When we are faced with the hard reality of struggle, we can either panic or remain focused on Christ. The storms of life push us back and forth, but when we focus on Christ, He walks with us and keeps our heads above water. When we remember that Christ is in front of us, even the worst storm is bearable.
At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
Matthew 14.22-34
My brothers and sisters, I’ve got good news and bad news for you. The good news is this is among my favorite gospel passages. The bad news, this is among my favorite gospel passages. And I say that because as the gospel so often does in our life, it both comforts us and terrifies us at the same time. Now, one of the elements you have to understand in this morning’s gospel is that it immediately in the scriptures follows the gospel lesson that we heard last week, and the feeding of the 5,000. In fact, the very last verse we read last Sunday is the first verse that we heard this Sunday. And it says that as Jesus dismissed the crowds, he sent the dismissal and then he went up onto the mountain to pray.
So, having just witnessed thousands of people and the power and grace of God, now the scene changes. Now, Jesus is not with them, he’s up on the mountain praying, somewhere far away, and, “The wind turns against them,” that’s the words that we hear in the gospel. The boat begins to endure a great storm. I can hear thunder outside, we’re in the middle of a storm, but we are safe in the church. The apostles were safe, but they didn’t think they were safe. They see Jesus walking on the water and they’re terrified because of the storm, it’s the middle of the night. And what does Peter say? “Lord, if it is you,” not Lord, I know that it is you. “Lord, if it is you, let me come out to you.”
And Jesus said, “It is I. Come.” And now here is what makes this my favorite. Peter goes walking on the water to see Christ, but you have to understand, the storm is still raging. I like to imagine, because I’ve been on the water probably when I shouldn’t have been more than once, and the waves come crashing at you, and the boat is moving one way or another. And so, Peter is walking on the water, in the middle of the storm, the waves crashing against him. But what is it that you think makes him stand? Because his focus is on Christ. Then the gospel says, “Then he noticed, he looked at the waves. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid and began to sink.”
You see my brothers and sisters, when we forget that Christ is right in front of us, we allow the storms of life to get the better of us. So, long as Peter was looking at Christ, he did not sink. “Lord, save me.” He reaches down and he grabs. He grabs, Peter says, “Oh man of little faith, why did you doubt me?” As if to say, wasn’t it just a few hours ago that thousands of people were able to eat? And here you’re worried about a few waves? This had to have come across his mind. And it says they walked back to the boat. Still, the storm is raging. It wasn’t until they got into the boat that the storm ceased. And then, they glorified God. My brothers and sisters, here’s the bad news. The storm will rage against us, there is absolutely no guarantee from Christ that just because we believe in him, just because we are baptized, just because we pay our stewardship to the church, that somehow we’re going to be guaranteed a life of smooth sailing.
There is no such guarantee by God. But the great news… See, I left out the great part. But the great news, my brothers and sisters, is that even in the storm, so long as we keep our eyes and our attention focused on Christ, he will help us stay afloat. He will help us keep our heads above water and we will not sink. We are still going to feel the storm, we’re still going to feel the boat going one way or another, but when our focus is on Christ, he is walking with us, holding our hand, keeping our heads above water. And that’s the great challenge for each of us. We are so tempted, my brothers and sisters, to believe that life should be easy. If you’ve lived more than one day, you know life is not always easy. But with Christ, it is always doable. With Christ holding our hand, we can always get through to the end of the storm.
Now, here’s where it requires patience. The reality is that the end of the storm is death. Don’t expect the storm to end today, the storm of life will rage against us so long as we are trying to walk with Christ. The day will come when we get into his boat, when we get into heaven, and the storm will cease. But only if we walk with him through it. It’s a great challenge, it’s a great comfort, but it can also terrify us. Because none of us likes a storm, but all of us, my brothers and sisters, must learn to walk with Christ in the storm. And he promises. Always keep our heads up. Glory to God for all things.
