Grace and peace to you from our compassionate God, and our Lord and Savior Jesus, who is our Christ. Amen.
"Take heart," Jesus said to the disciples. "Take heart" – and the next words, “it is I,” also may be translated “I AM.” Jesus was telling them in the midst of their fear who he was. The same God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush, and on the mountain, the “I AM,” Jesus now tells them, “Take heart. I AM”
Take heart. Be courageous. “But it’s 3 in the morning, Jesus. You sent us out in this boat, and we’ve been rowing against brutal waves for hours.” The Sea of Galilee doesn’t look like much of a sea – just 13 miles long and eight miles wide, but about 141 feet deep. The Sea of Galilee is about half the size of Lake Winnebago, but seven times as deep. Storms come up fast and formidable on the water.
Jesus had just performed the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 and was dismissing the crowd that had gathered. Jesus had sent the disciples off to the next place, while he went into the hills to pray. No doubt his ministry had grown a lot faster and crazier than he had expected. Staying in touch with his father was critical. He had to stay grounded. Tougher times were coming.
Then, coming down to the shore, Jesus saw them. Being pushed further out by the wind, fighting the waves. Jesus went to them, on the water. And in their terrified state, the disciples imagined Jesus was a ghost. No doubt, they imagined their end was in sight. And then that voice they had heard again and again, “Take heart. I am, Do not be afraid.”
Even before the waves cease, Peter regains his courage. “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you.” Walking on impressive, awe-inspiring waves sounded kind of fun, now that Jesus was here. “Come.” Jesus said to him.
Easier said than done. I imagine an infant taking those first steps. A little momentum, and he toddles a couple of steps, staring into the delighted eyes of mom or dad. But then he realizes he’s not holding onto anything, and Plop, down he goes! And he’s scooped up.
“Lord, save me,” Peter says as he begins to drop. And immediately, Jesus sets him back into the boat and calms the waves.
So many preachers get hooked on Jesus’ admonition to Peter, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” The disciples are poor students. They give in too easily. They don’t understand Jesus’ power, and he is forever correcting them. But I hear it as a playful jab. “Peter, you had it. You were almost there. Stay focused on me.”
I think the final line is the important one. The disciples get it. They realize Jesus doesn’t just multiply wine and bread. He isn’t just a good healer. Jesus has power over the elements of the earth and heavens. He is the “I AM.”
And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
When life is sailing along on smooth seas, it’s easy to forget who is in power. “I have worked hard for this.” “We have raised an amazing family.” “I take great care of my health.” Then the waves come up, and our stable life is rocked, and we cry out, “Jesus, save me” to the one who has been walking beside us all along. No finger-pointing here. I’ve been there. You’ve been there. We’ve all done it. But the story brings us to the right place with the disciples. “Take heart. I Am. Do not be afraid.” And all of this in the same boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you ARE the Son of God.”
Amen.
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