Do(n't) Rock the Boat

The Venerable Joan Clark

Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25, John 6:16-21

How many times have you heard that? “Don’t rock the boat!” It means to “keep the peace,” to “not stir things up,” to not push the envelope, to not provoke, to avoid change and stay in the box…and keep things the same. To worship the status quo. If you do “rock the boat,” who knows? Something unexpected might happen! And surely that wouldn’t be good!

I imagine that must have been the way Jesus’ disciples felt about their world too. And definitely about their situation regarding the Pharisees. The disciples followed Jesus wherever he travelled. They saw the controversy Jesus kicked up wherever he went. They witnessed him doing some very strange and unusual things. They saw how he riled up the religious establishment. Sometimes, like when they saw Jesus speaking alone with the Samaritan woman, they had to bite their tongue. But they said nothing.

Obviously, they didn’t think Jesus was playing it safe a lot of the time. They were fearful during Jesus lifetime, and would be even more fearful during the time of Jesus’ death –enough for them to run and hide, to deny their master, for one of them to betray him.

Jesus was rocking the boat a bit too much. More than a bit. And it made them worried and anxious.

Whether you read about Jesus asleep in the storm-ridden boat, or Jesus walking upon the waters in the early morning mist after a terrible storm, either way, Jesus was not concerned about the “rocked” boat.
Jesus’ disciples were appalled that he would sleep during a perilous storm. They were incredulous that he remained unconcerned.

They thought he was a ghost when he appeared walking across the sea. And even when Jesus was with Peter, even when Peter dared have the courage to step onto the water, he doubted, feared, faltered. Even when Jesus was right beside him.

Even when Jesus was in the boat with them!

Jesus is Lord of the waters, the Lord of the wind and the waves, the Lord of the storm. The weather obeys him. The seas subside for him. Who does this remind you of?

Remember when the waves of the sea parted? Who did that?

Remember when the seas that would have drowned someone, instead allowed for a certain someone to reside for a while in the belly of a fish, who then spit him up later on dry land?

Remember that other someone who floated in a basket down the river through the reeds without harm?
Remember the great vessel that carried some of God’s chosen through many days of vicious floods to the safety of dry land?

Remember whose breath moved across the primeval waters in the first days of the earth?

Jesus –the Son of God--He is the Lord of the seas! And he has the power of the One who created the waters and the dry land.

Jesus, like the God of the Hebrews, has the power to command the elements, to save humankind from the perils of earth and sea, to raise up God’s people from the waters of the deep, and place them on dry ground, in order to “tend and till” God’s covenant. Again, and again, God promises, rescues, redeems, reconciles, restores God’s people.

And like the covenant of our baptism, we are lifted up from a watery and uncertain existence, and given life and assurance by the One and Only Saviour.

This is why Jesus wonders, why do his disciples have so little faith? I’m right here!

God’s people! Why do they have so little faith in following the Spirit? Why so little faith in in allowing the church to change? Why so little faith in taking a leap of faith and moving forward? Why so little faith in allowing “the boat to rock?” Jesus …he’s right here!!

Listen –hop aboard the Jesus vessel –and you’ll have the ride of your life! Jesus LOVES the water. He’s not afraid of a rocking boat! When Jesus is aboard, there is nothing to fear of the wind and the waves. Nothing to fear of change. Nothing to fear of anything.

One of the oldest metaphors of the Church is a boat. You’ll find the image throughout the early church. And where is a boat meant to be?
[allow them to answer]

What? On the land? [no!]
In the harbour? [no!]

The boat is meant to be out in the middle of the sea! Sailing, riding the waves, looking for new horizons, going on adventures, fishing for new people!

You know where the worst place is for a ship to be in the midst of a storm? [allow time]

That’s right! Hugging the harbour! While a boat needs to dock in the harbour once in a while to refuel and stock up on supplies, during a storm if the ship remains in the harbour, it will crash against the rocks and the shore and be pulverized to bits! The place for a ship during a storm is riding the high seas!

To be a Jesus follower is to ride the waves of the Spirit in all kinds of weather, knowing that Jesus is there with you in the boat….that Jesus is near, whether walking on the water toward you, or sleeping there beside you.

One of the earliest metaphors for the tradition of the church is the anchor. But the anchor described (in Hebrews 6) is not used to pull the boat back or keep it from moving. The anchor is used when the wind is high and the storm is raging to pull the boat forward. It’s called kedging.

You throw the anchor out in front of the boat, then pull the rope, so that the boat can move forward during the storm and escape crashing on the shore.

Jesus is like the anchor for us. Always steady and sure even when we are not… he pulls us forward during the storms of life, always leading us into peace even when around us the winds are roaring and the waves are threatening. Jesus pushes us from the past, and pulls us toward the future.

You see, Jesus’ peace is a peace within. On our own, we falter and fall. But with Jesus beside us and within us and among us, we are always sure to survive every turbulence.

Do you remember when you learned to ride a bike? I mean the first time without those training wheels?

When you thought your father or mother was in back holding onto the back of the bike, you sailed along confidently. But as soon as you noticed, he or she was standing back watching you, your confidence waned, and you panicked. You started to wobble, and you began to fall.

We all waver when we believe we are doing life all alone. It’s frightening, even for the best of us.

But faith is knowing that God has hold of your bike, even in the wildest of rides. Faith is knowing your life is always in the hands of Jesus, even when life blinds you and deafens you.

We, the Church, need to sail the seas too. Sometimes, the boat will rock. And that’s ok. Because Jesus is here.

As long as the Church has Jesus at the helm, there is nothing to fear going out there in any kind of weather. In any kind of storm.

So the question is today, do you know that Jesus is in the boat?

Because a church cannot “do” Jesus. You have to be in relationship with Jesus! You can’t be the Church of Christ, if Christ is missing.

The good news is….Jesus is never missing! Sometimes we miss him! Sometimes, we fail to see him, or don’t recognize him. Sometimes, we ignore him, or deny him, or discard him!

But look behind you…look around you….Jesus is right there….holding on ….to YOU.

The Coast Guard has an unofficial motto: “We have to go out. We don’t have to come back.” Why is that not the unofficial motto of every church in mission?

This morning, I ask that you think about your baptism your confirmation….and your mission….and metaphorically put your hands into the waters and splash some onto your face, wipe your face with the towel. Cleanse away all of your fear. Cleanse away all of your doubt.

What remains when you emerge –that’s faith.
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Go…in faith….to sail the seas of the Spirit!