October 22, 2006

Dying For a Drink

Walking on Water

John 6:16-21

Opening Words: Did you know our physical bodies need about 3 quarts of water a day to operate efficiently? Water does several things. Water helps digest food. The blood, which is 90 percent water, carries nutrients to the cells. Water acts as a cooling agent on a hot day. Without water’s lubricating properties, our joints and muscles would grind and creak like unused parts of some old rusty machinery? Our spirits need water as well, the living water of Jesus! Without him our spirits become restless and parched. In the Gospel of John there are six wonderful stories about water. Each one reminds us how important Jesus is to our souls. It is for this reason I have called this sermon series Dying For a Drink. Today we look at the story of Jesus walking on water.

Even the most casual Bible student knows this story. It is well know in our time and was popular in the early church. Three of the Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark and John, include this story in their writings. In each account the details are different but the core story remains the same. The disciples enter into a boat, without their leader, Jesus. When they reach the middle of the lake a storm hits. They are afraid. While in this emotional state they see something that they can not believe. Jesus is walking on the water! It is a story about Jesus’ relationship with the disciples. But, it is also a story about Jesus’ relationship with us. Let me call this message Walking on Water.

I love the story of Albert Einstein. Shortly before his death he was having lunch with a friend. The friend looked at him and asked, “Albert with all the advances you have made in the world of physics, why are there so many problems in our world today?” Einstein laughed and said, “Physics is easy! Relationships are complex!” I believe he was right. Relationships are complex.

As your pastor I want to ask you a question. What is your relationship with Jesus? I ask that question because God has entrusted your soul to me. If I were your dentist I would ask you about your teeth. Do you filose everyday? Do you brush after every meal? If I were your financial adviser I would ask about your money. Do you have a balance portfolio? If I were your doctor I would ask about your physical health. How much do you weigh? Do you exercise daily? If I were your plumber I would ask about your pipes. Is your sink running a little slow? Do you have to jingle the handle on the stool to get it to stop running? But those are not my fields of expertise. I am a preacher so I am concerned about your spiritual health. When I die and go to heaven I want to see you! So I ask you this question. What is your relationship with Jesus?

We find ourselves this morning in the sixth chapter of John. It is John’s version of Jesus walking on water. You can find Matthew’s version of this story in the fourteenth chapter and Mark’s version in chapter number six. As I mentioned earlier it is the same basic story, only the details change. Everyone agrees the disciples get into a boat to sail to Capernaum. Mark adds two significant details. First, they are sailing across the lake to escape the crowd. Second, Jesus stays behind to pray. According to John the boat traveled between three and three and a half miles out when things started to happen. It was between 3:00 and 6:00 in the morning when a storm hit. The little wooden ship was being thrown around in the water. The disciples are afraid! They know the reputation of the lake. They know their lives may have come to an end. It is at this point that Jesus arrives and saved the day. The disciples knew that evening that their salvation depended upon Jesus! Do you know your salvation depends upon Jesus?

Today I want to look at that story because that story illustrates three divine principles. Let me say this clearly. It is a story about relationships. It is a story about how Jesus cultivates a relationship with us when we face the storms in our lives. So if you are ready for some stormy weather say, “Amen!”

Every life will experience storms.

This is divine principle number one. Every life will experience storms. With your sanctified imagination you can imagine the disciples getting into the boat. This was not unusual for them. They had sailed across the lake many times. But this time was different because this time a storm came calling. While they were afraid they should have not been surprised. The Sea of Galilee was known for her storms. They were just part of their life. Storms are part of our lives!

That was something Pat had to learn. I worked with her when I was in the Cleveland area. I think of her every year during the month of October. The psychological scares in her life were easy to see. She was sent to me by her physiatrist, who wanted me to teach her some basic Christian theology. This is the reason why. As a girl every summer she and her family went to Canada to visit her uncle. It should have been a good time but it was the worst possible time for Pat. Both her mother and father were alcoholics. They entrusted her to her uncle. The uncle was involved in satanic worship and abused Pat, along with the other Coven members, in every way. The things we take for granted about the church confused and terrified Pat. Everything within Satanism is opposite to Christian theology. I worked with her for several years and I learned so much. One day I said to her, “Pat, Why don’t you come to worship this week?” (She had never been to a Christian service in her life.) She looked at me and said, “No! I will be the only one there with a problem.” I almost laughed.

If you believe you are the only one in this church that has a problem, then you are a fool. There are many storms brewing within our congregation. There are many storms brewing in our world. We were told the other day there are now three hundred million Americans. Everyone one of them has or will have a storm in their life. If you have every experienced a storm in your life then say, “Amen!”

God forges a special relationship with us when we are in the middle of a storm.

This is divine principle number two. God forges a special relationship with us when we are in the middle of a storm. According to the scripture the disciples had rowed about three to three and a half miles across the lake when the storm hit. At about the same time Jesus comes to them walking on the water. They do not recognize him at first. According to Matthew and Mark’s gospels they thought he was a ghost. (Jewish superstition told them when a spirit visited at night that a disaster was near. That is why they were afraid.) It is Jesus who calls out to them in order to identify himself. Immediately the situation gets better and the boat arrives on the other side safely. They were glad to see Jesus. We are always glad to see Jesus when the storms in our lives begin to blow. God forges a special relationship with us when we are in the middle of a storm. The only way you will know this is true is to go through a really difficult storm.

James W. Moore is retired now but was the pastor of the St. Luke United Methodist Church in Houston. He saw that special relationship in the lives of two of his parishioners, Dave and Sandy. The storm they experienced may the worst storm a parent can endure. Their sixteen year old daughter, Ellen, slipped in a coma without warning and died. When Dr. Moore met with Dave and Sandy he was shocked at their faith. They said, “God has given us the strength we didn’t know we had. We had Ellen for only sixteen years but she gave us enough love for a lifetime. We are crushed but we not defeated. God is with us. We feel God closer to us then ever!” God forges a special relationship with us when we are in the middle of a storm. If you hope you never have to experience this divine principle then say, “Amen!”

We will sink if we take our eyes off of Jesus.

This is divine principle number three. We will sink if we take our eyes off of Jesus. Matthew adds something new to the story. It is not found in Mark or John, only Matthew. In his account, Peter does something special. He walks on the water with Jesus. At first he is successful. Then he takes his eyes off of Jesus and becomes preoccupied with the storm that surrounds him. He begins to panic and sink. He calls out to Jesus for some help. Have you ever taken your eyes off of Jesus when you are in the middle of a storm? Have you ever felt like you are sinking with no hope? Have you ever called out to Jesus when you need some help? The third divine principle says we will sink if we take our eyes off of Jesus. It all begins and ends with Jesus. Nothing else really matters.

In May 2001 journalist Giles Brandeth interviewed South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It was a powerful experience for Brandeth, for Desmond Tutu was suffering from prostate cancer and there was a real chance this might be the last interview he would ever give. What might Tutu want to talk about? Perhaps the amazing transformation in the politics of his country and of which he himself had a leading role. No. Here’s what he told Brandeth: "If this is going to be my last interview, I am glad we are not going to talk about politics. Let us talk about prayer and adoration, about faith, hope and forgiveness. I want to talk about Jesus." For Tutu these are the things that are the stuff of life. When you are in the middle of a storm nothing else really matters. It all begins and ends with Jesus. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” Let me end with this quick story.

Leonard Syme, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California at Berkeley, indicates the importance of social ties and social support systems in relationship to mortality and disease rates. He believes that the more social ties, the better the health and the lower the death rate. Conversely, he indicates that the more isolated the person, the poorer the health and the higher the death rate. Social ties are good preventative medicine for physical problems and for mental-emotional-behavior problems. I believe that is true! The people in your life give you meaning and purpose. So if you want to live a long time, then go out and make a new friend, cultivate a new relationship. But if you want to live for eternity then cultivate a relationship with Jesus. As your pastor, let me ask you this question one more time. What is your relationship with Jesus? He must be your Lord and Savior. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”