SERMON 151 - SUNDAY 9 AUGUST 2020

 Sermon on 9^th Sunday after Trinity  -  Clarendon Team Service during Coronvirus Lockdown   – Sunday 9th August 2020

Matthew 14:22-33

Peter, joining Jesus in walking on the water is one of my favourite passages in the New Testament. It is a passage which gets to the very heart of faith, of trusting in Jesus in our lives, of taking a risk, a chance, of answering a call with all its seeming dangers.  In short, it is a metaphor for how we should live as Christians in a world so full of dangers.

Let’s look at the passage, though in the whole.  This scene follows on from those we have been hearing over the last few weeks – the parable of the sower, the parable of the weeds and all those other short parables; the feeding of the five thousand.  Jesus has been busy teaching to vast numbers of people who have been following him around wanting to hear more and more from him following his teaching at the Sermon on the Mount.  He is like a modern day “pop idol” and it is clear that he is becoming weary and needs some recharging of his batteries, both physically and spiritually.

We therefore find him, at the beginning of the passage dismissing his disciples and sending them on their way to the other side of the Sea of Galilee whilst he has some quiet time away from them and everyone up a mountain praying to his Father.  This is the first of the important revelations for us – even Jesus in human form needed some R and R and also needed to commune with his Father through prayer. We like Jesus need to take this example and first and foremost ensure that we are in a good place ourselves.

For a second time we then read that the boat carrying the disciples is being battered by waves on the lake.  People who have visited the Holy Land have told me that even today massive storms can suddenly spring up on this inland lake due to winds funnelling down the Jordan and that they can be terrifying. Again it seems that the disciples are fearful because they are still far from the shore and if you have ever been in a sailing boat you will know how difficult it is to reach land if the wind is against you.  It requires much skill at tacking and can add many miles on to your journey.  This is presumably what the disciples were doing when a ghostly figure comes walking towards them across the turbulent waves.  It must have really added to their fear thinking that perhaps their time was up! 

Then suddenly they hear a familiar voice and a reassurance not to be afraid. Jesus doesn’t appear to admonish them as seemed to be the case in the earlier story of his calming the storm.  Perhaps the disciples now, at long last, realised the strength and power of Jesus in being able to command the winds and the waves. In fact Peter has such bravado that he invites Jesus to command him to get out of the boat and walk towards him.  Once again, Peter seems to be putting on a bit of show to try and show the others that his faith is so strong.

Jesus responds by beckoning him saying “come”!   I have a wonderful vision of Peter suddenly getting cold feet at having his bluff called.  I am sure that would be me! So Peter, having made his declaration steps out of the boat and finds himself able to walk on the surface of the lake.  I am sure he was shocked and surprised possibly to the extent that suddenly he thinks about what he is doing, realises the waves are still turbulent and starts to sink.  Suddenly his faith is put in doubt by the circumstances surrounding him.  Surely it’s not possible, it goes against nature and the waves are truly dangerous.

Jesus catches him, puts a reassuring arm on Peter’s shoulder asking him why he had such little faith and doubt.  The disciples are reassured that they have been re-united with Jesus and are reminded that he is the Son of God.

Don’t we all sometimes feel and act like Peter?  This story also illustrates and foretells Peter’s denial of Jesus too on Good Friday morning.  When the going gets tough Peter’s faith and loyalty evaporates.  Jesus knew this in advance but Peter’s intentions were always good.  Peter being a fisherman would have known the Lake and its weather systems well.  In going out to great Jesus on the water he would have known the dangers.  At first he put everything to the back of his mind and simply followed Jesus’s calling.  All was fine and he achieved what he really wanted to do – walk on the water with Jesus. Only when he let his mind start to question the logic of what he was doing did he start to sink.

We ourselves must learn from this.  Not to blindly follow but to have the faith that when we are called we will be protected by the one who calls us and we will never be called upon to do something which is not possible. Faith is about believing and obeying.  We will then be able to walk forward and not sink. As our faith grows, like the mustard seed, so we too may be called to greater and seemingly more impossible things. The message is simple - Have faith and grow.