Get Out of the Boat!!!
Matthew 14:22-32
In the summer of 1985, my father had to do a wharf job on Grand Manan Island. He was going to be on the island for a couple of days, and I really wanted to go with him. I always loved going to work with Dad. Mom would always make ham and cheese sandwiches on the days I went to work with Dad. Dad passed the idea by his boss, and I was allowed to go.
The boat ride over to the island was as smooth as can be. I walked around the ferry and enjoyed the view. I saw a couple of whales and porpoises. When we docked, Dad and I went to the motel where we would be staying, had some supper, and off to bed.
The next day, Dad did what he had to do, and then we left. The boat ride home was not quite as smooth as the day before. In fact, a storm was just starting. As we go on the ferry, my stomach was feeling queasy. I then made a big mistake. When we got to the sitting area, I chose to sit on a stool instead of a bench.
As we made our way across the Bay of Fundy, the ferry began rocking. As I sat on the stool looking out the window, I thought I was going to be sick. As I looked out the window, all I could see was the grey sky and the green water... Grey sky, green water. Up and down, back and forth. My father had the common sense to tell me to lie down. If he were here today, he would probably snicker as he told you of how my face grew paler as each wave rocked the boat.
Storms are not great things to ride out, are they? In September 2003, Hurricane Juan, the tenth named storm and the sixth hurricane of the 2003 Hurricane season. It was a category two hurricane that struck the provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island causing significant damage to trees and property, particularly within the urban core of the Halifax area. The storm killed 8 and caused over $200 million in damages. Many people, including many here, went days without electricity.
On February 18th, a low-pressure system developed off the eastern seaboard of the United States and intensified rapidly as it tracked north-eastward. By the morning of February 19th, with the storm located south of the Maritimes, heavy snow and strong winds had spread to all areas of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and southeast New Brunswick.
A province-wide State of Emergency was declared in Nova Scotia and the Halifax Regional Municipality imposed traffic curfews as the massive snowfall paralysed the region. Businesses and schools were forced to close, as many roads would not be cleared for days. Some flooding was also reported in parts of Prince Edward Island and southeast New Brunswick as very strong northerly winds produced a significant storm surge. By February 20th, “White Juan” had left behind a large swath of snowfall accumulations in the range of 50 to 70 cm, with a few pockets of 80 cm or more. To this day, Paul Ferguson still cringes when that four lettered “s word” is mentioned.
We are all too familiar in this area with storms. During many of the storm warnings we have received, we are told to stay where we are. Do not leave the house in case it is a dire emergency. In fact, many of us enjoy the comfort of our own homes when the winds are howling outside. We find comfort in our familiar surroundings. It’s nice to feel safe, isn’t it?
But what happens when the storms of life arise? What do we do when our faith is being shaken to its very foundation?
Over the past few weeks, we have tripped through the Gospels. During this time, we have seen Jesus do amazing things in the lives of those living in His time. People have been fed. Jesus has changed water into wine. He has also been confirmed by God Himself to be the One we should listen too. Today, we find Jesus out in the middle of the storm, and He is calling us to Him. (Read Matthew 14:22-33)
This morning, we are in the middle point of our message from last week. Last week, we saw Jesus on one side of the Sea of Galilee, a lake in between a range of mountains, feeding 5000 on one side, and explaining to the people that He was the real “Bread of Life.” Today, we pick it up when He leaves the crowd.
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.” (Matt. 24:22, 23)
So the multitude was now on it’s way to the other side of the lake. The disciples were seen getting in their boat, so the people knew which direction they were headed. Jesus took some time to pray and be by Himself with God.
There are times that we need to do that exact same thing. There is peace and solitude that can only be found in the presence of God. We need to get away from the crowd and seek Him out on a one-on- one basis. That is not what the sermon is about, but it’s something to think about as we dig deeper into this passage.
It does apply, however, when it comes to our own personal storms. Sometimes the problems we face are even more complicated when we haven’t spent ample time with the Lord. We need to come together; we are commanded to do so in the book of Hebrews. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25) But there will be days that quiet personal time prepares us for what may lie ahead.
Due to its low-lying position in the rift valley, surrounded by hills, the Sea of Galilee is prone to sudden violent storms. The disciples, on their way across this 33-mile lake soon encounter a storm. There was little to no warning, and there they were in the midst of it.
That’s how it happens with us, isn’t it? Our personal struggles and battles can often arise with little to know warning at all. Things can be calm sailing, and then all of a sudden things change.
Melissa and I were perfectly happy before Caleb became sick. In the spring of 2003 we were preparing ourselves for Meagan to arrive. We never expected to have our summer snatched away from us. How can anyone truly prepare for Caleb contracting E-coli? That was a storm that caught us off guard.
There’s something great found in this passage. “The boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.” (Matthew 14:24,25) The thing to catch here is this: no matter where we are in the storm, Jesus knows exactly where we are. Before we can even sense His presence, Jesus in on the way.
I can almost picture Him on the water. The wind would be whipping his hair around. The waves may have been splashing against His legs as He made His way closer to the boat. The power of the wind or the motion of the water could not, and DID not, keep Jesus away from the ones in the boat.
While that paints a very nice picture, there are times when we can get so caught up in our own storms and problems that we can easily miss the One who is coming to help us. “When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It’s a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.” (Matthew 14:26)
We, too, can find ourselves doing a similar thing. It’s easy for a person to totally forget who God is during the hard times. There have been times in my own life when I would get so frustrated that God seemed no where to be found when times were rough. I was so wrapped up in my anger and my circumstances that I never recognized Him as being there all along.
Sometimes He comes in a soft gentle whisper. Other times He may send a friend our way for comfort and support. No matter what He does, if we are honest with ourselves, there have been times that we, just like the disciples in the boat, missed who was coming towards us.
With all that said, there have also been times in my life that I was quick to realize that Jesus was with me during the entire ordeal. As hard as it was for Melissa and I to see our little boy hooked up to different machines and monitors, we never stopped believing that Christ was there with us.
In the early days of Caleb being at the I.W.K., the nurses gave Melissa and little green book to write down any questions that she may have for the doctors. Melissa did that; as well she began recording different events that took place. I’m not sure if this was written in the book or not, but Melissa told me of the time when a Pentecostal pastor from Halifax area came in and prayed with Caleb. She knew at that moment that Jesus was there with her.
Another story that relates here deals with my mother-in-law. She dreamt one night that Jesus has walked into the ICU room where Caleb was. She watched Him as He began turning off the machines. She thought it meant that Caleb wasn’t going to make it. In her dream, Jesus turned to her and said that He was turning them off because everything was going to be all right.
When Jesus arrives during our hard times, He often asks something of us. He doesn’t ask us to give thousands of dollars to the church, or try preaching about forgiveness. Jesus looks our hearts and calls us out to where He is.
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid." "Lord, if it’s you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:27-29)
When things seemed stacked against us, Jesus calls us to walk out on the water with Him. He calls us to have faith. People cannot walk on the water because they want to. They get out of the boat because He is already out there. That’s the hardest thing to do.
We give Peter a hard time in this passage because, as we see in verse 30, “he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Peter stepped out of the boat and took his eyes off of Jesus. Peter was quick to realize that “Hey, I’ve never done anything like the before!” It was a new experience for Peter. New things often take some time to master.
Peter had faith to get out of the boat. Peter started to make strides across the water until he took his eyes off of Jesus. When he was in over his head, Peter asked for help. If you ask me, I think Peter did better than many of us would. Often, we tend to relate more with the other eleven guys who hadn’t shown any notion of leaving the boat in the first place.
This goes back to the beginning of the message. During storms, we have been told to stay indoors. Stay where it is safe. Wait until the storm passes. Sometimes the most deadly place to stay is right where we are!
Peter took a chance, and he messed up. His brother, Andrew, and the other men did even TRY to get to Jesus. Either they didn’t believe it was really He, or they thought the boat was a better place to be than on the waves.
The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31)
The storms of life seem stronger and fiercer when we fail to remember that the Lord is on our side. It’s as if we feel all alone and abandoned. Like Peter, we take our eyes off of the Master, and focus them on the problem. Before we notice, the waves of doubt and despair are all around us, and we are going under.
But I do not think Jesus’ response of "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" was reserved for Peter alone. There were still the other guys who made no inclination of moving from where they were in the boat. Like I said before, Peter took a chance and go out of the boat. He, like many of us, at least attempted to believe in Jesus. He took the first few steps, but saw the wind and the waves. The problems are increased when we make no attempt in the first place.
It really doesn’t have to be during a difficult period in our lives when Jesus calls us to step out of the comforts of the boat, and walk on the water with Him. More over, it’s even scarier when a person decides to stay put instead of seeking Jesus.
I do not understand why we do it, but when an altar invitation is extended, we like to stay exactly where we are. If Jesus is dealing with us, we still stay put instead of going forward. It as if we do not want people thinking ill of us. I’ll tell you the truth, I have more respect for people when they make that walk down the aisle, and kneel at an altar. It’s almost as if they are stepping out of the boats of their lives, and walking on the waves to where Jesus is.
Conclusion:
When Peter and Jesus made it back to the boat, we are told that the storm died off. The storm did not stop when Peter placed his life in Christ’s hand. It stopped after Jesus and Peter connected. I would love to tell you to “Just believe in Jesus, and the storms will vanish.” It doesn’t work that way.
I will tell you this, however. Jesus and Peter walked back on the water to the boat...together. That’s how my Lord works. He walks with us through the hard time until the storms vanish.
Pastor Bryan Ayers is the pastor of the O’leary Church of the Nazarene on Prince Edward Island. This past summer, just months away from the birth of his sixth child, Pastor Bryan was diagnosed with non Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments, and the prognosis is good. I recently asked him how this passage related to his own experience, and this is what he said:
“In the summer while we were still waiting for the biopsy report to indicate if I had cancer or not, I had a funny dream. In my dream I was in this rickety old bus, a short school bus, and there was a guy chasing me down the road trying to run me off the road. As I drove I saw a dirt road that lead into the woods but paralleled the pavement and thought maybe I could lose him in the woods. Not long after getting on the dirt road I looked back and saw that the guy chasing me got stuck and could no longer chase me. I thought I was free until just before getting back on the pavement my bus broke down and died.
When I woke up I asked God what that was all about, and He spoke immediately to saying, "the thing that was after has been stopped and can come know further against you, but you are not out of the woods yet." I literally laughed at the, "not out of the woods yet" line, but then realized that I better prepare for the storm ahead. I have had no choice except to get out of the boat and face the storm. I typically am not overly brave, nor do I relish facing conflict and hardship; but after much in prayer trying to convince God how good it would before Him (knowing it would be better for me mostly) if He would miraculously heal me no answer came. I remember one morning I came to myself, as the Bible says so well, and prayed, "Lord, knowing that you are with me, and have the grace to sustain me, and the promise that this thing won’t come any further against me, and that I likely won’t like anything about the tests, needles or treatment, I will face every part of this problem head on in your strength."
By November 14th I will be half over with 12 treatments. The storm is half over. In the difficult days and the great days He has been with me every step of the way. There have been challenges spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally- some I never dreamed that I would experience. I have also experienced grace and strength and blessing like never before as well.”
I am sure there are people here today who are facing a “storm”. Jesus is out on the water and is waiting for you. He’s here in the storm; all you need to do is recognize that it is He. Get out of the boat, and walk towards Him today.
If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, He is here. The storms of sin and doubt about your eternity will fade as you accept Him by faith.
If you have been walking with Christ and are still facing some storms, He is calling you to come to Him in faith. It’s time to get out of the boat and become the “water walkers” He has called us to be!
