Just when we think we've got it

Scripture: Genesis 29:15-28  and  Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or Psalm 128  • 1 Kings 3:5-12  and  Psalm 119:129-136  •  Romans 8:26-39  •  Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

This week our Scripture ranges from Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery after deciding not to kill him, an exhausted, despairing and depressed Elijah needing desperately to hear from God as Jezebel seeks to have him killed, to Peter and the disciples cowering in a storm tossed sea when they see what?

Although I delighted in the story of Jesus walking on water as a child, and Peter trying to step out of the boat to go to Jesus, I confess, as I grew older, I had my doubts about the literal account. I believe he was both human and divine, and in his real presence, then and today.  I study Greek, and look at the story from the perspective of Jesus' words, "Take heart!" "Have courage!" θαρσεῖτε in Greek. He is the One who reaches out to lift us up, with grace, forgiveness - whatever we need to get through stormy seas.

Professor Alyce MacKenzie gives us so much more about this passage in "Walking Toward Us ," on our gospel account from Matthew. It is on three web-linked pages, not very long, and is worth reading. As she says, Jesus is "...someone who never stands on the shore watching us suffer, but is always walking toward us on the sea, stretching out a hand to us—with forgiveness, with love. Reaching out a hand to us that is both very human, and the very hand of God."

In "Out on the Water ," Debie Thomas examines issues of fear, where fear takes us, and trust in the One who always moves toward us, regardless of our fear or circumstances, to give us what we need in the storms of life, reaching out for us, saying "Take courage. It is I. Don't be afraid."  

Peter, the boldest, most confident, and sometimes rash stepped out on the sea toward Jesus, and then as doubt set in, he called out for Jesus to save him.  Jesus's reply to Peter and to his other disciples in the storm was "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" The word Jesus used for doubt comes from the root word διστάζω, which means "to stand in two ways" - an uncertainty which way to take. In her "Reflection ," Rev. Cheryl Lindsay reminds us that it's not just in the valleys of life that we have our doubts, or lose faith, sometimes it is on the mountaintop, or when we have a feeling of confidence and certainty, that we stumble or hesitate about which way to go. Jesus did not chastise Peter, but came near, and lifted him up. It is sometimes in doubt and uncertainty that we experience the Lord of life. And even just when we think we've got it.