Please Note That Most Messages Follow
The Revised Common Lectionary

(Reverend Osborne will sing "The Anchor Holds" by Ray Boltz prior to delivering this message.)

I read a story the other day about a billionaire who pledged the hand of his Miss-America daughter and a royal dowry to that man who could survive a life-threatening ordeal.

On the appointed day, all the suitors lined up on one edge of a swimming pool. In the pool swam dozens of man-eating sharks.

"The first man who swims to the other side of the pool," the billionaire bull-horned, "shall have my daughter and my treasure."

Immediately there was a splash from one end of the pool, and a lone swimmer desperately churned through the water scarce inches ahead of thrashing sharks. The swimmer reached the other side and scurried out of the water.

"You alone," the father announced, "have proven yourself to be the man worthy of the prize."

But the swimmer shook himself off and said, "Never mind that. Just let me get my hands on that sun-of-a-gun who pushed me!"

You would most likely agree with me that to willingly throw oneself into harm’s way is not a very wise thing to do. In fact, most people I know try whatever means is necessary to avoid harm. Yet no matter how hard we try to avoid the storms of life they are always there.

These disciples were, many of them, fishermen by trade. They’d weathered storms before. They knew trouble when they saw it. What’s more, they’d gotten into this predicament by obeying Christ’s command (v. 22). They were doing what he told them to do, and it got them into trouble.

I remember when I was first diagnosed with cancer I got angry with the Lord. I remember literally shaking my fist to the heavens and screaming: "I have served you all the days of my life and YOU allow THIS to happen to ME????? WHY??!!"

Now they’re far from the safety of the shore. The boat is battered, the wind against them. And to make matters worse they looked out across the surface of the water and saw a figure of a person walking toward them! On the water!! Now I don’t know about you, but I’d be grabbing an ore and paddling as fast as I could to get out of there.

But notice! "It’s a GHOST!!!" they yelled. And what does the scripture say? "Immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

See? Jesus is like an Anchor in the midst of a raging storm.

Likewise, any Christian struggling on the sea of life may find herself or himself right in that same boat! Christ doesn’t promise smooth sailing. He promises His presence. That’s all we need. At the very moment we need Him the most - He is always there. Immediately He speaks to us in His reassuring voice - "Take heart my child, I am right here beside you and I am going to help you through this."

Soon after hearing the assurance of Jesus, Peter yells "Lord if that is REALLY you - then allow me to walk to you on the water." I love Peter! He and I share some commonalties. Both of us have big mouths that quite often get us into trouble. And both of us have plenty of people who love to tell us how wrong we are!

Far too often people seem to concentrate on the mistakes of our lives. For example if I asked you to tell me about Peter you’d most likely say: "He denied the Lord." "Or he took his eyes off Jesus and perttin near drowned!" While those things are true there are some wonderful moments in Peter’s life. Peter was the first to openly confess that Jesus is Messiah! And here in this text we also have a monumental moment for Peter.

If we read the Scripture closely, we will find no where does Peter say "Oh brother! I’ve really done it now! What are all these other guys in this boat going to think? How did I ever get myself in this prediciment? How can I get out of this? Why do I do this to myself all the time???"

This type of self-doubt never appears. The Scripture tell us something totally different doesn’t it?

Jesus said, "Come."

Imagine, if you will, what it must have been like for Peter to slip up onto the side of that boat and begin to take that first step. Take a moment... The wind is howling, the waves are crashing on the hull and Peter possibly wonders what in the world he has done with his big mouth! Then it happens. His foot touches the surface and he puts that first bit of weight on the water.

And it holds!

He reaches out and begins to make his way to Jesus!

See? That’s how Jesus is! He's like an Anchor in the midst of a raging storm.

When the storms of life come crashing in on our world and battering our lives, and ripping our hearts apart - Jesus says "Come! Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and I promise you will find rest for your souls." (Mat 11:28-29 NRSV) That’s how Jesus is.

Now you and I both know that when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus he did in fact, fall into the water and practically drown. But you and I often do that as well. We ask the Lord to deliver from a storm. We do pretty good and then something like a strong wind comes along to remind us of our storm and our helpless state and SPLASH! We take our eyes off of the Lord and we once again feel our world sucking us down like a mighty current.

The Psalmist says:

"Where will my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore." (Ps 121 NRSV)

You see? Jesus is like an Achor that holds on no matter how hard the winds blow and the waves beat the boat!

There will be times when we all take our eyes off Jesus, but we must remember that even though we may have taken our eyes off Him, He has not once taken His eyes off us. In our text Peter cries out to Jesus as he begins to drown "Lord Jesus help me!" The Scripture doesn’t say that Jesus waited to see if Peter’s head went under three times before He helped him. It says that "immediately He, (Jesus) reached out and caught him (Peter)."

Again, Jesus is like an Anchor providing Safety in the storm.

Whenever you and I reach out to Him - He always reaches out to us!

The final act of Jesus for those in the storm that day was to quieten the storm. Why? Because that’s the way He is. Jesus, and only Jesus can calm the storms of life.

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