Sometimes I elaborate a bit before I get to the scripture.
Today, I thought I would simply read it and get moving into my message.
So, here is what we are looking at today.
Matthew 8:14-17
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Heals Many
14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“He took up our infirmities
and bore our diseases.”[a]
Matthew 14:22-36
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Walks on the Water
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. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Doubt.
It is the ever present enemy to experiencing all that God wants for us.
Right when the most amazing thing is dropped in front of us for our security and comfort doubt will raise its ugly head and say it cannot be true.
For many of us, if we could change one thing about ourselves, the issues of trust and doubt rise near the top of the list. In fact, I went to Goggle and simply typed in "If I could change one thing about myself" just to see what kind of results came up. The topic was actually central to many forums and question pages. People had lots of answer but one central theme.
Trusting people.
Imagine some guys like the disciples who had been blue collar men their whole lives.
They were used to putting their hands on things and controlling them.
Nets to go fishing. An oar for a boat. Food for their family. Money to pay the bills.
Things they were familiar with, things they could handle.
Now they were asked to leave it all behind and follow a man they had never met.
Could they trust Him? Where would he take them?
How would they survive? What would they eat?
In order to follow Jesus they would have to trust him.
And, there is nothing like going cold turkey on doubt.
Doubt and Faith are like Oil and Water.
And, you know the old adage. "Oil and Water don't mix"
What exactly are we dealing with when speak of doubt? Lets take a look.
Definition of DOUBT
transitive verb
2: to be in doubt about doubt
3 a : to lack confidence in : distrust doubt
intransitive verb
: to be uncertain
I kind of frowned at that first part. archaic
What's archaic about doubt? Like, the word isn't used any more?
Doubt has been rearing its ugly head for centuries. It hasn't gone away.
I just heard Dr. Phil use it the other day. "I seriously doubt that she can trust you!"
Maybe its more of a religious term. Maybe that has to do with the lack of common use.
But, everything about the word, its definition and description, is prevalent for us.
People live in fear. People are suspect of other people.
People lack confidence in what they see and hear.
And, people can transfer their doubt very easily from one to another.
Consider the disciples. And, our central figure we are looking at, Peter.
These men dropped everything and followed Him.
The next instance where we see Peter's name mentioned is when Jesus comes to the home of his mother-in-law.
It says that Jesus simply touched her hand and the fever that was wrecking her life was gone.
Was she about to die? I can see where many of them might have thought so.
Medicine has advanced leaps and bounds since New Testament times.
They probably thought just that. Then this 'Messiah' comes in and saves the day.
Chalk one up for faith. What faith take a chop and the truck of doubt.
What must Peter have thought? What was coursing through his mind after this event?
If we jump to the second scripture we see the next time Peter's name is mentioned.
And, its a big moment. Peter will walk on water.
Twice we see the disciples confronted with a situation on water with a storm.
The Lake of Gennesaret was an inland lake with a mountain range to the north.
The vast change in sea level from the tops of those mountain ranges to the face of this small sea could allow winds to bring a strong storm upon its water in moments notice.
The first time, Jesus is sleeping in the boat, on a cushion, says the scriptures.
The disciples wake Jesus up in fury of worry and concern.
Jesus simply speaks to the wind and the waves and says, "Peace, be still." And, it's over.
"Who is this that even the wind and the waves obey him?"
This time the disciples go it alone.
Jesus has stayed behind to spend some time in prayer.
Did He know a storm would come that night? I'd like to think he did.
In fact, the scripture suggests that from the mountain top overlooking the water, Jesus could have seen the boat "buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it".
And, in the early morning hours, Jesus goes for a stroll.
On the water.
What must the disciples have thought when they saw this figure walking towards them? On the water.
Well the scripture says, at first“It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But, wherever fear is, Jesus is quick to squelch its voice. "Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid."
Then there is Peter.
How many of us could draw that similarity to Peter? To be so bold as to jump on the moment.
How much has Peter seen already? Water into wine at Cana. A load of fish so big it tore the nets and nearly sank the boat. "Go away from me Lord. I am a sinful man." His Lord would hear nothing of it. "Follow me and I will teach you to catch men." The healing of his mother in law. And, now, Jesus comes, walking on the water in the midst of a storm.
The moment is perfect for going cold turkey.
"Lord, if it is you....tell me to come to you on the water."
There is no elaborate teaching here. There is no admonishing or cautioning. There is one word.
"Come"
And, so, Peter lifts one leg over the side of that boat. Then the other.
In a moment, he is standing on the water....just like Jesus.
And so, he takes a few steps. A little closer to the Lord.
Maybe he is half way now between the boat and Jesus.
Everything seems to be going fine. Then there is that wind.
Doesn't life seem to do that to us.
It's just wind. January 19 this year we had some terrible wind from Saturday night going into Sunday morning on the 20th. I spent part of the night on the couch where I fell asleep watching Sportscenter. About 4 AM I came to bed. I don't think I really slept the rest of the night.
All I did was lay there and listen to that wind howl outside.
I was fine when I was in the living room on the east side of the house.
Our bedroom is on the west side facing the direction that wind was blowing.
And, man did it howl that night.
I can only imagine what Peter must have been thinking. I can sympathize and empathize.
Life is like walking on water. You get halfway between where you were and where you want to go and suddenly you look around and your not sure what you are doing out here.
A smack of wind hits us out there in the middle and we begin to doubt why we left comforts of the boat. Sure, it was scary in the boat. It might not have been the best place to be in the midst of a storm, but at least there is some wood under out feet and we have something to stand on.
Out on the water, everything is jello-like. Its water. It looks like we could sink.
And, that is exactly what starts happening to Peter.
And, that is exactly what happens to many of us.
What needs to change in ourselves? What needs to happen so that we don't sink into doubt and depression and the mire & muck of life?
If oil and water don't mix, then faith and doubt don't mix either.
Is it possible to fashion a pair of shoes out of faith that I could walk on water?
Jesus thinks so.
How many of us have cried "Lord, save me!"
Now the admonishing comes. "You of little faith. Why did you doubt?"
All you had to do was keep walking and you would have made it to your destination, safe and sound.
All you had to do was keep your eyes on the target, on the goal, and you would have been there.
All you needed a little bit of faith.
Many of us have faith enough to get out of the boat.
But, we lack enough faith the finish the journey.
The scary part is, many people don't have enough courage to ask for help. "Lord, save me."
Maybe, we don't want the admonishing we know will come later.
Maybe, we just like to handle things ourselves, the blue collar way.
Maybe, we like the idea of trying something new, but give up when the going gets tough.
Maybe, Jesus doesn't care so much about the success of sinking or swimming or walking on water.
Maybe, Jesus just wants us to have enough courage to call out and get out of the boat and take a few steps. If we sink, hey, he will get us back to the boat. Then, we can try it again. And, if it doesn't work that time, we try it again. And, we keep trying until we get it right.
"All I can do, is all I can do and I keep on tryin'" Trace Adkins I'm Tryin' (2009)
Maybe that's the change that Jesus wants to see. Because if we plan on laying down and giving up we won't get any where with this.
