WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:03.520 I have a lot to say today, so uh buckle up. 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:07.519 And I'm gonna start with a fill in the blank. 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:12.800 So, if we can get the fill in the blank up there, can you help me out with this? 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:16.079 To infinity and very good. 00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:18.160 Did anybody not know that one? 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:18.960 Yeah. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:20.399 To Infinity and Beyond. 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:27.199 This is, of course, the very famous catchphrase of one of the mainstays of American cinema for the past like 30 years. 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:35.759 Buzz Lightyear won the hearts of audiences everywhere when he came on the scene in 1995's hit movie Toy Story. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:39.439 The franchise just added its fifth installment this past summer. 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:42.960 Things have gone really well for Buzz over the years. 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:46.799 But if you remember, didn't really start out that way. 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:54.640 Buzz Lightyear began his glorious run as really the victim of a grand delusion. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:01:02.399 When he first came out of his box, he was also a bit out of his mind, believing himself to be a real Space Ranger. 00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:09.519 And much of the plot of that first film has to do with his disillusionment when he discovers that he's not exactly who he thinks he is. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:14.959 He can't shoot lasers, he can't fly, he's he's a toy, he's a child's plaything. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:20.719 He thought the universe revolved around him, but but he had it all wrong. 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:35.840 Now, sometimes I think we read the Bible maybe a bit wrong, not completely wrong, but perhaps sometimes our understanding of certain things that the Holy Spirit has revealed to us can become a bit skewed. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:48.000 And I've increasingly been coming to the conviction that the main culprit for this is that we decide that the Bible is about us instead of about Jesus. 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:56.400 We tend to make ourselves the center of attention, as if we're supposed to be the hero of the story instead of Jesus, who is the real hero. 00:01:57.120 --> 00:02:01.280 And our gospel reading today from Matthew is a good example of this. 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:10.240 Today we've heard about how Jesus came to his disciples at night walking on the water, and then Peter gets out of the boat and walks on the water too. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:15.439 And so often, Peter has become the focus of this text. 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:19.280 His boldness to get out of the boat is lifted up as heroic. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:22.080 We're taught to emulate his faith. 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:27.919 One of my favorite bands from my younger years, Audio Adrenaline, had this famous song called Walk on Water. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:35.039 And the chorus repeats: if I keep my eyes on Jesus, I can walk on water. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:36.400 I can. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:44.560 If I just have enough faith, if I just keep my eyes off of the wind and the waves, I can walk on water. 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:48.000 And this is a very popular take on this text. 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:53.120 But I think it might be just a little bit misguided. 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:58.560 I think it might suffer from a buzz light-year-esque self-focus. 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:08.560 This summer, Matthew has been teaching us about discipleship, and he's been teaching us how to read the Bible with Jesus at the center, not us. 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:13.680 So let's allow Matthew to guide us to Jesus today instead of to ourselves. 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:27.919 And I'd like to do that first by learning all that Matthew has to teach us about ourselves and our own need by way of the disciples, and then how Jesus satisfies those needs entirely as the Son of God. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:36.080 So let's first consider what Matthew teaches us about the disciples and see how this parallels with what he has to teach us about ourselves. 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:44.639 And I first think that we're supposed to notice at the beginning of this text that the disciples are absolutely exhausted. 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:48.159 Now remember what happened right before this. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:49.680 We talked about it last week. 00:03:49.919 --> 00:03:53.919 Jesus and his disciples have been seeking out a place to rest. 00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:59.520 But 5,000 men, plus women and children, have followed them. 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:13.039 And after a long day of teaching and healing, Jesus then, after dinner time, has his disciples distribute that miraculous meal of bread and fish to this enormous crowd. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:23.920 And then after that, well into the night by now, Jesus makes the disciples get into a boat and go to the other side of the lake. 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:30.720 After an exhausting day, they now face a red-eye voyage across the Sea of Galilee. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:33.600 They must have been absolutely spent. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:39.279 And then we learn the boat is being beaten by the waves and the wind is against them. 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:43.600 They're not particularly in danger this time around, but it's really rough going. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:49.439 They are exhausted and they are helpless, especially considering the hour. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:51.199 It must have been torture. 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:53.600 They must have felt hopeless. 00:04:56.800 --> 00:05:00.480 Have you ever felt exhausted and helpless? 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:03.120 Me too. 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:05.439 But then it gets worse. 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:09.519 Jesus comes to them walking on the sea, but they don't know that it's him. 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:11.279 They don't know what's going on. 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:16.079 And when they see Jesus walking on the sea, they are terrified. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:17.759 They think he's a ghost. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:19.839 They cry out in fear. 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:23.680 And you'd probably do the same thing. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:26.160 What terrifies you? 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:39.120 The lesion they discovered on that recent scan, the procedure you have coming up, the precarious state of your marriage, the way your kids have been drifting away from the faith lately. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:44.879 We can identify with the disciples' fear because it can tend to take over our hearts as well. 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:51.920 And the fear that they feel in the boat will soon be amplified in Peter. 00:05:52.639 --> 00:06:00.079 As is so often the case, Peter serves as kind of the spokesman, the representative of the other disciples. 00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:04.160 By the way, I think he serves kind of the same role for you and for me. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:16.560 And so when Jesus claims that it is him and not a ghost, Peter responds, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:22.800 And this is where we can tend to make Peter the focus and by extension ourselves. 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:30.160 We can see this as Peter's to infinity and beyond moment, a moment of heroic boldness. 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:36.160 We write songs about getting out of the boat like Peter did, walking on the water with courageous faith. 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:42.639 But I'm going to suggest to you this morning that I think that really misses Matthew's point. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:48.480 I had a really proud pastor moment in the van on the way to Idaho last week. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:07:01.279 I was discussing this text with Lucy, one of our awesome high school or high school youth, and without giving her any context or any preamble or anything like that, I asked her what she thought the point of all of this was. 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:10.720 And rather than going the to infinity and beyond route, as so many people do, she immediately said to me, Peter is like all of us. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:17.519 No matter how many times Jesus has shown himself to us or proven himself to us, we still demand a sign. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.839 We still doubt. 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:24.160 And I almost cried for joy. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:26.560 What incredible discernment. 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:30.800 How spiritually insightful to see that Peter is not the hero. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:32.639 Jesus is. 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:40.800 And when Jesus speaks to Peter, when all is said and done, he doesn't commend him for his boldness and his faith. 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:44.720 He asks him, Why did you doubt? 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:46.240 Dr. 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:48.399 Jeff Gibbs writes this. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:53.759 Was there ever a man who was less deserving of rescue than Peter? 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:59.439 There is nothing admirable in his example, nothing bold about his desire to get out of the boat. 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:01.600 The one thing we can be certain of is this. 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:04.959 He should have believed Jesus the first time. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:08.639 And he should have believed Jesus the second time as well. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:17.519 Because Peter almost immediately discovers that he is in dire need of rescue, because he begins to sink and sink fast. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:28.480 And the Greek that Matthew uses suggests not that Peter began to sink on the way to Jesus, but that he had practically arrived at his side. 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:32.320 And it's there that he begins to plummet. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:40.240 A number of years ago now, uh Emily and I were invited to stay with some friends at their house on the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:43.840 And one of the things we got to do there was go out on their jet ski. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:54.559 I did not have prior to this moment really any experience jet skiing, but that didn't stop me from taking Emily out on the heart of the lake and immediately, you know, kicking it up full throttle. 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:56.000 I felt pretty awesome. 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:57.600 We were flying around everywhere. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.440 I didn't run into anybody or anything. 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:00.639 It was pretty cool. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:05.679 And uh after doing that for a while, you know, we finally decided it's probably time that we should go back. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:11.039 And so I steered us toward the little inlet where their dock was and started to slow down. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:14.240 And they were all standing on the dock, you know, wondering how this went. 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:21.440 And um, I learned in that moment that jet skis can be a little bit like bicycles. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:25.120 It's easy to stay on when you're going fast. 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:29.519 But as we came toward the dock, our speed dropped. 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:31.440 And so did we. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:36.720 To quote Kevin James, we wiped out going zero. 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:42.399 Right on our way back, practically there in full view of everybody. 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:44.960 It's a very embarrassing failure. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:47.120 That's Peter. 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:56.080 This is not to infinity and beyond, unless we mean the infinite depths of the sea dragging him down to destruction. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:10:05.759 Peter's fear reaches new heights, or we might better say, new depths, as his doubt-driven experiment fails miserably. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:11.360 It's like that moment in Sid's house and Toy Story where Buzz tries to fly. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:20.799 And he goes out there and has this look on his face, and all of a sudden it changes because he begins to plummet to the ground and he loses one of his arms. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:28.159 Again, Jeff Gibbs, Peter's faith is not being held up as an example to emulate. 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:38.960 His weakness is being showcased in order that, in direct contrast, Jesus' identity and power and grace might be seen more fully. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:42.720 And what Jesus says highlights this all the more. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:57.679 Little faith. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:00.799 And it's not just Peter's problem. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:06.000 Jesus applies this phrase to his disciples on a few other occasions in Matthew's gospel. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:07.919 This is our problem. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:22.399 But here's the key little faith is not a problem we solve, but the condition from which the Son of God rescues us. 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:27.279 And I think the disciples understood that very clearly that night. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:33.039 Because what happens when Jesus steps into the boat, hauling in the sea-soaked Peter with him? 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:39.440 Those in the boat worshiped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:51.360 Through exhaustion and helplessness, terror and doubt, their need for rescue and the smallness of their faith, the disciples are led to worship. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:53.360 And so are we. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:12:03.039 We are here today to worship Jesus as the Son of God, not just despite our exhaustion and helplessness and all of that, but because of it. 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:07.519 Because we recognize that he is the one who can make all those wrong things right. 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:11.039 That's the lesson that Peter has to teach us. 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:16.639 And that's why our eyes should be fixed, not on Peter, but on Jesus. 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:23.120 So I'd say by now it's past time to rewind the story and take a look at the main character of it all. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:26.480 What does Matthew tell us about Jesus? 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:34.240 First of all, I think we can safely say that he is just as exhausted as the disciples are, and probably much more so. 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:39.200 After all, it was him who has been teaching and healing all day long. 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:42.960 He's the one who broke and multiplied the bread. 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:48.559 And then he's the one who dismisses the crowds himself as he sends the disciples away. 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:51.440 How spent he must have been. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:55.840 And then Matthew tells us he's alone. 00:12:56.559 --> 00:12:58.159 He climbs a mountain. 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:10.879 Jesus hikes up Black Butte after dismissing the crowds, after feeding them, after serving them all day, after he had gone there in the first place to try to find some peace and quiet. 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:15.200 Jesus finds himself alone praying. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:18.559 What an example this is for us. 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:31.440 That solitude with our Heavenly Father is not something we should reserve for when we're feeling up to it and well rested, but that it is the very source of our rest. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:46.000 Of course, it must have been quite rejuvenating for Jesus, because the next thing we know, he's coming to his disciples, walking on the sea, and Matthew tells us it's in the fourth watch of the night, which was 3 to 6 a.m. 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:57.679 Jesus is hindered neither by the late, or I guess we could say at this point, incredibly early hour, nor by the wind and the waves, because he is their master. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:01.840 Jesus is revealing to his disciples who he is. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:04.879 Jesus is showing them his divine identity. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:18.559 Remember in our Job reading today how Yahweh told Job that he shut in the sea with doors, that he prescribed its limits and stayed its proud waves, that he walks in the recesses of the deep. 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:22.960 What is Jesus doing here on the Sea of Galilee? 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:25.200 All of that. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:36.399 Jesus is demonstrating that he is Yahweh, ruler of wind and wave, master and commander of the sea and of all things. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:40.960 We see this also when he gets into the boat and immediately the wind stops. 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:46.639 Jesus chooses when the wind and the waves can and can't go. 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:54.639 And so because of this, because of who he is, his presence takes away fear. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:15:00.879 And this is a bit ironic at first glance because the disciples were terrified when they first saw him. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:03.679 But what does Jesus do for them? 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:09.919 Immediately he speaks to them and he says, Take heart. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.440 It is I. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:14.240 Do not be afraid. 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:20.879 And I'm guessing that you maybe need to hear those words today, just as much as the disciples did that night. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:22.480 Jesus is here. 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:24.320 He's with you. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:27.120 No matter what you face, take heart. 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:28.240 It is Jesus. 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.600 Do not be afraid. 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:35.360 Now the angels at Bethlehem proclaim that the presence of the Christ would take away fear. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:39.919 And here on the sea, the presence of Christ takes away fear. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:45.679 Here and now, today and every day, the presence of Christ takes away fear. 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:51.759 But even when we do fear, Jesus is patient with us. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:53.919 He was with Peter. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:16:01.279 When Peter doubted and demanded proof, Jesus didn't reprimand him, but simply said, Come. 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:08.240 He knew how it would end, but in his patient mercy, he let Peter learn. 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:09.919 And he never left him. 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:15.679 Jesus doesn't wait for us to get our act together before he invites us to come to him. 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:28.799 And this willing invitation to Peter here in chapter 14 echoes his invitation to all of us in chapter 11 that you might remember, where Jesus invites all of us who are weary and heavy laden to come to him. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:35.200 Because Jesus is, for Peter and for us, Savior. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:46.960 When Peter inevitably begins to sink, begins to plummet to his doom, Jesus immediately reaches out his hand and takes hold of him. 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:55.200 And the Greek verb that Matthew uses here describes catching something, taking firm grasp of it, even making it your own. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:59.440 Jesus was not letting go of Peter. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:01.840 He was holding tightly to him. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:04.640 He was making him his own. 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:07.599 And that's just what he's done for you. 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:11.359 On the cross, Jesus reached out his hands for you. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:17.039 And as the nails were driven through him, he took hold of you. 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:19.519 He held tightly to you. 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:22.160 He made you his very own. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:27.920 Peter was not saved because he was brave enough to step out of the boat. 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:31.039 Peter was not saved because he was bold or strong. 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:38.400 Peter was saved because in the midst of utter helplessness and fear, he cried out to Jesus. 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:48.559 Today we heard Paul proclaim that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:55.359 We heard him say that with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 00:17:55.519 --> 00:18:02.559 We heard him quote the prophet Joel, who said that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:09.359 By faith, which is itself given as a gift to hopeless sinners like us. 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:15.839 We have called upon the name of the Lord Jesus, the master of the wind and the wave, and the savior of the world. 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:18.240 And he has saved you. 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:33.039 Know this that whenever and wherever you may be sinking, his nail-pierced hand will pierce the surface of the chaotic seas, take hold of you, and bring you up to eternal safety with him. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:38.720 Praise God that we have a Savior who saves even those of little faith. 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:41.119 People like you and me. 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:45.519 So what is left but to worship him? 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:51.920 What is left but to say, along with the disciples that night, truly you are the Son of God. 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:53.920 Truly He is. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:56.880 He is the same God Job encountered. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:59.839 He's the same God the disciples saw walking on the sea. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:04.000 He's the same God who rescued Peter and who has rescued you. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:12.799 He is the God who has revealed himself to you by faith, who's taken hold of you in baptism and has rescued you from sin, death, and the devil. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:15.359 Jesus is the hero. 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:17.200 Jesus is the savior. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:19.920 Jesus is Yahweh. 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:24.480 So let's fix our eyes on him and not ourselves. 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:30.799 Let's let him take center stage in our thoughts and our meditations and our hearts and in our lives. 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:32.559 He is with us. 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:34.160 He is savior. 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:37.519 And truly he is the Son of God. 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:39.039 In his name. 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:40.000 Amen.