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A sermon is a manner of oral communication and therefore words and sentence structure/order would be added, altered, or deleted at the moment of delivery. + In Nomine Jesu + The Rev. Evan Gaertner A challenge for us today in the gospel lesson is to see a story about Jesus walking on water and his disciple Peter getting out of the boat and walking on the water and looking at our own lives and the lives of those people we care about and wondering what it means to me. Certainly life is difficult, the current of the times is against us no matter what way we turn, but we get out of the boat and start walking. With Peter we struggle, we lose sight of Jesus and we start to sink. But we have a savior who reaches out to lift us up. Peter as a disciple was not remarkable because of what he did. Peter was remarkable because of who he followed. This distinction is difficult for all of us in the church. We want to be recognized for what we are able to accomplish. To be noticed and appreciated for what we are able to do. Peter got out of the boat. What a remarkable event that was. But that getting out of the boat was not what made Peter a follower of Jesus. Jesus reaching out and lifting up Peter when he had failed is the story. Without Jesus, Peter would not be a disciple. Without Jesus you cannot be a disciple. What is a disciple? A disciple in Jesus' time and in our current times can best be understood as a follower of Jesus. A disciple is not someone who everyone notices and does remarkable and amazing acts of piety. This may occur, but this is not what makes one a disciple. A disciple is one who follows Jesus. How do we follow? Faithful to the promises of God. We are children of Abraham through the promises of God. A follower of Christ is not one by birth, heritage, tradition, or family connections. A follower of Christ is faithful to God as savior. Consider the nature of the disciples in the feeding the five thousand – on their own they could not even consider the possibility of doing the work of God, nor could they see Jesus. The disciples when they called for Jesus to send the people into the villages to buy food for themselves were not following Jesus but were stuck on the dead end of their own inabilities. When Jesus reaching out to them and asked for their meager resources to be brought to him and then given to the people, the disciples followed Jesus and through that act of faith they were able to bring the satisfaction of Jesus to the five thousand men, besides the women and children. Without faith we are not only unable to be about doing the work of God, we are blind to the work of God. The power to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is found not in ourselves and our sense of piety, devotion, obligation, or tradition. The power to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is Jesus on the cross. The disciples distributed the food to the five thousand, because of Jesus. Peter walked on the water because of Jesus. Stephen witnessed to the Sanhedrin before being stoned because of the power of Jesus and the cross. Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles because of the redeeming love of Jesus. We are clay pots in the hand of the potter being fashioned into vessels that carry the good to others. When Peter walked on the water he was doing what disciples do. Peter was faithful to Jesus. Before we consider about currents of the time being against us, the boldness of getting out of the boat, or the struggle of Peter as he began to doubt, first and foremost Peter was doing what Jesus does. A disciple follows Jesus. Following Jesus we accomplish the remarkable. Following Jesus we go places we never thought possible. Following Jesus is not about what you are doing, it is about Jesus. Following Jesus comes about only through faith in him. We are sunk we rely upon ourselves and do not see Jesus. The disciples were at a loss with the hungry crowds when they could not see the power of Jesus. The disciples were afraid in the boat when they saw the wind and the waves more clearly then Jesus who was walking to them. The disciples scattered when Jesus died on the cross and they could not see his power and love at work because they were looking for the world and they were being given eternity. But as much as we are hopeless in our own efforts and sinking under the weight of guilt, nevertheless Jesus walks to us. We are sinners on account of our sinful flesh that does not trust in God to be the savior and provider of our lives. In our sin God so loved us still. He fed the five thousand when the disciples had given up. He lifted up Peter when he was faithless and began to drown. He appeared to the frightened disciples in the locked room to give them his peace. He called Paul to be an apostle to the gentiles even while Paul was on the road to Peter, back in the boat after being lifted up be Jesus, worshipped Jesus saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." All wet, every bit of clothing soaked with the reminder that he is a sinner in need of salvation, he worshipped Jesus. We follow Jesus and at times are going to be all wet with the reminder that we are sinners in need of forgiveness. With joy we worship the Lord. We stumble. We fail. We are sinners. With joy we worship the Lord because he reaches out for us. He did not reach out his arms on the cross because Peter had walked on the water. He did not rise again on the third day because the disciples were so good at following him. He died on the cross because the disciples were helpless with the hungry crowds without him. He died on the cross because Peter was all wet in the boat having to be lifted up out of the water. Jesus died on the cross for you and me, not because we are exceptional, profound, amazing, walking on water disciples, with all sorts of spiritual gifts. Jesus died on the cross for you and me because we are sinners in need of forgiveness. We follow Jesus because he loves us and redeems us. He does not love you and redeem you because you are a remarkable disciple. Walking as a disciple of the Lord is not about what you are able to contribute. A disciple, a follower of Jesus, is one that has faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of his sin. It is the power of the cross that brings salvation to all people. This is a power that ignites and flames the church. When we are removed from the cross in our lives we will find ourselves drowning like Peter. But have faith that in even your darkest moments your Savior does not turn away from you but continues to reach out for you. Soli Deo Gloria -->> Home |