Walking Toward Jesus [On Water]
Rev. Barry W. Szymanski, J.D.
Minister of Pastoral Care
First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa
August 7, 2011

Gospel: Mt 14:22-33

When you listen to the Gospel this morning, do not focus on the title listed in the Bible, which is the usual "Jesus Walks on the Water" but instead focus on the title of the sermon, which is "Walking Toward Jesus."

This is the Gospel: "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning Jesus came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ Jesus said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’"

SERMON

The author of the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament, in Chapter 11 at verse 1, states that: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." "Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see."

"The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd." The author continues and says that: "Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. [11:2-3]

In this Sunday's Gospel, Peter is one of the principals of the story. This Gospel is a story of faith. It is not about water, or walking on water. Water and walking are the vehicles used to discuss faith, and trust, and doubt. Those are the subjects of this Gospel passage. Look at Peter. He is impetuous. And he was a coward when, after Jesus' arrest, he denied Jesus on separate occasions. But yet Jesus names him as the icon of the church: 'I will build my church on you.' Peter is the icon of who we are: we want to follow Jesus, and are willing to get out of our boat to do so, but yet have doubts. We tell Jesus we will never abandon him, but when confronted, we deny Jesus. Yet, Jesus, knowing who we, and Peter, really are, still loves us, and gives Christian responsibility to each of us.

A contemporary theologian, Herman Dietzfelbinger, wrote this: "For who of us always believes? And who of us can guarantee our faith for even an hour?" He quotes Jesus, in Luke 22:32: “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” and Ditzfelbinger says ". . . that is what sustains us." John Calvin once said that: The Church of Jesus Christ and its history is nothing but a chain of resurrections from the dead. Ditzfelbinger builds on that statement and says that the church: "is also a passion history of the incarnate Son of God. In everything that is taught and believed, loved and suffered, planned and thought in this Church, Jesus Christ is venturing Himself, daily repeating the washing of the feet of this Church which have daily been soiled on its journey. And He must follow up everything that people do in this Church, even the most shining deeds, and in some way set them straight and make something good out of them." [Volume II, Page 230-1] We can then ask, did Jesus make some good out of Peter's denial of him? Does Jesus make some good out of our omissions? -- even out of what we try to do and fail?

Another contemporary theologian, Helmut Gollwitzer, in The Dying and Living Lord, said that: "By this glance of Jesus Peter is reminded that He, the Lord Whom [Peter] has denied, knew it all beforehand and had foretold it. And since [Jesus] knew it beforehand, it did not prevent Him from treading this way for him. All this foreknowledge [of Jesus] – “this man [Peter] is going to deny Me, this man, at the moment when I have to go through the extreme of suffering, will say of Me ‘I don’t know him’ “— this knowledge was already there in the mind of Jesus when He gave the Bread and the Wine to Peter at the Last Supper, and when He said: “This is My Body, this is My Blood, given for you, poured for you.”

So Christ does not reproach us by flinging back our own words at us, and He does not answer our denial by saying to the Father: “I know not this [woman or this] man].” That does not happen, but a miracle takes place – grace happens. The wonder of all wonders is this, that grace breaks the iron law that the one who denies his Master will in time be denied by Him.

This is what the gaze of Jesus means; his had already been proclaimed a few hours earlier in the first Eucharist; this is now confirmed when He does not allow this denial to hinder him on his way to the Cross, but still goes on, into the cell, into the trail, to Golgotha.

So this “bitter weeping” already contains the seed of consolation. Already it is not a hopeless weeping. It is sadness over oneself, it is true, but it is no longer the “sadness unto death”; it is a godly sorrow. “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret” (II Cor. 7:10).

Easter is already within it; here Jesus of Nazareth gives the Eucharist to Peter, even though an hour or two later [Peter] will deny [Jesus]. Easter is already there – for the man who weeps bitterly when Christ looks at [Peter], [Peter] does not try to escape but looks at [Jesus] and does not assert his pride, [Peter is] the man who lets himself be guided, the man who says: “Yes, it is true that I am the one who denied Him three times. In this denial I see what I am! I am guilty!

But I will stay with Thee, O cast me not out!” And then [Jesus] comes and hands [Peter] the Bread and the Wine, and says to all of us poor people: “Because I live, you will live also.” [Volume II, Page 245-6 – Helmut Gollwitzer (1908 – 1993)]

Let us look at the Gospel in one more way, with Peter, the icon of the church, as this church, the First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa: Let me led you on a short meditation. You may close your eyes if you wish, as I guide you through this Gospel passage. As soon as the meal was finished, Jesus insisted that the members of this church, this church, this congregation, you! Get in a boat and go on ahead to the other side while Jesus dismisses the people.

With the crowd dispersed, Jesus climbs the mountain so he can be by himself and pray. Jesus stays there in prayer, without us, late into the night. Meanwhile, our boat is far out to sea and a strong wind comes up on the sea, and blows against our congregation in the boat, and we, the members of our congregation are battered by the waves. These are the waves of anxiety, of unease, of apprehension. And we are in fear.

At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus comes towards us walking on the water. We and the other members of our congregation are scared out of our wits. "A ghost!" we say, crying out in terror. But Jesus is quick to comfort us. "Courage," Jesus says, "it's me. Don't be afraid." Then you, suddenly bold, say to Jesus, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water."

Jesus invites you to walk toward him; he calls to you, "Come ahead." You climb out of the boat, and walk on the water to Jesus. But when you look down at the waves churning beneath your feet, you lose your nerve /// Fear overtakes you, and you start to sink in your anxiety, in the uneasiness of what is happening, the winds of change and the waves of disquiet. “Save me!"

Jesus doesn't hesitate. He reaches down and grabs your hand. Then Jesus asks you, 'Why did you doubt?' //You climb back into the perceived safety of the boat, and the winds of apprehension die down. You can open your eyes now.//

This Gospel is a story of faith. Jesus inspired the Gospel writers to include this story of faith – for it is a questioning story about each of us – you – me – the person next to you – but especially you. What is this congregation capable of with faith? What are each of you capable of when you exercise your faith? At the very beginning of this Gospel, Jesus went to pray. He was and is in union with his Father in heaven. And he continues to turn to us and say one simple word: "Courage." "Courage." Courage as we walk toward Jesus. Amen.