In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void… and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2) For the ancient people of the Bible the sea represented chaos that could only be brought into order by God the Creator. The sea was a dangerous place that harbored monsters and the dark powers of evil and destruction. Most of us today regard the sea with some fear and great respect for its power – I know I do.
Two weeks ago Bobby and I found ourselves in the midst of a storm at sea. We were safe and in a big boat. But when I went out on deck into the cold wind and rain and felt the high waves rock the boat, I wondered what it would be like to be with the disciples in their little boat straining against the wind.
Jesus needed time to be alone and pray, so he sent the disciples out in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. This body of water was a particularly tricky place. It was way below sea level and there were mountains around it which made for some strange contrary winds. They could blow first one way and then another and storms came up suddenly and fiercely. A storm came up and the boat was tossed this way and that by the wind. The disciples rowed all night. It was three or four in the morning and pitch dark. We can imagine they were cold and wet and exhausted. Would they make it to the other side?
In the midst of storm, in the darkest time of the night, in the moment of their greatest fear and discouragement …just when they thought they could never make it - Jesus came toward them. Scripture says he was walking on the water – Jesus had command of the sea and the chaos of the storm. He came to them with reassurance that he was near - “Have courage; It is I - Do not be afraid.”
You shouldn’t be surprised that Peter would be the first to call out to Jesus. “Lord, if it is you command me to come to you on the water.” Now let me ask you a question….If you want to walk on water what do you have to do first? (See how deep it is? Put on a raincoat?)
“Come.” says Jesus, and Peter did jump into stormy sea and he walked on the water for just a moment. I picture his eyes locked on Jesus like a child taking his first steps. Then he felt the strong wind and saw the trouble he was in and he couldn’t believe what he was doing. “I’m walking on water!” “I am not supposed to be walking on water!” “I am going to drown!” He took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink….like a rock. “Lord save me!” Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter …caught him forever so Peter could build his church. When Jesus got into the boat the wind calmed and they rowed on.
What do you do if you want to walk on water? “If you want to walk on water you’ve got to get out of the boat,” says John Ortberg in the title of his book.1 If you have ever felt you are not living the life God intends for you, I commend it to you. He says, “There is a consistent pattern in Scripture of what happens in a life that God wants to use and improve: “There is always a call” “There is always fear.” “There is always reassurance.” “There is always a decision.” “There is always a changed life.”
I want you to think for a moment of a time in your life when you did something that you just knew God wanted you to do. Were you afraid you might fail? Or not have all the skills you needed? Did a voice inside you keep nagging, “You can do this – just take the first step and try.” At some point did you have to make a decision for or against? Is your life different now because of it?
“As a follower of Jesus, you want to go where he calls you. But walk on water? What does that mean?” According to the author:
If you look up at the ceiling and around this nave you will find it reminiscent of a boat. So here we are - disciples in our church/boat. These days as we hear this scripture about boat with disciples straining against the wind in a fierce storm, we must be reminded of the church all over the world and the church here in our country struggling to navigate sometimes dangerous waters, trying to find our way in the storm of protest and controversy. The world in which we live is truly a stormy sea. Perhaps your life is a stormy place and the winds in each of our lives push us this way and that and sometimes it seems we cannot make any headway.
The God who was present over the waters at creation is the same God in Jesus Christ who came in the storm to the disciples. This same God in Jesus Christ calls us to come to him. What we have to do is keep our eyes on Jesus. If we see only the storm we will go under. Jesus calls us out of our boat – our comfort zone. We can trust him to feed us, shelter us and heal us. It is time to get feet wet - take the plunge. If you are living the life you believe God has called you to may you continue to go deeper into faith.
If life is stormy and you feel afraid and something is missing – It could be that God may be calling you into uncharted waters to do something you have never done –to be all that you can be. Get out of whatever boat you are stuck in-Come to him fearlessly, keep your eyes on the Son of God. Your life will never be the same. Amen
1. Ortberg, John. If You Want To Walk On Water, You’ve Got To Get Out Of The Boat. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2001.