A, Pentecost 10 Proper 14 - Matthew 14:22–33 "Comply and/or Die"

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,  but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.  And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.  But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”  And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22–33 ESV)

Sit up children of God and know that the day of salvation is drawing near despite satan raging against the church in these days. Interpret the times to the glory of God and proclaim life in the midst of pandemic death.

These are testing times.  There is no doubt our world is straining under the pressure of affliction at the moment. However in humanity’s struggle what is overlooked is, “why this has come upon us?”

There has been much busyness by governments around the world to stop the virus; to stop the deathly march of covid-19 and to bolster the economies of countries’ financial hopes.  These are testing times.

But why are we being tested?  Who is testing us?  What in each of us is being tested?

You and I are being tested, the children of God are being tested.  The denominations of Christendom are being tested as the turbid waters of these days churn in waves of pandemic flooding the planet.

Peter and the disciples were being tested too.

Why would Jesus force us to get into a boat and sail to “the other side”?

We are told Jesus set them in the boat and then sent them ahead across the lake while he dismissed the crowd.

You must go, it’s time to leave, the five thousand have been fed, and it’s time to be alone in social isolation.

It’s what one does in isolation that tells what one is really like!  What I do when I am alone, what I think about privately and what I desire in secret reveal what a person “is” in the presence of God.   And this is where the testing reveals the result.

In the last couple of weeks as the threat of a second wave of covid-19 threatens to sweep over us and border restrictions are being strengthened with more police and military personnel I thought to myself the military should have guns and enforce the closures with their weapons.  “Comply or die” I mused in the confusion of fear and self glorification lurking within my human spirit.

Contrary to this Jesus seems to force the disciples to cross the border from stability and food and fellowship with the five thousand into the darkness of isolation and waves of death that well up without notice on the Sea of Galilee.

Galilee was known as Galilee of the nations. Likewise the nations of our planet have suddenly been gathered into its own swirling whirlpool of suffering and testing.  And here Jesus tests by sending his disciples into what appears to be satanic seas and a hellish death.  Rather than “comply or die”, it would have seemed that they must “comply and die”.

In their exhaustion after hours of rowing against the wind and the waves, blisters on their hands, the feed of fish and bread long burnt away in their bellies and aching muscles tired beyond sleep, they believed Jesus had left them in social isolation.

You and I along with the rest of humanity always become zealous in socially isolating ourselves from God.  As individuals, as families, as church, as society and country, a human’s greatest desire is to be free from being the reliant creatures God has made us to be.  Yet now we find ourselves in social isolation; we wanted to be all alone and now we’ve got it! 

What St Paul tells the Corinthians, God calls us to hear!  

God chose things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are. (1 Corinthians 1:28 ESV)

Paul also says to the Romans, (God) gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. (Romans 4:17 ESV)

Covid-19 has come from nowhere to everywhere in the blink of an eye.  Covid was nothing to us a year ago and a year later it’s bringing much of our existence to nothing!  On its arrival every god we sought to sustain us is being rendered completely useless and impotent. The human spirit is shaken to its core and it sees itself in the reality of a satanic sea without a saviour.

Then Jesus approaches us in our isolation.  Our reaction is fear.  The “comply or die” judgement we have wished upon others seems to have ensnared us.  We have become slaves to the oars of our own efforts; enslaved to the gods of our social loneliness.  Has our kingdom come?  Are we receiving the wages for what we’ve done?  What will this phantom do who approaches us through the winds and the waves?  We know we have never fully complied.  In our selfish isolation will he make us now die? 

Jesus speaks to us in his Word?  “Sit up child of God!  Take courage children of God. I speak from my Word!  Have I got your attention?  I am your Saviour, do not fear.”  Return! Listen to God’s Word.  Pray for the Holy Spirit; don’t trust your human spirit! 

It’s right here Jesus takes the “comply or die” of the human spirit and turns it on its head.  It’s no longer the snare trapping us in our kingdom of social isolation and fear which waves and churns within.  God is calling from without saying, “Come!”  Step out from your human spirited kingdom into mine.

Jesus’ invitation to Peter was a call to “Comply AND die”.  So Peter steps out of the boat but as soon as he does his human spirit doesn’t want to die and he doubts; he two faces himself!  Trusting not in the face of Jesus rather he once again sees his reflection in his sea of social isolation from Jesus and begins to sink.

The more Peter tries to save himself the more he falls into the deadliness of his situation.  The more I try to comply with my own desires, the more it kills! This not only affects me but all others I have been called to serve.  Not only do I fall into a sea of suffering I pull everyone else in around me too.

But Jesus’ call to “comply and die” is not compliance with the self!  It’s compliance with him and his Word.  Having been tested we realise we’re nothing without him, and the hope we place in ourselves is a dead hope.  But in complying with Jesus we’re called to die and as we do we cry out to our only true hope, “Lord save me!”

Jesus reached out his hand and saved Peter and those within the boat.  They worshipped him as the Son of God.  Jesus was opening their eyes to his kingdom.  Not a kingdom of laws and compliance from death, but rather a kingdom which called them to put to death faith in themselves and trust in the King who saves from death through death.

Our human spirit, governments all around the word, and satan call for compliance OR die.  Fear is not far from us in these times of turbulence on this pandemic planet.  But Jesus has complied and in doing so he also died.  He calls us to comply and die.  Comply with him which frees us to die to self.

Despite our social isolation, when we die to self, when we allow the Holy Spirit to daily drown the human spirit Jesus brings you into compliance with his kingdom.  And this is a good kingdom with a good end.

Just as Jesus said to Peter in the boat, “Take courage, it is I! Come!” Jesus says to you “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”(Revelation 22:7 ESV)

As we in the world are tested for Covid-19, God tests his children with his Word saying, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.  Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”  “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”  Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. (Revelation 22:10–14 ESV)

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (Revelation 22:17 ESV)

Jesus says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (Revelation 22:20–21 ESV)