Certainty in the Storm - A sermon for August 13th 2017

May I speak in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Is it possible to have certainty in a storm? It doesn’t matter if the storm is real, like the rain and thunder we’ve had recently, or perhaps the storm is a part of our lives, like a difficult personal situation, a loss, a health scare, a broken relationship, problems at work – we’ve all been through these, but where has the certainty been?

The answer is probably obvious, given where I’m standing, but it can feel much less obvious when the storm rages around us.

Firstly, let me tell you about the only time I tried to walk on water. I got wet feet, so my track history isn’t great, but at least I tried! A few years ago, as a family, we visited St Michaels Mount in Cornwall.

As you may know, this is a rocky island in the sea, connected to the mainland by a stone causeway, which is tidal, so high tide cuts it off. 

We all walked across at low tide and had a look around the gardens attached the house and had some lunch in the National Trust café. When it was time to leave, we could see that the causeway was about to be covered by water. 

There was a steady swell and small boats already ferrying people back to shore were bobbing up and down like bill-y-o. 

Louise and James reckoned the boats would be great fun, my opinion didn’t match theirs and as you may know, I’ve had inner ear infections in the past which have caused balance problems, so I took one look at the situation and said, “I’m going to walk, see you on the other side.” And off I went.

To be honest, the walk was an experience in itself. I could see waves getting closer to the causeway and as I got to the middle, they washed over the path ahead and, this is where the truth dawned, I couldn’t walk on water and it was up to my knees by the time I was over.

I met Louise and James a little later and I have to say, as their boat bobbed up and down while they jumped out, I was glad I’d got my feet wet.

While this wasn’t a storm, the idea of the getting into that boat on the choppy water did scare me.

This all leads us to Jesus and he was looking for certainty as well, in both his humanity and in his divinity. He was tired and needed to pray.

Why was he tired? This isn’t surprising. Earlier in this chapter of Matthew, Jesus had entered a storm of ministry, he had heard about his friend, John the Baptists death and had tried to go and pray alone, but had been followed by crowds, and out of compassion healed and fed the 5000 from five loaves and two fish.

It’s no wonder he then compelled the disciples to go on ahead without him, into the boat. Once they were gone, he went up the mountain to pray, to be with God, alone. I think his plan was to catch up with the disciples later, knowing he needed rest now and time with God first.

This was Jesus demonstrating something we all sometimes need. He was grieving for John, had worn himself out teaching, healing and feeding others, now he needed feeding himself in prayer and rest. Self-care and certainty amid the crowds and storm.

Later, while he is on the mountain, the wind picks up and the disciple’s boat is being battered by waves, the Sea of Galilee isn’t an ocean, but it is known for storms and dangerous winds coming up quickly. The disciples were experienced fishermen, so they would have known what to do. While challenging, we aren’t told that the conditions made them afraid.

This is the second storm the disciples had experienced in Matthew. The first time, in chapter 8, Jesus was with them, but was asleep. It was only when they woke him asking for help that he acted to calm the storm.

Today, it was when a ghostly figure appeared walking on the water, very early in the morning that they became frightened. This time of day is described as the, ‘fourth watch,’ in some Bibles, which would have been between 3 and 6 o’clock in the morning, so it was barely light and visibility would have been very poor, especially in heavy seas.

Now, perhaps we could imagine, being in a small boat in large waves, perhaps six feet high, in poor light, and then we see a ghost-like figure where no one should be.

Moving across the water.

The disciples don’t recognise who it is, so combined with the storm, it’s not a surprise when they cry out in fear.

It is only when Jesus speaks to reassure them that they recognise him, in the same way he had to speak at the resurrection before they knew him there, something divine and miraculous was happening again.

In a literal translation, Jesus says, ‘Take heart, I AM, do not be afraid.’ I AM is the Jewish name for the divine. Matthew once again seeks to strike a chord with his mainly Jewish audience, connecting Jesus with the Old Testament name for God.

This revelation of Jesus to them, gives Peter certainty in the storm, his faith is given a boost and he joins Jesus on the water, stepping out of the safety of the boat in a bold leap of faith.

It’s important to remember that Peter’s walk is only possible when Jesus says come and Peter only struggles, starting to sink, when his attention moves away from Jesus towards the wind.

It’s often said that if we stay strong in faith, focussed on Jesus, he will save us and this is true.

But even though Jesus gently chides Peter for his doubt, Jesus still saves him. He reaches out and stops him sinking.

This is a moment of great certainty in our storms, that even if we doubt, we can call out to Jesus, just like Peter did, “Lord, save me!” and he will reach out a hand and bring us back to the safety of the boat.

An early symbol of the Christian church was a boat, often with the cross as the mast, it was a symbol of safety in a world of chaos and persecution.

Sometimes we need to be bold and step out in faith, out of the boat, to take a risk, but it’s always important to know that we have a church, a boat to return to, for worship, fellowship and support.

After all, as humans, we aren’t designed to walk on water, as I found, and in trying we will be in over our heads. So, Peter did the right thing in asking Jesus for help when sinking. In this we too can be saved by calling on Jesus for help.

Later, it was clear that Peter had learnt this lesson when he quoted Joel chapter 2, (verse 32) in his sermon in Acts chapter 2, when he said, ‘and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

In the previous storm, the disciples were confused by Jesus power, this time, they worship him for the first time - “Truly you are the Son of God.” The next time they do this is after the resurrection.

The certainty of faith in the storms of our lives, means that we can be assured that Jesus is always there, always ready to hear us when we call out, ready to comfort, to heal, to listen and to save.

So even when the storms and chaos of the world rage around us, we are assured, of never being alone as Jesus is with always with us, we are assured of peace and of grace and of being certain of being saved when we call, of receiving eternal life, through faith. Faith in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, bringing us certainty in the storm.

Amen

Preached at St George, Cam and St Cyr, Stinchcombe on August 13th 2017 

Based on the Gospel according to Matthew 14:22-33 (NRSV)

Jesus Walks on the Water

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.²³And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, was out on the lake for the wind was against them. ²⁵And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. ²⁶But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. ²⁷But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’

²⁸Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ ²⁹He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. ³⁰But when he noticed the strong wind, the wind he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ ³¹Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ ³²When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’