Context
This is not the first time that the disciples get into a boat in the Gospel of Matthew. It’s a pretty common experience in many of the gospels. Traveling by boat from one shore to another is a pretty effective means of travel in those days.
However, this time it’s a little different. Jesus compels the disciples to get into the boat, but Jesus does not go with them. After hearing about the death of John the Baptist, after the feeding of the 5000-10,000 gathered people, Jesus decides that he needs to be alone and so he sends the disciples out onto the boat while he goes up on the mountain.
There are plenty of aspects of this story that we could focus on from this text. Jesus needing time away. Jesus grieving the death of a friend. Jesus being a Moses figure, going up to the mountain to communicate with God.
But today I want to stay with the story of the disciples. And that’s because there’s a slow transition happening between last week’s text up through the transfiguration. Jesus is trying to show the disciples that they will need to start taking the lead. But that does not mean that God’s not there (see next section for this Matthew trajectory).
The disciples climb into the boats, and they go out onto the waters. Many of them are fishermen and so they know how to navigate the seas. But a storm is picking up and it is enough to make even the most experienced fishermen nervous. A wind begins to pick up on the sea. Driving the boats further and further from the shoreline. The waves are beating up against the side of the boat.
Now this isn’t the first time the disciples have been caught in a storm on the water. In chapter 8 of the Gospel of Matthew, it says “A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but Jesus was asleep. And the disciples went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. The disciples were amazed saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
So, our Gospel text today is not the first time that the disciples have been in a storm on the sea. But this time, Jesus is not with them. It is early in the morning. In the Greek it says the 4th watch of the night, so at or before dawn (cf. Exodus 14:24). The waves are beating up against the boat. They cannot get back to the shore. And the disciples are tired and afraid.
Now, on top of all of that, they see a figure walking along the water toward them. Something terrible is heading right for them as the waves crash against the boat. “A ghost!” They cry out in fear! Exhausted, afraid, unable to control the boat, the disciples are terrified.
But it makes complete sense that the disciples would be afraid. It’s normal to be afraid in scary situations. Raging storms on a boat on the sea. They are without their leader and friend. They are stranded and the winds and waves keep getting worse.
The disciples were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Jesus moves toward them in the storm. Coming out to where they are.
Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.
When God is present, we are told that we don’t need to be afraid.
The disciples are afraid because things are out of their control, they are alone, Jesus is not with them, as the waves crash against the boat, as the wind whips around them. And then a Ghost walks along the water and even more fear takes hold. The disciples illustrate so well that fear in the face of real danger and fear of when we feel alone, is real. It is valid. And it is not a sign of lack of faith.
But Jesus calls to them, coming out to where they are, and assuring them that he is there.
Peter, unsure of whether or not it is Jesus tell Jesus to command him onto the water. And so Jesus commands him. Peter, forgetting the wind and storm for a moment, takes a step out onto the water and then as soon as he notices it again, begins to sink.
Jesus catches him and says, “You of little faith, why did you doubt me?”
The doubt that Jesus is referring to is not scolding Peter for being afraid of the storm. It is tenderly asking why they didn’t think that it was Jesus who was walking to them. Why wouldn’t God come to them in their time of fear?
Jesus reaches for Peters hand. And takes them back to the boat, where the wind immediately calms. Again, Jesus calms the waters and their fears with his presence.
Still, an even greater storm in the story continues. John the Baptist has been executed and his followers have been scattered. The plans of the Pharisees and Sadducees are still plotting against Jesus. And he and the disciples have nowhere to call home. There is still fear and foreboding circumstances at every turn.
But for this moment, Jesus calms this storm, Jesus is present with them for this moment, and that is enough to get through this next day.
Peter and the Disciples take the lead
There is one really important note from last week’s gospel that I forgot to mention. Matthew emphasizes that it is the disciples who collect the food, give it to Jesus, give it out, and then collect it again. They are the hands. They are taking the lead in this feeding. While it is Jesus’ miracle (and ministry), it will be the disciples who pass it along and keep it going. Jesus is beginning to transition ministry to Peter and the disciples. This becomes even more evident in Jesus giving the keys to the kingdom to them (Matt 16:13-20). The whole tone of the Gospel shifts after this long section of Matthew 13:53-17:27. We have to start asking the question of the authority of the disciples (and the church) as well as with Jesus.
As the disciples begin to fully see Jesus and as Jesus begins predicting his death, resurrection, and leaving, he begins passing along how they should become leaders AND where God will be in the world.
Preaching Possibilities
Fear and Faith
It is perfectly reasonable that the disciples are afraid in this moment. We absolutely should not preach on the disciples’ fear being lack of faith. Who among us would not be afraid of a sea in storm? Who among us wouldn’t be afraid of a “ghost” walking on water? It’s not about the fear of these very real and valid threats.
Jesus is beginning to show the disciple that even when he is physically “gone” he is not absent. God is with them always (see the Great Commission).
And that is the promise that we receive in this Gospel.
When we are afraid, God gives us a promise, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
When we are afraid, God promises to come near to us.
Jesus is going to call us to step out in faith. To get into the boats and set sail. Jesus is going to ask us to lead, to be the disciples that God has called us to be. And sometimes that’s going to be okay. Sometimes it’s not going to be scary at all, because it’s to be in areas where we’re comfortable. Afterall, some of these fishermen were right at home in the beginning. But then there are going to be times when the sea gets rough. And in those moments, we’ll look frantically around us, seeking the person who “should be in charge.” “Is there an adult present?”
But it is in those moments that Jesus tenderly speaks to us, “Why wouldn’t I come in your time of fear?” God is always present with us. And most assuredly God is present when we step out into the world in faith.
Like a child who just got our training wheels off our bike, it may feel good at first…until it’s scary as hell.
Like starting our first job and wanting out trainer to walk us through it one more time.
Like having your first child and not knowing how anyone in the world let you be a parent.
In each moment we may feel alone but our parents, bosses, trainers, and loved ones are always close by. So too is God near to us.
We are called to step out in faith, even though there will be times that are rough. Because God will always be there to catch us.
Micah Krey 
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