Do Not Be Afraid

Matthew 14:22-33

Ever since learning of John the Baptist’s death, Jesus has been seeking a moment of solace, away from the crowds, away from the pressing obligations of ministry. But the people just won’t leave him alone. Jesus even tries to flee, well maybe not flee, but he withdraws to an out of the way place. The crowd following him must have known a shortcut, because they beat him there and are waiting when he arrives. Instead of sending them away, Jesus ministers to them. He shares with them the good news and heals them.

This goes on well into the evening and the disciples begin to worry. It’s suppertime and here they are with thousands of other people in the wilderness. Where will their evening meal come from? The disciples, moved with compassion for the people, ask Jesus to send them away. But instead of sending them away, he tells them to feed the multitude of people. Matthew tells us that it was five-thousand men, plus women and children. All these people and he wants us to feed them? That had to be what the disciples were thinking.

You know the rest of this story. The disciples say that they only have five loaves and two fish. Jesus says, “Bring them to me.” He blesses the loaves and fish, and then begins to divide it among the disciples who then give it to the people. It’s an amazing miracle, included in all four of the gospels, but it’s not nearly as dramatic as the miracle from our gospel reading, but it sets the stage for what happens next.

Mat 14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.” (v. 22).

After the feeding of the multitude, Jesus finally has the opportunity to be alone. He stays behind and sends the disciples on ahead of him. At Jesus’ direction, the disciples get into a boat and begin to cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus then dismisses the crowd

Mat 14:23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. (v. 23a).

Now he finds the opportunity to pray. He goes up on a mountainside to be alone.

“When evening came, he was there alone,”(23b)”but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. ” (v. 24).

Jesus is alone on the land, separated from the disciples by about three miles of rough water. Matthew tells us that the disciples were having a rough time. They were diligently trying to carry out Jesus’ directions, but found themselves unable to make much headway. The wind and the waves were beating against the boat keeping them from their destination. Try as they might, they just couldn’t make it.

“And early in the morning” (v. 25a).

And then, “early in the morning” – it is the fourth watch between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m., the disciples have been at this for several hours now, they’ve already had a big day, they must be exhausted. It’s dark, the wind is blowing, and the waves are crashing against them.

And…

“Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.” (v. 25b).

Jesus walks to them on the water.

” When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. ” (v. 26.)

Somehow, someway, in the middle of their frantic efforts, they manage to notice this figure approaching. They strain their eyes in the dark of night as they frantically work the rigging of their boat. They are desperate to keep things under control. They have to keep the boat moving in the right direction.

The storm, while dangerous, is familiar. While they may have been frightened by the wind and the waves, it was the sight of Jesus coming to them, walking on the water that terrified them.

Jesus responds with a threefold statement: “But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.’” (v. 27).

“Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water’” (v. 28).

“He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus” (v. 29).

And with one word, Jesus answers Peter’s fear and doubt. “Come,” he says. Peter gets out of the boat and begins walking to Jesus on the water.

For Peter, this is a moment of both weakness and strength. He doubts – “if it is you”, but he wants to believe. He fears, but steps out of a perfectly good boat into the storm. What must that have looked like? I wonder what Hollywood and their computer graphics would do with this one – Peter stepping out of the boat and the swirling water bearing his weight. And then, step after step, his faith is tested and the authority of Jesus is proven, as Peter walks toward Jesus.

“But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (v. 30).

But then, Peter remembers where he is. What am I thinking, this is impossible, I can’t walk on water. And he feels the strong wind and sees the waves, and he begins to sink beneath the waves. In desperation, he cries out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus reaches out to him, lifts him up, and sees him safely to the boat.

Jesus says, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (v. 31b). Jesus first saves Peter, then gently rebukes him.

“When they got into the boat, the wind ceased” (v. 32).

“And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God’” (v. 33).

Wow! What a story.

But you know, I have a problem with this story. It’s that everything turned out okay. In fact, in most of scripture, things turn out okay. Or at least that’s what we like to remember.

The blind man gets his sight,
the adulterous woman receives forgiveness,
the Prodigal Son returns home,
Doubting Thomas gets proof,
the hungry are fed,
Peter is safe in the boat,
and Jesus calms the stormy sea.

And the problem is, in our own lives, solutions don’t seem to come that easy. And even if we are blessed to experience calm waters on occasion, there’s always a storm cloud on the horizon, threatening our safety.

We row our boats as the storms of life rage.

But I know this; that the same Jesus who drew near to the disciples in that tiny fishing boat also draws near to us when the storms come. Offering us words of hope, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

Author Robert Capon says that “most of us would like to think of Jesus coming to the rescue in some heavenly tow truck, offering us hot chicken soup as he tows us to safety.” In reality, Capon writes, “Jesus does come to us in the storm, and he sits and suffers with us until the storm has passed. Jesus draws near to those who are hurting.”

And it’s a good thing that he does draw near, because this was not the last storm that the disciples would face… they would see their messiah crucified, they would witness his resurrection, and then be sent into a harsh world to share good news, and be persecuted and killed for their trouble.

Remember – Jesus sent the disciples into the stormy seas, so it’s not surprising that we find ourselves there as well.

And in the midst of our storm, as Jesus draws near, he calls out to each of us to step out in faith.

Even when faith seems unreasonable, and even when we can’t see any possible solution on the horizon, he invites us to not be afraid, to trust in him.

You may be going through a difficult time in your life right now. The wind is against you, and it’s been that way for awhile, and you are weary, or discouraged, or lonely, or afraid. Jesus approaches, walking upon the very circumstances that frighten us.

“Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”