Face Storms

A Lesson in Christian Courage From Galilee

8.13.23 [Matthew 14:22-33] River of Life (12th Sunday after Pentecost)

Grace and mercy to you from him who is, and who was, and who will come again—our Lord and Savior and God’s own Son, Jesus Christ.

It may not feel like it, but for most of our community, summer is over. School is back in session. By now, most of the students and teachers in our community have the first week under their belts. They have learned each other’s names & figured out their class schedules. But teaching is more than just being in the right room or the right book.

Great teachers know how to adapt lessons so that their students actually understand and retain the material. Great teachers recognize that not all students learn in the same manner. Some of their students learn by reading and taking notes and filling out worksheets. Some need to see it in graphs and pictures and diagrams. Others learners get more when they discuss the concepts and hear from people who have been there and done that. Still others need to learn by trial and error. They want to put concepts into practice. Field trips help history and science and math come alive for them. It’s a tall task to teach such a variety of learning styles. But great teachers do what they can because they have a passion for teaching & a love for their students.

In today’s Gospel reading, we see Jesus taking his students, the 12 disciples, through an intensive course of instruction and preparation. We are used to seeing Jesus teaching in the Gospels. But it seems that he saved some of his most higher level lessons for when he and his disciples were out on the Sea of Galilee.

First, it was when he called Peter, James, & John to be his disciples. Jesus was teaching the crowds gathered on the shore from Peter’s boat. Then Jesus told Peter to put out to deep water and let down his nets. Peter had not caught anything all night, but because Jesus said so, he let down his nets. Suddenly, his nets were busting at the seams. They filled that boat with the fish and it began to sink. So Peter signaled to James and John to come and help him. They loaded that boat, too, and they began to sink, as well. When Peter saw all this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, (Lk. 5:8) Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man! Of course, Jesus didn’t listen to Peter’s request. Instead he said, (Lk. 5:10) Don’t be afraid. From now on you will fish for people.

The next lesson was when a furious storm popped up while Jesus was asleep in their boat. The boat was quickly swamped and they cried out: (Mk 4:38) Teacher, don’t you care if we drown? Jesus did.

So he got up and rebuked the wind and the waves by saying: Quiet! Be still. And again the disciples were afraid and asked each other (Mk. 4:41) Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!

Today’s lesson takes place in that same classroom. Jesus just fed 5,000 men plus women and children and compelled his disciples to get into the boat and go on ahead of him back to Gennesaret, near Capernaum. After he dismissed the crowd, Jesus went up on the mountainside to spend six or so hours in prayer. Remember Jesus had been trying to get away from the crowds to grieve the execution of John the Baptist.

Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to meet them, walking on the lake. But when the disciples saw him in that early morning light, they were terrified. They cried out in fear thinking he was a ghost. But Jesus said to them: (Mt. 14:27) Take courage. I am. Don’t be afraid.

At this point, the lesson seems to be a repeat. Jesus demonstrates his divine power. The disciples are afraid. Jesus tells them not be afraid and shows them his power and plan for them. That makes sense. Repetition is the mother of learning. But that is not where this lesson ends, is it?

Peter says, (Mt. 14:28) Lord, if it’s you, command me to come to you on the water. Here’s where we naturally zero in. We have a lot of questions. What does Peter mean by If it’s you? Why would Peter ask such to walk on water? Doesn’t he know how poorly this could all go? And why does Jesus say yes? Doesn’t he know how poorly this is all going to go?

But before we can even get the questions out of our mouths, Peter is out of the boat. Walking on water toward Jesus. Then when he saw how the wind was kicking up the waves, he got scared and began to sink. Surely Jesus saw this coming! Surely he knew how Peter would react! So why does he bid him Come if he knew how this was all going to turn out?

Some people are visual learners. Others need to talk it out. Some learn best when they read something. Others figure it out through trial and error. But the best, the most unforgettable lessons are driven home deeply by personal experience. Peter needed this lesson. So do we.

Because there are times, just like Peter, when we’re scared to do what God is calling us to do. I’m not talking about some inner inclination or leaning in life. I’m talking about red-letter commands from Christ. I’m talking about plain-as-day directions from God’s Word. ((Eph. 4:32) Forgive one another as I have forgiven you. (Mt. 26:41) Watch and pray that you do not fall into temptation. (Mt. 5:25, 33) Do not worry about your life, but seek first God’s kingdom. (1 Th. 5:17) Pray continually.

The first step in all those things can be scary but it’s not complicated. Because of what Christ has done for us, we have the capacity and the strength to forgive freely. We can be on our guard about all kinds of temptations. We can flee some and pray for strength to combat others. When we face stressors, we can acknowledge our anxieties and remember how God cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. We can pray to God about all the things on our hearts and minds. Like Peter, the first steps are scary, but not complicated.

The problem we face is after the first step. When things don’t go the way we thought they would. When the powerful winds kick up the water around us. When we get scared because we realize this moment, this task, this problem is more than we can handle on our own.

It might be easy to forgive someone who has sinned against us once, but what happens when they do it again and again? What are we supposed to do when they say they’re sorry but we’re pretty sure they don’t really mean it?

It might be easy to be on our guard about some temptation at first, but what happens when we realize how weak we really are? What do we do when we fall again and again into the same foolish sins?

For a while, we might nip our worries in the bud. But what happens when our worries outnumber the ways out? What happens when the bills pile up and there’s no end in sight? What do we do when we have no idea what’s wrong with our bodies or with our loved ones?

For a time, our prayers might be fervent and clear. But what do we do when God doesn’t seem to give us any answer at all? Should we keep on praying for the same thing day after day?

In moments like these, when we are struggling to forgive or guard against temptation, to stop worrying or keep praying, we don’t need to dig deeper. We don’t need to summon more inner courage.

We need to cry out: Lord save me! That was the best thing Peter said! This time he didn’t say (Lk. 5:8) Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man! but Come near me Lord, quickly. Save me!

And look at what Jesus did! (Mt. 14:31) Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. Jesus does not delay in responding the needs of his people. When all the disciples cried out in fear, (Mt. 14:27) Immediately Jesus said to them. Take courage. I am. Don’t be afraid. The rescue comes right away. Yes, there is a rebuke, but only because Jesus recognized his disciples needed this lesson. When they returned to the boat and climbed in, the disciples were no longer asking who Jesus was. They knew. Truly you are the Son of God. The Son of God who has come to seek and save the lost and dying.

This same Jesus would stretch out his hands to save these disciples from drowning in the righteous wrath of God. Jesus courageously confronted death so that we need not be swept away because of our sins. Jesus experienced on the cross what Peter did for a moment on the Sea of Galilee. The fear of drowning, of your lungs being filled with liquid and you cannot breath, is terrifying. Peter was an experienced fisherman. I cannot fathom that he was not also a confident swimmer. But he was terrified and cried out, Lord save me! and Jesus did immediately.

Yet, when Jesus’ arms were stretched out on the cross, as his lungs were filling with liquid and he was struggling to breath, he did not cry out Lord, save me! He knew he was being forsaken. He put himself in our place, so that by his substitutionary death, we might be saved. And so our faith and our hope rest in Christ crucified. Truly he is the Son of God and our Savior.

And he is ready to rescue us even when our courage comes up short. When our faith is frail and weak. When our trust in him is shaky and unsteady, he remains faithful. He has saved us and he will continue to help us in our time of need. Just like he did for Peter.

Later on, Peter would be confident once again. Jesus said to his disciples that all were going to fall away from him when he was arrested and put to death. Peter challenged that. (Mt. 26:33) Even if all fall away, I never will. Peter had forgotten the lesson Jesus taught here. Once again he was relying on his own inner courage to confront his fears. He would fall away. He would deny even knowing Jesus. But Jesus never left him. After his resurrection, Jesus made a point of personally forgiving and restoring Peter. Jesus saved him.

When we are wronged, he will strengthen us with his Word. He will remind us of his righteousness and his sacrifice for sins—not just for our sins but for the sins of the whole world. When we fall into temptation, he is eager to forgive. In fact, he rejoices over one sinner who repents! When we are worried, he reminds us that he is with us always to the very end of the age. That he will never leave us or forsake us. When we feel like we are praying aimlessly or without effect, he will assure us that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. When we are scared and sinking, he will immediately catch us and encourage us by saying I am with you. Do not be afraid. That’s a lesson we can’t learn too many times. Amen.