Safe on the Water: Matthew 14:22-33 - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

old brown boat by Martin Sercombe.  Creative commons image on flickr.

²²[Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while he dismissed the crowds.²³And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. ²⁵And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. ²⁶But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. ²⁷But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
  ²⁸Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³²When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (NRSV)

Source: Facebook

Source: Facebook

Last Sunday, the Three Rivers Regatta held its annual “Anything That Floats Race.”  It’s a contest where people build boats out of household materials and race them.  You can use anything to build your boat except for materials one would use to build an actual boat.

Some people put a lot of effort into their “crafts;” others, not so much.  Either way, you’d better be brave if you’re going to paddle up the Allegheny in one of these things.  Nevertheless, if your “boat” won’t float, you can be certain that you will be rescued within seconds. 

Therefore, the danger of the Anything that Floats Race absolutely pales to the comparison of boat travel and fishing in Jesus’ day. 

The fishing boats of Jesus’ day could easily be likened to “floating death traps.” For starters, they were rather small, about thirty feet long.  Since wood was scarce and fishermen were expendable, safety was of little concern.

In today’s Gospel, as Jesus’ disciples are sailing through a deadly storm across the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus has sent them on ahead while he is off by himself in prayer. All night long, the disciples and their ramshackle boat are being tossed and battered by the winds and waves.  Keep in mind—they didn’t have life jackets; they didn’t have swimming lessons at the Y… 

There was a very good chance they were going to die.  And then Jesus shows up.  Walking on the water.

“Take heart.  It is I.  Do not be afraid,” Jesus says.

At this second, Peter is so overcome with hope that he asks Jesus to command him to come out to him on the water.  Jesus says, “come.”  Peter walks on the water—until he is once again overcome by the danger and death all around him.  He cries out, “Lord, save me!”  And Jesus reaches out his hand and saves him.

So what’s the moral of the story?  Have enough faith and you’ll walk on water?  Keep your eyes on Jesus or you’ll go under?

You will inevitably find yourself clinging to life as death rages all around you.  (If that hasn’t happened to you yet, it will.)  You cry out to Jesus, just like you’ve always done.  But the sky gets darker…  Lightning crashes…  The waters rise. You’re all alone—and you’re going under… 

Fear is the most natural human response to all of this—and faith doesn’t make fear go away.  But fear can make faith go away.

The good news, however, is that even if you don’t keep your eyes on Jesus, Jesus still has his eyes on you.  

That’s the miracle of the story: not that Jesus walked on water, but why.  You are a child of God—and Jesus will not allow you to go under.  Your fear and doubt cannot keep him away. 

Being a Christian doesn’t keep storms away.  But when they come, you will see God’s glory in them.  Jesus will go into the storm and show you the power of his deliverance!  Jesus will take your hand in his and hold you.  And even if your faith is failing and you feel you’re going down, Jesus will still be reaching out his hand. And when you die, Jesus is still holding onto you and dying with you.  And his hand will one day raise you up from the grave. 

When you can’t, Jesus will.

I’ve know a lot of people who have amazing faith—but none of them can walk across the Kiski River without getting their feet wet.  And they certainly didn’t sail through the storms of life while singing and dancing.  They doubted.  They were afraid.  But they had faith and hope—because of Jesus. 

Every day, I see you braving the world’s most terrible storms to be that hand of Jesus reaching out in love and taking hold of people in their moment of most desperate need.  People in this church are advocating for seniors to help them get healthcare and medicine.  You take children into your homes who have nowhere else to go.  You go to hospitals and visiting the sick and homebound.  You invite people to church regularly (when the average Lutheran invites someone to church once every 23 years!)  You make sure everyone experiences this church as their family.  You share your faith stories and praying out loud with people!  You feed the hungry; clothe the naked; you comfort the grieving.  You give generously of your talent and treasure even when the money is tight. 

And yes, these are difficult times for the Church, especially here in Leechburg.  The storms are raging louder and stronger than ever before.  But you are walking on water—because of Jesus.  Your hands are delivering people out of the deluge and calming the storms.  God’s salvation is shining through it all. 

Jesus has brought us together to become a safe harbor and a rock of safety.  And Jesus is going to remain right here, in the midst of it all, to see his saving power in each other and to eat and drink of his life—until the waves calm down, the darkness disappears, and the kingdom of God’s peace and justice dawn.

“Take heart.  It is I.  Do not be afraid.”