MATTHEW 14:22-33 | THE WALK OF FAITH

THE WALK OF FAITH

MATTHEW 14:22-33

AUGUST 13, 2017

I WONDER IF YOU SAW THE NEWS STORY FROM SEVERAL WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN PASTOR IN ZIMBABWE ATTEMPTING TO REPLICATE THIS MORNING’S PASSAGE.

ACCORDING TO ZIMBABWE TODAY, JONATHAN MTHETWAT, WITH THE SAINT OF THE LAST DAYS CHURCH TOLD HIS CONGREGATION OF HIS PLANS TO WALK ON WATER.

HE SPENT A WEEK FASTING AND PRAYING IN PREPARATION FOR HIS WALK.

WHEN THE DAY ARRIVED FOR HIM TO REPEAT JESUS’ MIRACLE, AND BEST THE APOSTLE PETER, SINCE PETER FAILED WHERE JESUS HAD SUCCEEDED;

THE ZIMBABWE PASTOR WALKED SOME 100 YARDS INTO THE WATER, ONLY TO BE TORN TO SHREDS BY THREE CROCODILES.

ACCORDING TO THE DAILY POST, DEACON NKOSI, A CHURCH MEMBER, REPORTEDLY SAID, “THEY FINISHED HIM OFF IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES.  ALL THAT WAS LEFT OF HIM WAS HIS PAIR OF SANDALS AND HIS UNDERWEAR FLOATING ON THE WATER.”

HEARING THIS STORY, WE ARE PROBABLY SHOCKED, APPALLED, AND IF HONEST, PROBABLY TRYING TO STIFLE THE LAUGHTER THAT’S GOING ON INSIDE OUR HEADS!

PERHAPS WE’RE THINKING, “SERVES HIM RIGHT, FOR TRYING TO BE A SHOW-OFF AND BOASTING ABOUT HAVING FAITH ENOUGH TO WALK ON WATER.”

WHEN I FIRST HEARD THIS STORY, I MUST CONFESS, THIS IS WHAT WAS GOING ON INSIDE OF ME.

THEN, I FOUND OUT A WEEK OR SO LATER, THAT THE STORY WASN’T TRUE.

IT WAS A LIE; IT NEVER HAPPENED.

SOMEBODY HAD MADE IT UP.  I ASSUME, TO EMBARRASS CHRISTIANS; TO EMBARRASS THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH; TO POKE FUN AT US, AND OUR GULLIBILITY, AND THE GULLIBILITY OF FAITH IN GENERAL.

WHAT STRUCK ME, WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE STORY WAS A LIE, WAS THAT I HAD ENGAGED IN EXACTLY WHAT THIS PRETEND ZIMBABWE PASTOR HAD ENGAGED IN; EXACTLY WHAT THE APOSTLE PETER HAD ENGAGED IN;

A SENSE OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS; THAT I WAS BETTER THAN THE DIMWIT IN THIS STORY, AND THAT I WOULD NEVER, NEVER, BE SO SELF-RIGHTEOUS AS TO THINK I COULD WALK ON WATER!

IT’S WHAT SUNK PETER; THE PRETEND PASTOR; AND THE NOT-SO-PRETEND ME!

INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON JESUS, PETER’S AILMENT AS WELL, I HAD FOCUSED ON MYSELF; HOW I WAS BETTER THAN THIS PASTOR EATEN BY CROCODILES!

I HAD RELIED ON MY SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS, MY SELF-CONFIDENCE, TO THINK MORE OF MYSELF THAN I DO OF OTHERS; TO THINK MORE OF MY FAITH THAN OTHER’S FAITHS;

AND MOSTLY, TO THINK MORE OF MYSELF THAN ABOUT MY FAITH IN GOD.

THERE’S A REASON PETER IS THE MOST RELATABLE DISCIPLE.  WHY WE SEE SO MUCH OF OURSELVES IN HIM, AT LEAST WHEN WE LOOK AT HIM HONESTLY, AND OURSELVES TOO.

HE’S ALWAYS SHOOTING OFF HIS MOUTH, EXCEPT WHEN HE’S SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE FOOT!

HE SPEAKS WITHOUT THINKING; ACTS WITHOUT PLANNING; JUMPS WITHOUT LOOKING.  HE’S THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO “ENGAGE BRAIN BEFORE STARTING TONGUE.”

JESUS CALLS HIM “THE ROCK” ON WHICH JESUS PLANS TO BUILD THE CHURCH, BUT AS WE KNOW, AND PETER PROVES TIME AND AGAIN, ROCKS AREN’T THE PRETTIEST, FANCIEST, OR SMARTEST THINGS IN CREATION.

PETER WAS ALL THESE, AND MORE, AND WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR HIM TO TRY TO WALK ON WATER, HE, OF COURSE, SANK LIKE A STONE.

WHEN JESUS ASKED WHO PEOPLE THINK HE IS – PETER BLURTS OUT – “JOHN THE BAPTIST, OR ONE OF THE PROPHETS!”  “AND WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?” JESUS ASKS PETER DIRECTLY.

“YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.”  THIS PETER GETS RIGHT; AND IT EARNS HIM THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM; THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH;

HE IS THE FIRST IN A LONG SUCCESSION OF POPES.

BUT IN ALMOST THE NEXT BREATH, WHEN JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES WHAT BEING THE CHRIST REALLY MEANS, THAT HE MUST GO TO JERUSALEM, SUFFER, AND DIE, ONLY TO BE RAISED UP ON THE THIRD DAY;

IT’S PETER, WELL-INTENDED, OF COURSE, BUT NOT QUITE GRASPING THE TRUE MEANING OF IT ALL, WHO STEPS IN FRONT OF JESUS, ATTEMPTING TO BLOCK HIS WAY;

ONLY TO HAVE CHRIST REBUKE HIM, “GET BEHIND ME SATAN,” FOR HIS GETTING IN THE WAY OF GOD’S PLANS FOR JESUS’ LIFE, AND GOD’S PLANS FOR SAVING THE WORLD.

ONCE, WHEN JESUS IS PREACHING ABOUT FORGIVENESS, GOD FORGIVING US, AND OUR FORGIVING OTHERS; ITS PETER WHO WANTS TO QUANTIFY IT – “AND HOW MANY TIMES ARE WE TO FORGIVE OTHERS,” HE ASKS JESUS;

AND WHEN JESUS SAYS, “SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN,” YOU CAN JUST SEE PETER DOING THE MATH IN HIS HEAD!

PETER’S FINAL DAYS WITH JESUS ARE SOMETHING OF A ROLLER COASTER RIDE – HE’S RIGHT THERE, ALL THE TIME; EXCEPT WHEN HE’S NOT; WHEN JESUS NEEDS HIM MOST, HE AND THE OTHERS WITH JESUS FALL ASLEEP.

PETER BOASTS A FAITH THAT WILL NEVER QUIT, AND THEN THREE TIMES, DENIES EVER KNOWING THE MAN!

THE ONE WHOM JESUS HAD CALLED AWAY FROM FISHING FOR FISH, TO FISHING FOR SOULS, IMMEDIATELY GOES BACK TO FISHING FOR FISH, AS SOON AS JESUS IS OUT OF SIGHT;

ONLY TO ENCOUNTER THE RISEN CHRIST ONCE MORE, ON THE SHORE;

AND JUST AS PETER HAD DENIED JESUS THREE TIMES, HE IS NOW ASKED BY JESUS ABOUT HIS LOVE FOR HIM, THREE TIMES; AND THEN FORGIVEN, THREE TIMES; AND WHAT’S MORE, IS TOLD TO GO AND TAKE CARE OF GOD’S SHEEP; TO FEED GOD’S LAMBS THREE TIMES.

IF PETER’S DOING THE MATH THIS TIME, HE PROBABLY GETS IT!

THE REASON PETER IS SO RELATABLE IS BECAUSE HE IS US, AND WE ARE HIM;

WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS; AND AT TIMES, THE WORST FOLLOW THROUGH.

ONE MOMENT PROCLAIMING OUR UNDYING LOVE AND FAITH IN CHRIST, AND IN THE NEXT, DOING ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT UNDO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

AND I DON’T NECESSARILY MEAN BIG THINGS, BUT THE LITTLE THINGS, LIKE GOSSIPING, HOLDING PETTY GRUDGES, BEING LESS THAN UNDERSTANDING TOWARDS OTHERS, EXPECTING OTHERS TO DO THINGS BY STANDARDS TO WHICH WE FAIL TO HOLD OURSELVES.

ONE MOMENT WE ARE THE ROCK, THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH, THE NEXT MINUTE WE ARE ASLEEP; ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.

THIS TIME WE FORGIVE; THE NEXT TIME WE SEEMINGLY FORGET HOW TO.

IN AN INSTANT WE BELIEVE WE HAVE FAITH ENOUGH TO WALK ON WATER, AND MAYBE WE DO;

AND IN THE NEXT WE ARE SINKING LIKE A STONE, IN THE CONFUSED WATERS OF OUR OWN FEARS AND LACK OF FAITH; CROCODILES NIPPING AT OUR TOES!

THIS REALLY IS OUR WALK OF FAITH: SOMETIMES, ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW, AND AT OTHER TIMES, WANDERING AROUND AS IF FOLLOWING THE LITTLE ANIMALS…

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, REGARDING YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK, SOMETIMES YOU ARE ON POINT; AND OTHER TIMES, AS LOST AS THE PROVERBIAL PRODIGAL SON.

GIVEN THE EMPHASIS JESUS PUTS ON FORGIVENESS, WAY MORE THAN SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN, BY THE WAY;

YOU GET THE FEELING JESUS KNOWS THIS ABOUT US; ABOUT PETER;

AND MAKES ALLOWANCES FOR OUR FINDING OUR WAY BACK TO HIM, AND BACK TO OUR FAITH IN HIM, THROUGH GRACE, MERCY, AND FORGIVENESS.

I HAVEN’T ASKED JESUS SPECIFICALLY, BUT I IMAGINE, THAT WHILE MAKING ALLOWANCES FOR OUR FOIBLES AND FAILURES, OUR ON-AGAIN OFF-AGAIN FAITH, OUR TOE-ING THE LINE AND THEN CROSSING IT;

THE ONE THING JESUS WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GET BETTER ABOUT, AND QUICKLY, IS THINKING TOO MUCH OF OURSELVES; OF RELYING TOO MUCH ON OURSELVES; ESPECIALLY, WHEN WE DO SO, AT THE COST OF GOD AND OTHERS!

WHEN OUR SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS, SELF-CENTEREDNESS, SELF-RELIANCE, JUST PLAIN SELFISHNESS, CAUSES US TO FORGET GOD, AND TREAT OTHERS LIKE SOMEBODY LESS-THAN-US;

I KNOW GOD WILL FORGIVE US, BUT I SUSPECT GOD WOULD ALSO LIKE US TO LEARN OUR LESSON, AND QUIT REPEATING THIS MISTAKE REPEATEDLY.

JESUS WILL STILL REACH OUT HIS HAND AND CATCH US; LIFTING US UP; HELPING US BACK INTO THE BOAT; BUT NOT WITHOUT A BIT OF A REBUKE:

“YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHY DID YOU DOUBT?”

THE REAL BLESSING OF OUR PASSAGE FOR THIS MORNING, BESIDES THE FACT THAT CHRIST WILL SAVE US, IS THAT IT ENDS WITH PETER’S AFFIRMATION OF CHRIST:

“TRULY, YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD.”

PETER GETS IT; EVEN WHEN HE DOESN’T; EVEN IF NOT ALL THE TIME; EVEN WHEN HE ISN’T ALWAYS FAITHFUL;

WHEN HE FORGETS TO FORGIVE; WHEN HE’S SHOOTING OFF HIS MOUTH, OR SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE FOOT, PETER STILL GETS IT.

AND SO, DOES CHRIST – FORGIVING HIM AT EVERY TURN, BUT NOT NECESSARILY LETTING HIM OFF THE HOOK; (“YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHY DID YOU DOUBT?”)

WHAT’S MORE, JESUS CONTINUES TO USE PETER, AND THE REST OF US, HIS IMPERFECT FOLLOWERS, TO DO THE WORK OF HIS CHURCH.

I WOULDN’T GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT WE’RE ALL JESUS HAS TO WORK WITH;

THAT HE COULDN’T ACCOMPLISH THE WORK OF HIS KINGDOM BY MIRACLE AND SUPERNATURAL POWER; I SUPPOSE HE COULD;

BUT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, AND NOT JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH, BUT FROM THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING, THIS IS HOW GOD HAS CHOSEN TO WORK;

IN COVENANT WITH US; “GOD WILL BE OUR GOD, AND WE WILL BE GOD’S PEOPLE;” “YOU WILL BE THE ROCK ON WHICH I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH;”

AND WHILE WE MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE THE PRETTIEST, FANCIEST, OR SMARTEST THINGS IN ALL OF GOD’S GOOD CREATION…

WE ARE THOSE WITH WHOM GOD HAS CHOSEN TO COVENANT; WITH WHOM GOD DESIRES TO WORK; AND ON WHOM JESUS SAYS HE WILL BUILD HIS CHURCH.

GOD HELP ‘EM!  I MEAN US!  I MEAN GOD, FOR TRUSTING IN US ENOUGH, TO ENTRUST US WITH THE MESSAGE OF NEW LIFE, ABUNDANT LIFE, ETERNAL LIFE.

JOHN WESLEY, WHO WITH HIS BROTHER CHARLES, AND THE CLERIC GEORGE WHITEFIELD, WERE THE FOUNDERS OF METHODISM, ONCE SAID THAT THE BEST DEFINITION OF A CHRISTIAN (AND MAYBE THE SHORTEST!) WAS TO BE FOUND IN II CORINTHIANS 5:7 –

“WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.”

EMBODIED IN THIS VERSE, OF COURSE, IS ALL MANNER OF BELIEVING IN, TRUSTING IN, HAVING FAITH IN GOD; BUT ALSO, BEING FAITHFUL TO GOD.

AND “WALKING” SUGGESTS MOVEMENT; NOT A STAGNANT, STAY AS YOU ARE, STAY WHERE YOU ARE, STAY WHO YOU ARE, FAITH;

BUT MOVEMENT, GROWTH, EVOLVING, EVER-CHANGING, EVER-TRUSTING-AND-BELIEVING THAT GOD IS NOT ONLY LEADING US INTO THE PLACES WE GO, BUT GOING WITH US, AS WE GO.

TO “WALK BY FAITH, AND NOT BY SIGHT” IS NOT COUNTING OUR EVERY STEP; CAUTIOUSLY MOVING FORWARD, FEELING OUR WAY ALONG;

BUT RATHER, TRUSTING GOD TO SHOW US THE WAY; TO GO WITH US ON THE WAY; TO WELCOME US WHEN WE ARRIVE; AND TO SET OUR FEET IN MOTION TO GO WHERE WE ARE TO GO NEXT.

PERHAPS THIS IS WHY JESUS KEEPS COMING AFTER PETER; WHY HE CALLS HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE; WHY HE DESTINES HIM AS THE LEADER OF THE CHURCH; WHY HE REFUSES TO TURN HIS BACK ON PETER, EVEN AS PETER TURNS HIS BACK ON HIM.

MAYBE THIS IS WHY, POST-RESURRECTION, JESUS COMES LOOKING FOR PETER AGAIN; AND FINDING HIM ON THE SHORE; INQUIRES OF HIS LOVE AND FAITH; FORGIVING HIM THREE TIMES;

AND THREE TIMES, SENDING HIM ON HIS WAY: TO BEGIN HIS OWN WORK; HIS OWN MINISTRY IN CHRIST’S NAME.

WHAT IS YOUR WALK?  WHERE IS GOD LEADING YOU?  WHERE ARE YOU GOING, AND WHAT IS IT, CHRIST WANTS YOU TO DO?

WHATEVER IT IS, STEP OUT OF THE BOAT, STEP TOWARD CHRIST, KEEP YOUR EYES ON CHRIST, ALL THE WHILE, REMEMBERING, THAT IT IS BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT, THAT WE WALK…

MAYBE NOT ON WATER… BUT MAYBE ON WATER… BUT CERTAINLY, ON OUR LITTLE ISLAND, BESIDE IT!

TRUSTING GOD TO LEAD US; TRUSTING CHRIST TO UPHOLD US; TRUSTING THE SPIRIT TO MOVE US;

WHEREVER IT IS WE’RE WALKING; WHATEVER IT IS WE’RE DOING; WHENEVER IT IS WE ARE TO GO.