I was told once of an indigenous people somewhere in the developing world who were evangelized by missionaries. These people told them key stories about Jesus, but they soon took sick and died. The people of the tribe were open to the power of God as the missionaries described it, and took the stories at face value. For years, they routinely crossed rivers and streams by walking on the water – until other missionaries came years later, and explained that it was just a story. Then they couldn’t do it anymore.
Three of our four gospels record Jesus’ walking on the water. Whatever we make of the story, it seems to have been foundational to the earliest Christians, one of many stories that reveal the Kingdom life of God displayed in Jesus the Christ. Okay, sure, but he was Jesus. If you buy Jesus being the Christ, it’s not so surprising that he walked on water.
Matthew, however, adds a detail that brings the story closer to where we live. When the disciples see Jesus walking on the sea and are terrified, he says, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter responds in a particularly fearless way:
“Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus.”
Now the pressure is on. If Peter can walk on the water at Jesus’ invitation, what is to prevent the rest of us? Why don’t we try it? Is it because we “know” we cannot, and that knowledge provided by our physical senses so overrides any spiritual conviction we might have? If we didn't know that this is "just a story," would our faith be less inhibited?
Just a story? This is quite a story. And it’s one of those that we can run with, whether we take it as reported fact or spiritual metaphor. Even as metaphor, it can bear our weight. Because stepping out in faith, taking risks we believe we’ve been called by God to take, these are intrinsic to the Christian life. I don’t believe any follower of Christ is called to just stay in her boat, come hell or high water. There are times when we’re all called to get out of our boat and take a step on the water toward Jesus. And then another.
Yesterday we asked ourselves what some of the challenges facing our “boats” are. Those challenges may or may not be related to the areas in which we’re sensing a nudge to take a risk in faith. So today let's ask: What seas do you feel called to step out onto? A different job? Retirement? New relationship? Ending an old relationship? Greater ministry responsibility? Living on less? Living healthier? Less dependency on someone or something? More dependency?
This is also a question that churches must constantly ask: where is Jesus calling us to step out of the boat of our comfort or complacency and walk with him on the water? Might that mean giving up some ministries? Taking on new ones? Worshipping differently? Joining in community with people who are different from us?
The answers will vary depending on the person and the community. The one constant is this:
No one is asked to step out of the boat onto a stormy sea by himself. “So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus.” And Jesus stayed right there with him. If we step out, we step out with Jesus.
What more do we need, than courage, our shaky faith, and all the power in the universe?
“Jesus said, ‘Come.’”
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