Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Have you ever done anything crazy in life, something you claimed you would never do?

Have you ever done anything crazy in life, especially after watching someone else do it, claiming you’d never do anything so crazy?

I can remember as a child growing up that my Grandmother had a custom of wearing a bathing cap when she got into the pool. Trust me, it was quite the scene. Those bathing caps were usually pink or baby blue or yellow or lime green. They would often have little rubber flowers on them that you could feel. If she didn’t wear a bathing cap, she’d never put her head under water in the pool. She’d always swim like a dog in water, head always above water. I remember as a child thinking that was strange. I can remember even a bit of embarrassment as a teenager as she’d head for the pool. I didn’t understand it. I didn’t understand, that is, until a few years ago when I started to develop my own signature, distinctive, unique hairstyle. I have come to better understand her desire to wear a bathing cap. Long hair gets in your face when you’re in the pool. Long hair gets in your eyes. Long hair gets in your mouth. And chlorine does strange things to long, curly hair. Now don’t get me wrong, when I jump into the pool these days, I do not wear a bathing cap, but I have come to better understand my Grandmother’s habit.

One thing I always thought was strange that I did myself just recently do personally was ladies who would wear rubber gloves while washing dishes. I never did understand that and I was certain I would never be caught dead wearing those yellow rubber gloves. That is until last weekend. Three weeks ago I started scraping some pealing paint on the exterior my cabin. Before applying primer and two fresh coats of paint, I knew the surfaces needed to be cleaned and prepared with TSP. I set out on my task. After several hours of being in contact with TSP, my hands were starting to burn and tingle. A couple days later, my hands started flaking and pealing. So, last weekend, as I went to wipe the surfaces once more with TSP, I put on yellow rubber gloves – these yellow gloves.

So, how about you? Have you ever done something crazy, something you claimed you’d never do, especially after watching someone else do it?

What must Peter have been thinking that day? After all, have you ever seen anyone walk on water? Of course, Peter, at first, along with the rest of the disciples, was fearful. What was going on here? Then, impetuous Peter figured that what was good for Jesus must certainly be good for him also. “Lord, if it’s really You, tell me to come to You on the water.” “Come.” That’s all Jesus had to say and Peter was out of the boat. He waded in the water.

Did Peter perfectly and instantly float on the surface? Or, did Peter, as I have always imagined, find himself calf deep in the water on the first step, then ankle deep on the second step, then foot deep on the third step, then finally walking on the surface of the water, just like Jesus, as his faith grew? That’s what eyes fixed upon Jesus, the Master of the sea, can do!

What a picture of faith! Doing the “impossible!” Going where no man has gone before! Faith: being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see [Hebrews 11:1]!

Today Jesus walks up to each of us. The scene and setting for each of us is different, but Jesus’ mode of operation is the same. Whatever the particular scene and setting, Jesus comes to us walking upon the impossible. He comes to each of us walking upon our pains and problems, our hesitancies and our fears. “Come!” One simple command He says to us, as He said to Peter. “Come.”

Then comes our response. Do we stay in the “boats” we call our lives? After all, while we may not like the “water” on which our boat is traveling, at least it provides us some stability and some security. Or do we follow Peter’s example and do something crazy? Do we wade in the water? Do we step out in faith?

What is that “water” in your life today? Maybe it’s a medical diagnosis. Maybe it’s financial setback. Maybe it’s job insecurity. Maybe it’s a broken relationship. Maybe it’s any number of fears and uncertainties. Whatever the “water” in your life, you can be certain of one thing: Jesus is more powerful than that “water.” Jesus is the Master of that “water.” Jesus is right now walking on that “water. Jesus issues that one simple command to you and to me: “Come.” By faith, just like Peter, being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see, we can wade in the water, walking with Jesus victoriously on top of that “water.” How do I know that? I know it because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever [Hebrews 13:8]. As He worked in Peter’s life, He can work in your life and in my life and that’s also exactly the way He will work in the lives of people 100 years from now, 1,000 years from now.

We each have “water” in our life today. That “water” for each of us is unique. For some of us that “water” is a few inches deep. For others of us, that “water” appears to be hundreds of feet deep. However different that “water” is from one person to another, there is a common “water” upon which we will each one day get the opportunity to wade. That “water” is our final moment here on this earth, that moment and that “water” we name death. In fact, we sang about it during our 10-2 feature this morning:

And then one day, I’ll cross that river. I’ll fight life’s final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow – and today.
Because He lives all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future.
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

My friends, that’s the key. It’s what Peter learned 2,000 years ago. Jesus Christ is the key. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life [John 14:6]. When we wade in the water on our own, no matter how certain we are of ourselves, we get wet feet. In fact, we get a lot more than just our feet wet. When we take our eyes off Jesus, we sink quickly. Water rushes in all around us. But because Jesus lives, because He Himself fought that battle with death, because He conquered the devil, because He rose victoriously, He holds all power in His Hands. He can do the impossible. He can walk on water. And He shares that power with you and with me.

So whatever the “water” is in your life, whether it’s just puddle-deep or whether it’s ocean-deep, wade in the water with Jesus. Do something “crazy.” Trust Jesus’ Word of invitation. Trust His accomplishment of victory. Then step out of the boat of your life in faith, with your eyes fixed upon Jesus [Hebrews 12:2] and watch with a smile of amazement on your face as Jesus enables you to wade in the water and to walk on top of each of your problems.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Pastor Christopher Schaar
Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena