PENTECOST 12
September 4/5, 2011
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: Matthew 14:22-33

“WHEN YOU’RE WALKING ON WATER…”
1. Remember to keep your eyes on Jesus.
2. Remember that Jesus will never let you down!

Matthew 14:22-33 (NIV 1984) “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

I’m sure many of you have seen the commercials where through computer graphics or special effects technology it appears that a car is driving on water or a person walking on it. Perhaps you can think of people who command such respect it is said of them that they “walk on water.” In reality the commercials are fake and there is no living person who walks on water. But Jesus did. Jesus is the Son of God and for Him to walk on water is a little thing, something as simple as the rest of us walking on a nicely paved parking lot. But what many people forget is that someone else walked on water. Peter did!
At the time of our text Jesus’ disciples had been following Him for about two years, learning more and more about the true kingdom of God and purpose of the Messiah. They had seen many astounding miracles. Not too long before this John the Baptist had been beheaded by spineless King Herod. Jesus had just finished the miraculous feeding of the 5000. Jesus needed some of the restful time we all need, time spent with His Father and in prayer and so we are told, “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.”
So while Jesus prayed the disciples, many of whom were experienced fishermen, crossed from the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee to the northwest. It sounds like it was a rough trip. The wind was against them. The waves were buffeting or the boat. But that’s not what scared them. Jesus did. He came to them walking on the water. They had never seen such a thing before so they made the only conclusion they could. It was a ghost!
But of course it wasn’t a ghost. It was Jesus and Jesus did what Jesus always does. He comforted and encouraged them. “But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” And then Peter did what he always does and spoke up boldly. I don’t think Peter will mind us describing him as someone who often spoke first without thinking through the consequences of what he was saying. “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” Well it was Jesus, and He said, “Come,” Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” Peter was walking on water! He took the Lord Jesus at His word and he walked on water. Can you imagine what that must have been like? That first tentative step. It holds! Then step after step, straight toward Jesus, eyes fixed on the Savior.
Brothers and sisters, it is highly unlikely that Jesus will come to us on this earth and invite or command us to walk on water. However there will come to each of us situations where we will need to do something that seems just as impossible, just as scary. Your walking on water might be following Jesus’ command to love others, actually care about where they spend their eternity, so that you have to confront a believer who is caught in the Devil’s trap of unrepentant sin. It might be plunging ahead into a spiritual conversation with that person at work who’s been confused by wrong religion overload. He might ask you to walk on the water of job loss, death of a loved one, recently diagnosed disease or cancer. It might be to walk on the water of dealing with a difficult person. Whatever it may be when you find yourself walking on water remember to keep your eyes on Jesus. You can do it just like Peter did for whatever the Lord commands and invites you to do He will give you what you need to do it. Peter successfully walked on water by simply following the command of the Savior and walking toward Him. So too for you. Keep your eyes on Jesus. What is His command to you? What are His promises for you? I will be with you and give you the words to say. I will never leave you nor forsake you. My Father will provide your need. You will never be given more than you can handle. You can do all things with my strength. When you’re walking on water remember to keep your eyes on Jesus.
And remember He will never let you down. Peter didn’t keep walking on water. Peter started to sink. What happened? “ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Peter let Jesus down. Instead of focusing on Jesus Peter looked around at all the possible scary things that could happen. He saw the effects of the wind, blowing the water, riling the waves. No doubt He felt the spray on his face. He got scared looking at all those scary possibilities. Fear became his master instead of Jesus. Even though Jesus had given him everything he needed to walk on water, Peter began to sink. He let Jesus down.
But Jesus did not let Peter down. “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Jesus question was not a chiding but a statement of fact. Peter doubted. He had a lapse of faith. But you notice Jesus did not cop the attitude we find it so easy to do with others who struggle or fall into sin. You know what I’m talking about because you think it with others. “You made your bed now lie in it. Now you’re going to have to swim Peter. It’s the only way you’ll learn.” Instead, immediately, immediately, (see your Savior’s heart) Jesus reached out His hand and safely caught Peter before he could sink down. Jesus didn’t let Peter down.
When you find yourself walking on water remember that Jesus won’t let you down either. We all would hope to stay trusting Jesus in time of trial or when in His wisdom He commands or invites us to do something hard. We are all given everything we need to successfully walk on water, handle whatever seemingly impossible challenge that comes our way. The simple truth is we are weak willed sinners whose best doesn’t cut it. Our faith is never strong enough because if any of us had faith even the size of a tiny mustard seed we would be moving mountains and I haven’t done that and neither have you. How great to have Jesus who, when we doubt and break down and cry and feel like giving up, will never let us down. How great to know that Jesus, though disappointed in the weakness of our faith, will still be there to grab a hold of us before we sink into despair.
Remember that when you let Jesus down. The Devil will try to get you to push Jesus away, to feel like there is no redemption for you. If your fall is into sin He will try to make you think your sins are unforgiveable. But they are not. Jesus has paid for them in full. He is Son of God and Savior.
That’s the conclusion the disciples came to. At the end of this lesson we are told, “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” This is the conclusion we must come to as well and are happy to. Jesus, our Savior, is the Son of God. When we leave here by word and action, let’s continue to worship Him. Amen.