Jesus, Our Hope in Troubled Waters

When evening came, Jesus was there alone, 

but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, 

was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 

And early in the morning Jesus

came walking toward them on the sea.

(From Mt 14:22-33) 

Chesuncook Lake, the third-largest lake in Maine, is approximately 22 miles long, 1–4 miles wide, and about 150 feet deep.

As Scoutmaster, I was leading older scouts on a canoe trip on Chesuncook because it qualified as High Adventure 50-mile trip.

On the second day, the wind became strong threatening to swamp the canoe in the widest, deepest part of the lake.

The solution to staying afloat was having the scout in the bow, paddle hard and using a cross-bow stroke. 

The unmotivated scout just didn't feel like it.

Until God sent the wind catching the canoe, turning it sideways, broadsiding the canoe with a wave drenching us in cold water.

Suddenly, the Holy Spirit inspired the scout to "feel like it".

There's a deeper story in the Gospel if we look at Jesus' action rather than Peter's faith.

'Early in the morning, between 3- 6 a.m.' a storm arises battering their boat with waves.

They're terrified!

The horrified disciples imagine a ghost coming toward them on the sea, considered the place of evil and chaos.

Old Testament salvation stories, such as Exodus, are about God's former saving acts while this story concerns God's future saving acts through Jesus.

So, Jesus walking on the sea indicates God has given Jesus authority over the created order, including chaos and evil.

Jesus immediately meets them at the boat saying, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

"It is I" is better translated from the Greek, as "I Am" God's word to Moses.

Jesus is saying, "Take heart, it is the Son of God; do not be afraid.

The hope in the disciple's stormy crisis is Jesus, the Son of God, is coming.

The hope in our troubled waters, in our chaos, is Jesus saying, "the Son of God, is coming! Do not be afraid!!!

Take heart, Jesus, the Son of God is coming!!! Do not be afraid!!!

Think about it: How did Jesus come to you in a time of crisis?