A Stroll on the Lake

I don’t usually write much on Sunday. I take that whole day of rest thing pretty seriously. Mostly, just because I need it! I stay pretty busy during the week. So, when Sunday comes along I try to kick back and enjoy it. I find it good for my body and mind.
Today, however, I want to share something simple that came to mind this A.M.
The Gospel lection for today was from the Gospel According to Matthew. The selection was from the story just after Jesus had fed a huge crowd of people with only a few fish and a couple of loaves of bread. It goes:

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Mt 14:22–33). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Now, I’ve read this passage and heard preachers talk about it far too many times to recount. They talk about how life is like the storm that Jesus can calm. Some really bad songs have been sung about that. These folks like to talk about how Pete would have been just fine if he had just “kept his eyes on Jesus” rather than allowing himself to be distracted by the wind and waves. There are the classic ones that speak to Pete’s lack of faith. “We must not lose faith like Peter did!” they say.

These are all well and good. There is a whole lot packed into these few verses. And, all of those options for sermon material, and much more, are viable.

There is one thing hidden in there that I had never noticed before. And, like I said, I’ve heard and seen a lot in this passage over the years.
When I was in seminary I had a professor who introduced me to a certain way of reading the Greek text. No, I’m not going to give you a Greek lesson. But, I think this is kind of neat for getting a handle on the above passage. While studying Paul’s Letter to the Church at Rome we came to a verse that is traditionally translated, “Faith in Jesus.” A believer must have faith in Jesus in order to be saved. Simple. All of the old theologians and Bible folks agree on that.
I learned, however, that because of the way Greek works, there is another way to read these texts. This way would render the translation, Faith of Jesus.”
See the difference? In one, Jesus is the Object of our faith. In the other, Jesus is the subject of faith.
Another way to read it would be that we are saved by the “Faithfulness” of Jesus.

When I learned that my eyes lit up! I’m sure that everyone in the class could see that giant light bulb pop on above my head! Suddenly, so much clarity came to me that I just sat there with my teeth in my mouth and my bare face hanging out.

So, this morning as I listened to our Priest’s homily on the above text that light bulb went off again. This time it was an LED, not incandescent.
I saw Peter step out of the boat. I imagine him thinking that if Jesus can do this, so can I. Lo and behold! It worked! He stood on the water!
Then, he lost it and began to sink.
He cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Jesus immediately reached out an caught him. They got into the boat and the weather became calm.

Did ya see what happened there?

Peter lost sight of Jesus and floundered. Jesus reached to him and lifted him up.
Jesus saved him.
This had nothing to do with Pete’s faith in Jesus. I imagine the only thing that Pete was thinking about was not drowning. In total panic mode I doubt that he stopped to think, “Ok, ok…I believe, I believe, I believe!”
No, he was probably think, “Oh My God! I’m gonna die right now!”

Jesus lifted Peter out of the water because Jesus had faith.
Not Pete.
It was the Faith of Jesus that saved Peter that day.
And, it’s that same Faith of Jesus that still saves today.