August 9, 2026 Text: Matthew 14:22-33
Dear Friends in Christ,
Recently something happened in our neighborhood that was quirky and a bit impulsive. They tore up our street at the corner. There was barely room for one car to get through. The natural thing would be to take another street, which is easily done in our neighborhood. Most people didn’t. They would drive through the one lane. At night as I would shoot baskets, I would watch this little traffic dance. I really expected to be calling about an accident. People sure are funny.
Disciple Peter is one of those humans. Quirky, impetuous, impulsive. He’s earthy. He makes mistakes and great confessions. He would drive through the corner. He’s rarely behind the scenes. But who made him this “out there” figure? The Gospel writers and the Holy Spirit. Peter is far and away the disciple most mentioned in the Bible, over 150 times. Matthew loved to include Peter. He could have been his press agent.
Can you relate to Peter? I can. I’m impulsive when playing sports. I do things that are quirky. How about you? Others have never let me be “behind the scenes.” My family, my classmates, my college friends, my teammates and coaches and my profession have all pushed me front and center. Are you anything like Peter?
I bet you are. Let’s get into the boat with him, the other disciples and Jesus this morning. Peter will help us see what happens when . . .
“WE LOOK AWAY”
There are a lot of interesting things happening here. Jesus has just fed the five thousand. It’s late and he goes to pray. The disciples go for a late night cruise. It is between the hours of 3 am and 6 am, no sleeping tonight. They get a long way from land, John in his gospel tells us they are three to four miles out. Remember also that a few of these men are fishermen, including Peter. They should be comfortable on the water. Let’s see.
“And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart: it is I. Do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’” (vs. 25-28)
A Dr. Rob Boyd tells the story about a man named Charlie Stink. He was picked on because of his name. His friends encouraged him to change his name. He went to court to have his name changed. After his court appearance his friends asked him, “What did you change your name to?” Charlie Stink answered, “I changed my name to George Stink, but for the life of me, I can’t see what difference it will make.”
This is an example of how people – you and me – so often miss the obvious. Peter had walked with Jesus, observed miracles, saw demons cast out and he asks, “Lord is it you?” And the other disciples are no better. They said, “It’s a ghost!”
When life’s storms rough our boat we might say, “Does Jesus really love me?” “Does God know what is happening to me?” Why doesn’t God do something?” We make any number of “Lord, is it you?” type statements. The obvious. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
Now it’s time for impulsive quirky Peter. “Lord, I think I would like to come out on the water and walk to you.” The other wet, exhausted, windblown disciples had to be rolling their eyes. The key verse for our message is verse 30. “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me.” He looked away. Lost the object of his faith.
Alright fellow travelers. Ever Peterish in your life? You look away in the midst of storms, when if you would just look to Jesus He will pull from the depths. Jesus reached out and took hold of Peter and got him back into the boat.
We get caught up in the turmoil and don’t recognize Jesus. Don’t get distracted. Christ is there in Word and Sacrament. Reaching into our lives. Comforting. Forgiving. Always in sight. If Christ was willing to suffer torment for our sin – if He went to that length for us – then He is not going to let you drown in the storms of life.
The winds calm. Peter and the disciples can refocus their gaze on the Savior. They “worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (v. 33). Their reverence for Jesus in the boat is striking. Jesus had previously calmed a storm, and the disciples wondered what kind of man he was. Here they confidently confess that He is the Son of God. It hearkens to the centurion’s confession at Jesus’ crucifixion. There is no mistake. It is God’s Son who makes this miracle happen. Do you see it? You do if you don’t look away.
Amen.