This week, for the first time ever, I noticed something about the disciples in the gospels – just about the only time we get names – or stories of particularity about any of them -- is when they have messed up – missed the point – tried to make the teachings of Jesus fit into the teachings of the world. We hear that Jesus had to explain the parables to his disciples. We hear of James and John who asked to be seated at Jesus’ right and left hands when he takes his throne in the Kingdom of Heaven. Thomas is named when he expresses his doubts after the crucifixion. We know the names of the disciples who fell asleep while Jesus was praying in Gethsemane. And everyone knows the name of Judas who turned Jesus in to the authorities, presumably to teach Jesus to adjust his teachings to come into alignment with those of the realities of the Roman and Jewish world of Israel. And we hear lots of stories about Peter – including this one this morning. All the disciples are there, but only Peter asks to step out of the boat.

This week, for the first time ever, I noticed something about the disciples in the gospels – just about the only time we get names – or stories of particularity about any of them -- is when they have messed up – missed the point – tried to make the teachings of Jesus fit into the teachings of the world.  We hear that Jesus had to explain the parables to his disciples.  We hear of James and John who asked to be seated at Jesus’ right and left hands when he takes his throne in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Thomas is named when he expresses his doubts after the crucifixion.  We know the names of the disciples who fell asleep while Jesus was praying in Gethsemane.  And everyone knows the name of Judas who turned Jesus in to the authorities, presumably to teach Jesus to adjust his teachings to come into alignment with those of the realities of the Roman and Jewish world of Israel. 

 

And we hear lots of stories about Peter – including this one this morning.  All the disciples are there, but only Peter asks to step out of the boat.  In another story Peter is chided when he wants to build shelters for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus at the Transfiguration.  Peter is the one who answers correctly Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” that was posed to the disciples.  But in the very next verses we hear Jesus tell Peter to “get behind” him calling him Satan when Peter tries to tell Jesus that Jesus should not face death by the scribes and elders. We could hear the Gospels and come away believing that Peter was the dumbest of the disciples.  Certainly we’d believe at the end of the story it will be anyone BUT Peter who will lead those who are sent out to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that” Jesus had commanded the disciples. 

 

But we would be judging by human standards – just like the disciples – and we’d be wrong.  Because, I believe, the point that we’d be missing is that Peter is willing to try – to take chances – to risk failure – and without taking chances nothing can succeed.  The renowned Kentucky Colonel Sanders took 9 years – and uncounted failures -- to develop his blend of spices and cooking method for his famous Kentucky Fried Chicken.  Thomas Edison, while working on the light bulb, was asked about how he remained optimistic after so many failures at finding the right filament for the light bulb.  Edison replied, “I have not failed; I have eliminated 10,000 combinations that do not work.” 

 

In the first century when someone committed to being the disciple of a teacher – a rabbi – the goal was to become as much like the teacher as was humanly possible.  Even into modern times when a student is selected to study under a rabbinic teacher, the student will follow that teacher wherever the teacher leads.  There is a story of one Rabbi who had several disciples traveling with him, absorbing and writing down every word that the Rabbi spoke, and trying their best to keep up and to imitate his every move.  The group arrived at a rest stop on the highway and the Rabbi went into the Rest Room, the group of disciples followed closely behind.  When asked why they even accompanied the Rabbi into the Rest Room, the disciple responded, “Because we did not want to miss even one word.”

 

Disciples in the day of Jesus were equally zealous.  In agreeing to follow their teacher Jesus, they, too, committed to an exercise of learning from his words and imitating his actions.  With Jesus this was no easy task.  Jesus followed a path that was counter to the establishment of the Temple, contrary to the teachings of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the priests, the scribes, and the ruling court -- the Sanhedrin.  Jesus was performing miracles, healing the sick, eating and drinking with outcasts.  His teachings were elusive and demanding.  Jesus didn’t mind challenging his disciples to go out and heal the sick themselves, or to take a few loaves of bread and a couple fish and tell them to feed a crowd of over 10,000 people. 

 

And in this story, all the disciples are in the boat -- and even with several of them experienced in handling a boat in all kinds of weather, they have spent the whole night battling the wind and the waves.  This is no huge body of water.  It is most likely the Sea of Galilee – which is only about 8 miles wide at its widest point, and only about 15 miles long.  When the disciples look up in that early morning, they see a figure walking on top of the water.  Their first thought is that it must be a ghost – physics would not allow a human to talk on top of the water.  Their response is one of fear – and we all know the affects of fear – both on our ability to act, but also on our faith itself.  But Jesus calls out to them – to reassure them – to calm their fears. 

 

Peter, once again the bold one, answers Jesus, “Lord, if it is you…”  First Peter wants some proof that it is Jesus that is there in the lake with them.  But Peter follows this need for assurance with a most unusual request, “command me to come to you on the water.”  Peter is willing to take the risk – to step out of the boat – to try to emulate his teacher – even to the feat of walking on water.  All logic says that this is not possible, and I’m sure the rest of the disciples are sitting in the boat, still aghast at one more amazing example of the powers of Jesus.  The disciples have seen Jesus heal the sick and raise the dead.  They have even gone out and performed some healings themselves – and they have just come from the miracle of feeding that huge crowd with the loaves and fishes – but the ability to walk on water hasn’t had a chance to sink in yet.  And yet Peter, who obviously hasn’t taken the time to think this through – offers to step out of a perfectly good boat and attempt walking on rough and wave-filled waters to meet his master.  Peter does just that….Peter steps out of the boat and we are told, “started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.” 

 

This is the point where most of us have heard that it was Peter’s lack of faith that made him begin to sink, and there is some truth there, but I offer to you that Peter walked on water!!  He may not have gotten far, and he may not have had faith great enough to get himself across the lake, but Peter walked on water.  Peter was the only one with enough faith to step out of the boat – enough faith to risk failure – enough faith to risk success. 

 

Sometimes that is exactly what we are called to do – to step out of whatever place of security and complacency that we occupy – to step out of our boats and into the troubled water that surrounds us and to risk failure – or success. 

 

When we are faced with such an opportunity, it might help to remember that Peter was walking toward Jesus, that Peter was doing his master’s bidding, and that when Peter began to sink, Jesus held out his hand and caught him.  We are also reminded that in spite of his failures, in spite of his blunders, it was Peter that Jesus selected to use to build the church, but that is a whole other sermon. 

 

The next time we are faced with such a call – either individually, or as a community – to step out of our comfort zone, to risk something new, let us use Peter’s example – to first discern that it is Jesus who is calling us to this task, and that in so doing we are walking toward our master.  Once that has been determined, let us also have the courage to risk getting out of the boat.  We may find that we may just be able to walk on water, too.