|
There was an article in the
Western Pennsylvania Conference newsletter three weeks ago.
The article stated that the Kane District Superintendent and
his wife planned a “water walk.” Since I was preaching on that
story today, I read farther in the article.
The two of them planned a
55-mile water walk on August 27th and 28th.
But it was a walk for, not on water. The idea
was to raise money for a new swimming pool at our Wesley Woods
conference camp in the northern part of the state. It was part
of the “Making a Splash for Christ” campaign.
Walking on water is not your
everyday occurrence. Sometimes it is used as an expression of
affirmation: “She thinks he walks on water.” There was a long
line waiting for tickets to see Oliver Perez pitch for the
Pirates this past Wednesday night. The comment was made,
“These people must think Perez walks on water.” The expression
is also used as a term of disaffection: “He thinks he walks on
water.”
One can go ice skating on frozen
water. One can walk on glaciers in Alaska. But water has to be
very hard to walk on it! Walking on water is not a normal
experience.
July 20th (just two
weeks ago) was the 35th anniversary of the first
walk on the moon. That was an amazing and astounding event. I
remember it well. It might not be too amazing today, but it
was then. However, walking on water is even more amazing.
We would probably not even have
the expression, “walking on water” in our vocabulary if it
were not for this story in Scripture. The story appears three
times—in Matthew, in Mark, and in John. It describes a
terrifying moment for the disciples. They were caught in
another storm on the Sea of Galilee. The waves were swamping
the boat. The wind tossed the boat in every direction. Then,
out of the shadows on the sea, a figure emerges. Someone cries
out, “Someone is walking toward us on the water!” The terror
of the time is accentuated by one other detail. It takes place
between 3:00-6:00 a.m., a true expression of “Fright Night!”
The person, it turns out, is Jesus.
Jesus may have smiled at their
fears. Remember the old, somewhat obnoxious jingle from the
television show, Candid Camera: “When you least expect it,
you’re elected, you’re the star today. Smile, you’re on Candid
Camera.” One can almost think of Jesus saying those words as
he walked toward the disciples in the boat that morning.
I am asked one question every
time this story appears in a Bible study: “Brian, do you think
this really happened? Do you think Jesus really walked on
water?” Sometimes it is asked as a litmus test for my own
faith. Sometimes it is asked by a true skeptic. Sometimes it
is asked as an honest search for truth. Do you think that
Jesus really walked on water?
But do you know what? It does
not matter what I think. It really doesn’t. This never was and
never will be a true/false story. This is not a test of our
rationality. One of my seminary professors wrote a book called
The Rationality of Faith. This story is not about
rationality.
This is a story about Jesus that
has survived for 20 centuries. It has edified the church for
2000 years. It is about a leap of faith to trust in Jesus—at
least in Matthew’s version!
Because, you see, in Matthew’s
version it’s not just about Jesus. It’s also about Peter. And
because it’s about Peter, it’s about you and me. In Matthew
and Mark and John, Jesus comes to the disciples across the
water. But in Matthew, Peter takes a leap of faith and tries
it himself. “Lord, if it is really you, command me to come on
the water.”
“Come, Peter.”
And then Matthew says, “So Peter
got out of the boat and started walking on the water.”
What a story! What does it
mean?
IMPULSIVITY IS GOOD
The story means that sometimes
impulsivity is good. In premarital counseling I give a
take-home test to the couples. It’s a temperament analysis. It
measures nine different temperaments, at both extremes of the
scale. Are you active/social, or quiet? Are you objective or
subjective? Are you sensitive or indifferent? One of the
questions assesses whether or not you are impulsive or
self-disciplined. A certain amount of self-discipline is
necessary in every relationship. There needs to be some
planning, the proper use of financial resources, or setting
the schedule. But a good balance is needed. Sometimes
impulsivity is good.
Jesus hooks Peter’s impulsive
genes. “Come on, Peter! Sure! Walk out here on the water with
me.” Jesus knows Peter needs to step out a little more.
Sometimes we need to make a quick decision. Sometimes we need
to dance—when dancing is not our thing. Sometimes we need to
give an offering—one that is rationally excessive. Sometimes
we need to take risks for the sake of faithful discipleship.
Sometimes we need to step out of the boat onto the water.
John Ortberg has written a
little book entitled If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have
to Get Out of the Boat.
I’m not sure what I would have
done had I been there. I might have said, “Yeah, right,
Jesus,” or “I don’t think so!” I might have grabbed the arm of
another disciple and said, “I’ll follow if you go first.” I
might have said, “Can I think this thing through for a few
minutes? Can I get my bearings first?” I might have even
pretended not to hear. “What did you say, Jesus? My hearing
aid battery just died. All this noise—I can’t understand
you.”
I’m not sure if Jesus would have
hooked my impulsivity genes! My rationality and caution
buttons are pretty strong. But I also know how important the
“leap of faith” is in the Christian life. That phrase comes
from the 19th century Danish theologian Soren
Kierkegaard. It has also become an important part of my own
Christian vocabulary.
My sister has just published a
new book about the company she and her husband own. It’s an
investment firm. The front piece of the book has this
quotation on it: “To dare is to truly live.” That’s a faith
statement. That’s what this story is about. Marcus Borg says
that following Jesus sometimes puts us in difficult
situations. It’s not always easy.
In February of 2004 we opened a
worship outpost for Christ Church. We opened a storefront in
Dormont. We called it a satellite ministry. Rather than an
attempt to start a new congregation, it was an attempt to have
an offshoot of this church to reach seekers and those who are
desperately yearning to be connected with God. We were trying
to think outside the box.
It was located next to Cain’s
Saloon on West Liberty Avenue. We called it “Abel’s Place.” We
set up some good coffee each week. We sat at tables. But it
really didn’t fly. We didn’t walk on water. This month will
probably be the last month for Abel’s Place. It was not an
easy decision.
Was it worth the risk? Was it
worth the leap of faith? I think so. We learned from it. We’re
pulling back. We’re taking a new look. We will take some new
risks. “If you want to walk on water, you have to step out of
the boat.”
I’ve said it before and I’ll say
it once more. I am not by nature a radical visionary. But I
have surrounded myself with some people who are. And I believe
we must move beyond these walls to reach those who yearn to be
connected with God. I am ready for the next adventure or
series of adventures. And I don’t want us to wait too long.
What if I took the time to put
before you a few risky steps for the next three years? Not
about more building, but about ministry. Are you ready for
that? Are you ready for that from me after 24 years together?
Or would you prefer the safety of the boat?
STAYING FOCUSED
The important thing is to stay
focused. That’s the second major learning from this story. If
we can learn another important lesson, it is this: keep your
focus on Jesus.
That’s what Peter did not do. He
started out, then he looked down. The Scripture says, “When he
saw the wind was boisterous, he was afraid.” When he looked
out at the churning sea, he sank. He was Peter the Rock—and he
sank like one. The most important thing is to stay focused.
Let me share with you a brief devotional from Oswald Chambers.
The wind really was
boisterous and the waves really were high, but Peter didn’t
see them at first. He didn’t consider them at all; he simply
recognized his Lord, stepped out in recognition of Him, and
“walked on the water.” Then he began to take those things
around him into account, and instantly, down he went.
We step right out with
recognition of God in some things, then self-consideration
enters our lives and down we go.
Let your actual circumstances
be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining
complete reliance upon Him.
If you debate for even one
second when God has spoken, it is all over for you. Never
start to say, “Well, I wonder if God really did speak to me?”
Be reckless immediately—totally unrestrained and willing… be
determined to recklessly abandon yourself, surrendering
everything to God. You will only recognize God’s voice more
clearly through recklessness.
That devotional piece
illustrates the importance of staying focused. Let me give you
another illustration. Let me go back to the Northeastern
Jurisdictional Conference from a few weeks ago in Syracuse,
New York. We were there to elect bishops. We needed to elect 6
out of the 10 bishops in the Northeast—the largest number ever
elected. There are rules about electing bishops. There can be
no politicking, no speeches, no swapping votes. (It has
happened, but it’s not supposed to happen.) The election of
bishops must be by the discerning of the Spirit of God. What
is the will of God as to who will be elected?
The process seems cumbersome to
many people, but it works. And this time worked exceptionally
well. It worked the best I’ve ever known at these conferences.
(This was my 4th Jurisdictional Conference in 16
years.) We heard direct and powerful preaching on the matter.
We experienced guided imagery. We prayed long and hard. We
sang hymns of discernment. I’ve never known anything before
quite like it. It was the best worship experiences I’ve ever
had outside the local church.
For about 40 hours straight
(with one short night of rest mixed in), we balloted, we sang,
we prayed, we balloted, we heard preaching, we prayed, and we
balloted. Twenty-nine times we balloted.
In the end, we selected six
persons. Were they the right six? I think so. Why? Because we
kept our focus. We were urged to do so, and we did. This
little story in Matthew tells us to keep our eyes on
Jesus—keep our eyes on the Kingdom.
Taking risks and stepping out of
the boat requires a single focus. We must stay focused if we
want to reach those who are hungry for God and want to connect
with God. We must stay focused if we want to reach those who
are in recovery from divorce. We must stay focused to reach
those in the gay and lesbian community. We must stay focused
to reach those addicted to alcohol or drugs or gambling. All
of these persons are of sacred worth to God. But you can’t do
any of it without your eyes focused upon Jesus.
There’s a chorus in our
Methodist hymnal which is used often on Sunday night. It goes
like this.
Turn your eyes
upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful
face.
And the things of
the earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of
his glory and grace. (#349)
ONE ADDITIONAL DETAIL
There is one other important
detail in the story. When Peter loses his focus, he sinks. But
Jesus is there to reach out his strong hand and lift him up.
Jesus could have let Peter flounder for a while. He could have
let him crawl back to the boat on his own. He could have
belittled Peter for insufficient faith. (Jesus’ statement,
“Where is your faith?” is probably an expression of
frustration. It is not ridicule.) Jesus could have said to
Peter, “Too bad, Peter, you lose.” But Jesus stayed right with
him.
Sometimes we step out of the
boat and feel abandoned. Matthew proclaims this will never
happen. Perhaps that’s why Matthew ends his Gospel with, “Lo,
I am with you always to the close of the age.” (see Matthew
28) Perhaps this is why the Old Testament writer says that God
will never fail you or forsake you. Even if you lose your
focus—even if you fail the test—God remains present with us.
The strong arm of Jesus is there.
John Ortberg has a chapter in
his book called “Boat Potatoes.” You know what couch potatoes
are—people who stay on the couch and never get up and do
anything. If you stay in the boat, you never risk anything.
And you thereby lose some of the greatest adventures of life.
Boat potatoes? Is that you? Is that me? Is that us?
We are citizens of the USA. But
we are also citizens of another kind of kingdom. And in that
other kingdom, Jesus sometimes calls us to step out, to try
something we’ve never tried before, to care about people we
have neglected before, to focus upon him and walk across the
water.
Are you open and ready for that
kind of adventure? Jesus extends the hand and says, “Come on!
Come! Step out of the presumed safety of the boat and come to
me.” |
