Jesus Walks on Water
“Lord, if its you,” Peter replied, “tell me to
come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat,
walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he
was afraid and,
beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached
out his hand and caught him.
“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:28-31
Mark Twain was accompanied by his wife on one of his visits to the Holy
Land. They were staying in Tiberius on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
It was a moonlit night, and the weather was perfect, which gave Twain the
romantic idea of taking his wife for a boat ride on the lake.
They walked down to the pier, and Twain inquired of a man sitting in a
rowboat how much he would charge to row them out on the water. Twain was
dressed in his usual white suit, white shoes, and white Texas hat. The oarsman,
presuming him to be a wealthy rancher from the USA, said, "Well, I guess
about twenty-five dollars." Mark Twain thanked him, and, as he turned away
with his wife on his arm, he was heard to exclaim, "Now I know why Jesus
walked!"
One of the things I like most about preaching regularly is the things
I learn about God for myself.
It's true.
I have said more than once that for me, preaching is just my own conversation
with God that I let other people listen in on.
But in preparation for Jesus taking Peter for a walk on the wild side...my
friend Tim Davis tells me it should be the Wet'N Wild side, before they go,
God showed me something very simple but so very incredible. Well for me
at least. Maybe its not so incredible to you, but it is to me.
Remember last week me saying about the miracle of fish and loaves that
I sympathized with what was happening between Jesus and his disciples when
they said to Jesus, "It's late. Send the people home."?
Any pastor knows what it is to have your family waiting in growing impatience
as you talk to everyone after the church service, and you see them standing
by the door mouthing to you, "Come ON, let's Go already!"
Jesus has just fed the crowd, and they have gathered up the left overs,
and Matthew says, Jesus sent his disciples on ahead while he dismissed them.
The sense of dismissing is that of saying good-bye to them. He could not
possibly have stood by the seashore and shook every hand, but he took the
time to say good-bye.
Why is this so enlightening? Well think of who Jesus is. We will
think about this again.
But Jesus even when he is tired and grieving for his cousin John, has
time for people. Then when he has taught and healed and probably blessed
a few babies and pregnant mothers, he sends his helpers on their way and
He stays behind to say good-bye.
I am told that in a royal reception, no one ever leaves before Her Majesty
the Queen.
Once she has gone, then its acceptable for other guests to leave, but
under no circumstance must you leave before she does.
I suppose in the world of kings and queens, and prime ministers and presidents
this is protocol.
But not with Jesus. He stays behind to say good-bye to his guests.
And once again, who is he?
He is the great I AM, the Alpha and Omega, the one through whom everything
that exists has its origin and being.
But he is the one who slows his steps to walk beside the one slowest among
us.
Jesus, the very expression of the living God, stays behind to say good-bye.
That is what God the eternal Father wants us to know about Him.
He cares that much about you. Your life is important. He knows you intimately
and will take the time for you.
So we have the disciples out on the water now.
After going to a private place on the mountain to pray for a while.
And notice something else here. Jesus goes to pray when he is most tired.
Most of us go to bed, but Jesus is refreshed by praying.
He sees his friends out in the boat, struggling with the waves, and comes
to them walking on the water.
This is a miracle that many of the scholars and commentators have difficulty
accepting.
I am much simpler than they, so I do not.
Not all do.
One of the main arguments is that Jesus never performs a miracle just
to make his life easier.
Again, the temptations in the wilderness were about how he would use his
status.
And he never performs a miracle to show his power or glory. He absolutely
refused to do that sort of thing.
So why now?
Dale Bruner, my favorite Matthew scholar says he does not walk on water
because he is divine.
This is not for the purpose of proving divinity.
Because Peter walks on it too for a moment, and he is far from divine.
He comes walking on water, and calls Peter to join him as an expression of
the resources of God
to anyone who is called. Paul writes in Romans 8, "what shall separate us
from the love of God?"
The answer is nothing.
Jesus says after his resurrection and at the commissioning of the church,
"All authority is given to me."
And by extension, If he calls us to follow, it doesn't matter if its on land
or on water. His resources are enough
to feed a multitude and enough for us to go whereever we are called.
But as they see Jesus coming to them, they are terrified.
Naturally.
Jesus response is.
Courage.
I am
Do not be afraid.
Courage. I am. This is usually translated "It is me" in English versions,
but the literal translation is simply "I am."
When Moses asks God by what name shall I call you, God replies, "My name
is I Am"
Do not be afraid. I Am is among you.
This is a revelation from God equivalent to Jesus baptism and his transfiguration,
where in each case the voice of God is heard.
Well the voice of God is heard again, but it comes through Jesus' lips.
This should push you back against your chair.
Two pictures of Jesus as the Great I Am.
The first is Jesus waiting to say good-bye to his guests.
The next we see Jesus he is lord of all the universe, including the waves,
speaking to them as the Great I Am.
And he says, Courage, do not be afraid.
When the diagnosis of cancer is spoken, the quiet voice of the familiar
Jesus says, Courage. I Am, Do not be afraid.
Not some remote God who just pass you by in the millions and billions of
people on the planet.
The same Jesus who takes time to say hello and to pronounce a benediction
to his friends. You and me.
When you get the phone call your child is seriously ill, or word your job
has been eliminated, or told your partner no longer wants to spend the rest
of life with you.
The reassuring voice of comfort is also The Great I Am.
I can offer words of comfort, but I cannot change anything in your life.
Your closest friend can offer comfort, but they cannot take away the tumor
in your body.
But when you are spoken to by the familiar voice of Jesus, He is the one
who commands the forces of the universe.
Courage.
The Great I Am is with us.
Do not be afraid.
Preached August 10, 2008
Dr. Harold McNabb
West Shore Presbyterian
Church
Victoria, British Columbia
Notes
Resources Consulted
Online Resources Consulted
http://www.preachingtoday.com/
Return to Main Sermon Page
Email Harold McNabb