Facing the Storm

Facing the Storm

Psalm 85:8-13; Matthew 14:22-33

My name is Bartholomew.  I bring you greetings from the Christians who are worshipping in Antioch, Jews and Greeks, and from my colleague in ministry, Matthew.  Matthew and I have worked together for about thirty years, now. It’s hard for me to believe that it has been thirty years since our Lord was glorified and we were empowered to carry on his mission. In the early years we regularly went to the synagogues with the Jews. The Jews will read through the Torah at Sabbath services. Each week a selection is read so that through the year we follow the story of the Jews. The readings are set from year to year and they are anchored by various festival times, like Passover. Matthew began collecting and writing stories as we remembered them. He began introducing them in the synagogue during services. Eventually he had his own Midrash, or commentary on the Jewish readings, and he called it “The Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Others added, “According to Matthew.”

[Note: If you would like to explore further the idea of the Gospels being Jewish midrash, this would be a good place to start.]

As we are gathered for your Sabbath Service, on the new sabbath, the day Jesus was raised from the grave, let us read from the scriptures. Beginning with Hebrew scriptures, please join with me in reading from Psalm 85.

Psalm 85:8-13

Now, let us read from Matthew’s work. This is a most incredible story, and it was a most amazing experience. You would think that we would have been used to the unusual after following Jesus for some time. First, I’d like for us to hear Matthew’s recollection then I’d like to share my own experience of that night.

Matthew 14:22-33

You see what I mean? How incredible! How amazing!  Of course, the day started off quite a bit differently. We got word, in the city, that John the Baptist had been murdered. John had spoken boldly about the kingdom of God, but he also spoke boldly about the abuses of power by Herod and others. We were not entirely surprised, but we were terribly saddened. So Jesus led us out of the city to a rather remote place in the countryside. This was to be a time to show respect for John and to allow time for our own grief. Except, it didn’t take long. People found us. It didn’t take long for crowds to gather. It didn’t take long for Jesus to start ministering, healing the sick, bringing peace to troubled spirits. And the day grew late and we warned Jesus that he needed to send people home. They’re going to be getting hungry. Jesus says to us, “You feed them.” We were astonished at the command. Then he took the little food we could find and he managed to feed the entire crowd and have enough left over for the twelve of us. And before we had time to absorb what had happened he told us to get into the boat, head across the lake and he would meet us, later. He would dismiss the crowds and spend some time by himself. Every day Jesus took time to be alone. No matter how busy he was, and he was always busy, he always made time to get away, by himself.

One thing we had learned about Jesus is that he could take most any situation, any item, and tell a story that would transform our understanding. Years later, as Matthew and I were remembering this night and how things would unfold, it dawned on both of us that what happened reflected what was going on in the church at the time. I don’t know if Jesus set up the experience as a time for teaching, or if the Holy Spirit planted the idea in our minds later, so that we might understand. It really doesn’t matter how it happened. What matters is that Jesus continues to teach us long after he was glorified.

Matthew and I had been meeting with other followers for years, continuing to tell stories and continuing to carry on Jesus’ teachings and ministry. We started off, exclusively in the synagogues. Some of the Jewish leaders began to resent our constant telling of stories about Jesus and some Greeks in the area were showing interest. We formed our own synagogues and we moved the Sabbath service to Sunday, remembering Jesus’ resurrection. And with the emerging of this new thing, this church, the seas were a bit rocky. There were conflicts with Jews. There were problems with Rome. There was anxiety among the converts and the old timers wanted to keep things like they had been. So it’s like we were all together in this boat on seas that were churning and the wind was blowing against us. Some in the boat saw it as a place of safety, others were still afraid because the seas are so deep and full of dangers.

But back to that night. We headed out after supper. It was late. Peter and other fishermen knew boats. They were in charge. Those of us who couldn’t do much to help simply huddled together for safety as the winds picked up and the waves became bigger and more choppy. We tried going in one direction but it seemed that the wind kept blowing us in a different direction.  We were tired. It was a long night. Then with the first light of morning someone in the boat called out, “What is that, over there? It’s moving toward us!” We all looked. It appeared to be a person. It must have been a ghost, or maybe we were all seeing things. And then we heard his voice. “Don’t be afraid. It’s me. It’s Jesus.” Instantly we recognized his voice, but still, it was too incredible. Far from the shore, seas churning, winds blowing and Jesus is approaching us, walking on the sea?!

Before I had a chance to clear my thinking, I heard Peter shout in the wind, “IF it is You, Lord, then command me to come to you on the water.” What was Peter thinking? It was almost like he was testing this apparition. Did he believe it was Jesus or was he trying to prove it wasn’t? But, you had better be careful what you pray for. You just might get it. What happened next was even more astounding. We heard a soft voice that was almost lost in the wind. You had to be paying attention. The voice simply said “Come.” No fanfare, no drama, just a simple word, “Come.” And Peter put one leg over the side; and Peter put his other leg over the side; and Peter lifted himself up and dropped off the side of the boat, with nothing but water and the deep, dark sea below him, ready to swallow him whole. Before we could grab him, we realized he was standing there ON THE WATER. He actually took two or three steps before he lost his footing. In a flash, Jesus catches him and then they are both safely in the boat. And suddenly the sea is calm; winds are calm; everything is peaceful; except my heart is beating so hard I think it might burst out of my chest.

Now, I have had the past thirty years to replay that night in my head, to talk with Matthew and others. Each time we retell the story it’s like we get a new revelation. There is not enough time for me to tell you all that I have learned, but I believe that Jesus intended for us to tell and retell and learn and learn some more. Jesus knew that a church would emerge in his name, and he knew that this church would have to sail on some challenging seas. In the boat, people will disagree. Outside the boat, forces will seem out of control. And just as we were in the boat that night with Jesus nowhere near, so it will seem, at times, that Jesus is absent from the church that bears his name.

But Jesus is NOT absent. He may not be physically in the boat with us, but he is constantly present. And at times we can hear Jesus call out to us, “Don’t be afraid.” And at times we might pray, “Call us, Lord, to come to you.” And Jesus responds saying, “Come.” And when we pray and when we listen and when we respond to Jesus calling there is absolutely nothing we cannot do.

Think about that for a moment. If Peter could walk on water, what impossible thing might you be able to do? Jesus tells us to feed the hungry, even when resources seem scarce. Jesus tells us to heal the sick, even when we don’t have the medical technology that would come centuries later. Jesus tells us to love our enemies, and that seems to be the most impossible thing.

In your day and time, I understand that there are adults and children who die every day due to hunger and malnutrition. In the area you call the Horn of Africa in the historic land of Ethiopia and now called Somalia there is a famine devastating the area and relief efforts get lost through mismanagement and corruption. It seems impossible. In your own community there are hundreds of adults and children who are homeless and hungry, and hidden. It seems impossible. But Jesus showed us that we can feed great multitudes with meager resources. And the resources in your world are more than enough to meet the need, if they are used wisely. Nothing is impossible with Jesus.

In your day and time, I understand that health care has advanced beyond what I could even begin to conceive during my day. It is a wonder and a miracle. Yet, it seems that the people who have money and who have influence will have all the health care they need, while those without money and without influence may have to beg for the most basic services. When Jesus tells us to heal the sick, it seems that to meet the need even in such an advanced society is complicated by politics and rationing of resources. It seems impossible. Jesus worked to heal people but he also worked to heal institutions. You have the ability to provide for the health of all your citizens, if you have the will to do so. With Jesus, nothing is impossible.

In your day and time, it seems that even loving your enemy is complicated. It is hard enough to love national enemies, people who are on the opposite side in a war. But you have a war going on right in your own national government. Differing sides are fighting each other as if they are mortal enemies, and that same attitude seems to be affecting every level of government and society with bickering and arguing, protecting turf, and not listening. Loving your enemy is becoming increasing difficult. It seems impossible. Whether your enemy is next door or across the ocean, you can transform you enemy, and transform yourself, by showing them compassion and hospitality. Nothing is impossible with Jesus.

What burden do you feel, today? What impossible thing is on your mind or burdening your heart? Does it feel to you like the boat is being tossed about and Jesus is absent? And when we pray and when we listen and when we respond to Jesus calling there is absolutely nothing we cannot do. Hey, even Peter was able to walk on the water!



Let us pray: God of wonders and miracles, with you nothing is impossible. Open our minds, open our hearts, open our imaginations. Call us out, that trusting you we might do the impossible thing that you desire. In the name of the one who approaches us, walking on water, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Jess McCrosky
Orange Park Presbyterian Church
August 7, 2011