Most every year during the hot, lazy days of summer, my thoughts turn to our old swimming hole.  It was across the road from our farmyard in the bend of the creek, and my friends and I on hot days would strip to the essentials and jump in.  One year after some rains it was quite deep, so my mother said it was time for me to get swimming lessons.  Those were done in a lake 10 miles away and came in four kinds: Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced and Life Saving.  I spent three summers in Beginners and finally told my parents I passed just to save them time and money bringing me to town.

          I never really learned how to swim till I was about 15 and my brother bought a water ski boat.  He showed me how to put on the life preserver belt and pulled up a few times when going fairly slow.  But then he decided I was ready and opened up the throttle and pulled me right out of my skis - and also out of my life belt.  I flopped in head first and ended up 15 or 20 feet away from that belt.  Without even thinking, I turned around and swam over to it, with poor form but much desire.  So that day I learned to swim, and the years haven't improved that skill very much.

          Peter knew how to swim.  All fishermen did, and from necessity.  A fisherman who couldn't swim was eventually a drowned fisherman.  I'm not sure why Jesus chose fishermen to follow Him - maybe it was such a hard life or maybe there were lots of them where He was.  But four of the twelve - Peter, Andrew, James and John - left their nets to follow Revi Yeshua ha Nosari - Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth.

          Halfway through His ministry, Jesus was doing miracles - feeding the crowds, healing the sick, raising the dead - when He decided it was time to take them across the lake, maybe to spread the Gospel over there.  Now this news was not received with cheers.  It was late and only the daring rode the waves at night.  That's why the Bible says He "made the disciples get into the boat and go to the other side." (Matthew 14:22)   They didn't want to go, but at His command they did.

          And on the way, their worst fears were realized.  It was night and the wind was against them.  At about 3 AM, a storm came up suddenly, which happens often on that side of lake Galilee.  The Arbel Pass on the west side catches the cooling downdrafts coming in from the Mediterranean Sea which cause some nasty wind.  The storms don't usually last long, but many a fisherman had lost his life in one of those storms, and they didn't want to be next.

          Jesus knew all that was going to happen, so He planned something to test their faith.  When the thunder and lightning and waves were their worst, in the middle of it all they saw a man walking to them on the water.  It's no wonder they freaked out and thought they were seeing a ghost.  We'd have felt the same.

          Jesus is ready for this.  He said, "Take courage, it is I, don't be afraid."  He said that a lot to His disciples.  Then an odd thing happened.  Instead of just being thankful it was Jesus, Peter wanted to get in on the act.  Adrenaline pumping him up, he said, "Lord, if it is You, help me walk on the water."  "Come, then!" said Jesus.  And Peter gingerly took a few steps on the waves.  That must have felt incredible - walking on the water in a storm.  He must have recalled that moment often as years passed by.

          We know the rest of the story, how Peter got scared, and Jesus saved him and then quieted the storm.  Luke recorded how they were all amazed and grabbed at His feet in a kind of worship when He got in the boat.  That night God gave them all something special to remember.

          I wonder what the disciples did when the storm was over.  Sometimes we humans react with gratitude, albeit short-lived and not always sincere.  Last week a plane crashed in Canada and all passengers escaped death.  One of them was quoted as saying maybe he'd go to church this weekend to say thanks.  How generous!  His life spared, and maybe he'd say thanks...  Last Christmas one of our members came to church for the first time in two years and told me he'd just had heart surgery.  He said, "I had a heart attack and God brought me through it, so I owe Him one."  I think God only got just one, at least at our church.  That was 8 months ago and he hasn't been back since.

          For some folks, coming to church is doing God a favor.  And any kind of coming to church qualifies.  Come to an anniversary Friday, then you can skip Sunday.  Rake the church lawn Saturday, and then you can skip church Sunday.  For some, driving through the church parking lot now and then is good enough.  A person doesn't want to overdo God in his life!

          Sorry about the sarcasm, but we need to worship regularly, and worship is much more than driving through the church parking lot.  For a moment now, I'd like us to consider what we can learn from this story.  Let's call them "swimming lessons."

#1.     If you're learning to swim, get a good teacher.  If your teacher doesn't know how to swim, chances are he won't teach you much.  A lot of people these days are following the wrong teachers.  They think scientists or humanists will show them the truth.  Or they follow some great guru "Rama Lama Ding Dong" who promises to lead them to the light.  Later on they wake up deep in the swamp.  Not all spiritual leaders are good ones, and not all roads lead to heaven.  Without Jesus, you and I are lost in the storm.  Only one person can lead us rightly - Jesus, the Lord, the Son of God, the greatest Teacher, Jesus our Savior.

#2.     If you're in a boat, you'd better have a life jacket.  It's dangerous out there on the lake.  It makes no difference how good a swimmer you are; without a jacket, anyone can still drown.  If you rely on yourself, you will one day pay the price.  Some storms take down even the strongest swimmer.  We need to hang onto Jesus.  He wants to be our life preserver.  He can and He will save us from the worst of storms.  In a boat, everyone needs a life jacket.

#3.     If you're trying to walk on water, you'd better hold God's hand.  Jesus didn't stop Peter, He almost encouraged him.  Peter needed to learn who to trust.  He needed to know it's all right to try the impossible.  So when you have the chance to try walking on water, take it!  He'll be there to hold you up.  He wants to show you all about faith.  God is always ready to lead us to the water, but then we need to trust Him with all our hearts.

#4.     When Jesus saves you, thank Him again and again!  The disciples learned a lot that night.  They saw firsthand that He had power over the weather, and they marveled, "Even the winds and waves obey Him!"  They discovered Jesus could do the impossible and would help them do the same.  And I hope they thanked Him again and again for what He did.

          When God shows you His power, it's unforgettable.  If we're paying attention in life, we'll see Him do great things, in our life and in others.  We need to thank Him and then live like we're grateful - the attitude of gratitude in action.  It's possible even for us Christians to be so jaded that we don't see God's miracles.  So when you see God doing a miracle for you, thank Him again and again.  Let Him know you're grateful.  Don't be stingy with thanks when it comes to God.

          St. Matthew records this incredible event for many reasons.  But I think he mostly did it to show who Jesus was.  He is more than just a great teacher - He is truly God!  And so today we marvel at what the Lord accomplished with that small band of timid, yet proud fellows.  They were somewhat like a "band of brothers."

          In the year 1415, King Henry V of England was getting his troops ready for the Battle of Agincourt.  It was a vital time in England's history.  William Shakespeare 300 years later captured the moment when he had Henry V speak words that have become somewhat familiar to us all.  He said, "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother."

          Jesus' disciples, His "band of brothers," all shed blood for their faith.  All twelve disciples knew the meaning of their Lord's words when He later said, "Be faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)   All twelve, even John who died in exile, shed their blood for the faith.  They were the Lord's "band of brothers."

          There are plenty of swimming lessons we have yet to learn.  And we never should stop learning.  Little Brady Edward, baptized today, has had water sprinkled on his head.  Like you and me, he will have many storms in life.  Like you and me, he will need a life preserver to cling to as he grows, and the only one worth holding on to is Jesus.

          We can't avoid the storms.  Sometimes we make them, and sometimes we just live through them.  My prayer is that that our faith will always keep us afloat.  We all need swimming lessons to get through life.  So just remember, whether you're getting into the boat or trying to walk on water, never let go of His hand.  It's the best way!  Amen.

Copyright © 2005 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.