Walking on Water or Sinking Like a Stone? – Peter

“Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came
toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and,
beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
-Matt 14:29-30

Transformed.  Meeting Jesus changed them.  It still does.  As we continue our sermon series exploring the people Jesus encountered in his ministry, this week we study Simon Peter.  Matthew chapter 14 tells the story of Jesus walking on the water to meet Jesus:

John the Baptizer had just been killed by Herod.  Jesus was grieving and wanted some time alone, but the people kept coming to him.  They wanted more of Jesus.  They were hungry for his teaching and desperate for his healing.  Thousands were flocking to Jesus and he fed them miraculously.  That night, he sent his disciples over to the other side of the lake, while he stayed behind to pray.  In the night, Jesus walked across the lake to meet them.  The disciples were afraid, thinking he was a ghost!  Peter put Jesus to the test and said, “If it is you, tell me to walk out to you!”

“Come” said Jesus.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

When Peter had his eyes on Jesus, he could walk on the water.  When he noticed the wind and the waves, he began to sink.  What are we looking at these days?  Are we keeping our eyes on Jesus… the solid rock?  Or are we watching the storms that come and go?  As you know, my family came down with Covid at the end of last week.  We are feeling fatigued and have some congestion, but thankfully we have enough groceries and cold meds.  And we have each other to care for, so that is truly a blessing.  We could focus on the storm of Covid.  We could keep our eyes on all the problems around us.  Instead, God is calling us to keep our eyes on Jesus.  As we continue to care for one another and wear our masks, as we worship both online and in person, we are called to keep looking to God.

Keep our eyes on Jesus – we can weather any storm.

Holy God, we confess that we are arrogant people – so full of knowledge that we hardly have any room for love.  We confess that we too often judge when we really need to listen.  We confess that we push people away when you call us to welcome them into our communities.  We confess that we think only about protecting ourselves when we are challenged to risk everything for others.  Lord, forgive us for being more concerned with “being right” than we are with “showing love”.  Forgive us for demanding uniformity when you call us to celebrate diversity.  Guide us, Great God, to live according to your unconditional love.  Teach us to see one another as sisters and brothers, that we may learn to live as one family. Amen. (A prayer by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)