If you want to walk on water you have to get out of the boat

I love the story in Matthew 14 where Jesus asks Peter to walk on the water – what great drama about faith! Peter was willing to risk everything on just the word of his teacher.

We hear in the Scripture that the disciples have been asked by Jesus to take a boat and go on before him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee while Jesus stays behind to dismiss the crowds that had gathered to listen to him.

By evening Jesus was alone, praying, getting in some Sabbath time and the disciples were experiencing just the opposite; far from shore, fighting against the wind and waves. They struggle almost all night against the storm that is crashing down against them, and they struggle successfully, until near dawn they see an apparition. They see something, or is it someone, walking across the water toward them; and they’re terrified! What do you do when you’re scared beyond belief? I don’t know about you, but I jump and then let out a scream and most of the time it isn’t so butch; if you know what I mean! Well, the disciples in the boat cried out in fear!

Immediately Jesus responds to the disciples fear with the words, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” I like this translation better: “Hey! Calm down! It’s me, Jesus!”

Peter is the first one to answer Jesus. “Lord, if it is you, ask me to come to you on the water.”

And Jesus answers, “Come on.” And Peter climbs over the edge of the rocking boat and puts his feet in, no, on the water and begins to walk toward Jesus! Wow!

Can you imagine what the other disciples were thinking? They’re probably yelling back, “Sit down, Pete. You’re rocking the boat! You’re going to get us all drowned!”

I love this story. It shows us what can happen when we respond to the call of Jesus; it shows us how we can triumph over fear, confusion, doubt; it shows us how, when we dare to believe the words of Jesus, his power lifts us up and allows us to weather the storms of life and do something new; something we thought impossible!

Think about it. Peter didn’t need to get out of the boat. He didn’t need to go out on the stormy waters. He could have simply stayed where he was and waited for Jesus to come to him. He could have sheltered himself in the safety of the boat in the knowledge that everything would be OK now that Jesus was coming to him and the other disciples.

But Peter needed to get out of the boat if he was going to walk on the water. If you wanna walk on water, you have to get out of the boat!

Peter took a chance. He asked Jesus to call him. He asked Jesus for the power to meet him in the middle of the storm. Peter had courage.

The courage to venture out into danger and do what Jesus has said can be done; the courage to risk taking a step that didn’t really need to be taken, but he does it simply because Jesus says it can be taken.

Jesus is saying, “You can do it! Trust me.”

I don’t know about you, but given the choice between safety, the familiar and comfort versus taking a risk, fear and the unknown what would you choose?

What are your dreams? What is your passion? What risk is Jesus asking you to take? What have you been afraid to do? What have you postponed because you dreaded the possible consequences? Who have you avoided because you didn’t know what to say to them?

Where have you refused to go because you feared what might happen there? What goal have you hid from because you felt inadequate? What dream have you let wither and die?

If you’re going to walk on water, you need to get out of the boat!

Sometimes we just need to get out of the safety of the boat and say, “Lord, if it’s you, ask me to come to you.”

I’m not saying to take a wild chance on the first thing that comes along, but I am saying if you have a dream or if you’re in a tough situation and you hear Jesus calling you to take a chance … If you see that you can do something to help someone else or simply feel that God is calling you to change something in your life, risk it!

Peter’s faith held him up. The power of Christ held him up. And Peter was going great, until he forgot about the power that he had called upon and the power that had called him.

Peter did well until he focused on the danger he was in; till he looked at the strong wind and the waves and became afraid.

Then, he began to sink.

When we take a risk; when we dare to do what God is calling us to do it is very important that we remember to stay focused on our goal; to trust that God will see us through despite what is happening all around us. Don’t focus on the fear. Don’t focus on your negative feelings.

That’s exactly what people who live by faith do. They remember that feelings can be misleading, but the truths in God’s Word are reliable, trustworthy and consistent.

When we believe and act on these truths, we experience God’s promises for us.

Peter, when he is overcome by fear, when he starts to walk according to his feelings instead of by faith begins to sink. His risk looks as though he failed, but he didn’t.

Peter sinks, but as he begins to sink Peter remembers where his help comes from and he cries out, Lord! Save me!”

And Jesus immediately reaches out his hand and catches Peter.

This is what God does when we risk as well.

When we step out; when we take a risk to come closer to God and then stumble a hand reaches out to us and lifts us up. All we have to do is remember God’s promise to always be with us.

Jesus says to Peter after reaching out to him and saving him, and I believe he says it gently, “Peter, where’s your faith? Why did you doubt me?”

When we take a risk for God; when we dare to do what is right; when we decide to go the extra mile, a mile that we don’t even need to walk but Jesus tells us we can walk; God is near to us to help us.

All we need to do is keep focused on the Source of our faith, to look to where our help comes from. All we need to do is ask for the help we need and trust that it will come.

Like Peter who stepped out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus who had called him, we too can step out. Remember, if we’re gonna walk on the water, we have to get out of the boat!

When we do, power flows; when we do, marvelous things happen; when we do, we discover new things about ourselves.

We can risk, because we have a powerful God watching over us; we can trust, because we have a loving God caring for us; we can step out, because we have a faithful God who will save us.

If you want to walk on the water, you have to get out of the boat!

Rev. Dan Koeshall is the senior pastor at The Metropolitan Community Church (The Met), 2633 Denver Street, San Diego, California, themetchurch.org. Services every Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m.