERTS, BEING THE GREAT SPEAKER HE IS, BROUGHT THE SCENE ALIVE TO ME AND I COULD SEE THIS PAINTING LITERALLY IN THE AIR BEFORE ME. THEN THE PREACHER WENT SILENT AND JUST STARED OFF INTO SPACE FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS; "I SURE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PAINTING OF THAT!" HE SAID. AND I KNOW WHO WILL PAINT IT, I THOUGHT.