Apostles, Pt. 7: "Storm in a Teacup"

STORM IN A TEACUP (MATTHEW 14:21-33)
Storms are mostly “powerful winds in the air.” Unfortunately, our church, located along the 15/60 freeway corridor, is a street away from extremely wind-friendly Ontario, one of the windiest cities in Greater Los Angeles. Our church’s portable basketball hoop was toppled with ease. In previous years, the winds have knocked down the tree in our courtyard, forced out a panel of glass and blown down the storage door. The strongest winds in 2006, while nothing compared to Chicago’s record 88 mph winds, clocked in at 58 mph.

The strangest thing happened at my home, also located within the vicinity. It was a trash day when the winds struck. On my way out I noticed our big trash container was not on the curbside. I could not get out of my van to check due to strong winds, but returning home later, I realized the bin was really missing or stolen. The next day when I reported the stolen bin to the waste company, customer service says, “Are you sure the winds did not blow it away?” At the end of the week I found it five houses down, lying in a stranger’s front lawn. I explained to the neighbor that it was probably because we have too little trash. He said that his was full, but still it was blown a few houses down across the street!

Brittanica.com says, a storm is “a generic term, popularly used to describe a large variety of atmospheric disturbances, ranging from ordinary rain showers and snowstorms to thunderstorms, wind and wind-related disturbances, such as gales, tornadoes, tropical cyclones, and sandstorms (Brittanica.com). Storms are dangerous, destructive and deadly, and they easily obliterate people, damage property and overrun protection in their path.

Just after Jesus had fed the 5,000 men, not including women and children, he sent the disciples on a boat to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd, went up a mountain and spent the night in prayer. Meanwhile, the boat, far from shore, was buffeted out at sea by the wind and the waves. Jesus went out to the disciples, but the terrified disciples thought they saw a ghost. When Peter realized it was Jesus, he asked for a miracle: to walk on water. He succeeded momentarily, but fear, panic and doubts seized him, and he sank like a rock.

Why do fears attack, weaken and immobilize our hearts, resolve and faith? Is fear a trap or a test? And how does Jesus' presence remove the peril of fear?

Check Your Facts
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. (Matt 14:21-25)

“Peanuts” character Lucy, the entrepreneurial and mercurial wannabe psychiatrist, had set up shop in the neighborhood, unfurling a banner that says, “Psychiatric Care 5 cents.” She had her hands full with her first visitor. Charlie Brown's sister, Sally, stood in anguish as she explained her fear to Lucy in anticipation of the first day at school. With her back against Lucy, wringing her hands in discomfort and wearing a flat expression on her face, she confided to Lucy: “My problem is I'm afraid of kindergarten. I don't even know why! I try to reason it out, but I can't...I'm just afraid.” Then she sweated profusely and was more dramatic as she concluded, “I think about it all the time...I'm really afraid...”

All the time, Lucy listened calmly, patiently and attentively with her hands holding up her face as she faced her client. Finally Lucy extended her hand and said to the kindergartener, who almost fell from her chair: “You're no different from anyone else...five cents, please!”

In this passage, the Greek word “phobia” for “fear” or “afraid” looms large, draws close and appears menacingly - in verses 26, 27 and 30. Someone said the acronym fear stands for “false evidence appearing real.” My favorite is “Forget everything and run!” As Franklin Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” It is hard to explain why people fear more than just dogs, snakes or insects. Time magazine reported that people suffer from at least 500 human fears – from acrophobia (fear of heights), claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), and agoraphobia (a crushing, paralyzing terror of anything outside the safety of the home) to the fear of objects, colors, animals, people, and other specific morbid fears (Time 4/2/01 “What Scares Us”).

There is no end to our fears. The health fears of 2006 include eating spinach, green onions and lettuce.

Jesus first responded to the disciples' fear before addressing Peter's fear. He fully knew what terrorized the disciples but yet chose to test them again. After all, the Master made the decision to send them to the other side (v 22), directly into the eye of the storm. Instead of hurrying to join the disciples, Jesus took time to pray (v 23). Further, Jesus knew the disciples had a problem though they were a considerable distance away. The parallel passage of Mark 6:48 records that in his praying Jesus “saw” the disciples straining at the oars, with the wind in their path and the waves hammering them like a nail, throwing them like packages and blowing them like chaff, before he later took action in the fourth watch of the night. Jesus knew of their rough passage, their difficult plight and their terrible predicament.

The omniscient and prescient Savior was right in not taking immediate action. Although it made for a long night to the disciples, it was not a losing fight. The parallel account in John 6:17 says it is a dark night, not a doomed night. The waves put up a good fight but the disciples put up a better fight. They were resourceful, remarkable and resilient. The ship was tossed but not torpedoed by the waves. In fact, the disciples did such a good job that Jesus continued with his priority of praying. Contrary to readers’ traditional understanding, the fishermen were not overwhelmed, overmatched or overpowered at this point. They were overworked, overawed, overextended but they were not over their heads.

The fishermen had more experience with the deep, more tricks up their sleeves and more knowledge of the sea than most people. At no time was the sea winning and the disciples losing; they were locked in a fierce struggle. At worst, the disciples were behind, but not beat; down, but not out. The boat was surviving well, not sinking fast. Many readers confuse this passage with another boating incident - the first lake crossing, where the disciples’ boat was “covered” in water (Mark 4:37, Matt 8:24). This time, they were “buffeted” or “tossed” by the waves (v 24), but the inside was not flooding or taking water. They were distressed but not drowning, plummeted but not perishing. The fishermen navigated the troubled waters and rough seas proficiently, professionally and perfectly. The disciples hung on, rowed hard and bought time. Further, they had learned from their first experience and were not crying for divine help.

According to John 6:19, Jesus did not get to the disciples until they were “three or three and a half miles from shore.” Matthew 14:25 states that Jesus left dry land for the wet waters in the “fourth watch” or last quarter of the night. The first watch or the first quarter is 6-9 p.m. and the last is 3-6 a.m. So the crew was doing well for many hours as Jesus left them to fight the storms by themselves.

Calm Your Fears
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It's a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.” (Matt 14:26-27)

I received an amusing e-mail on the subject “If Heaven Had Voice Mail ...” that began with this question:
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if God decided to install voice mail? Imagine praying and hearing the following:
Thank you for calling Heaven. For English, press 1. For Spanish, press 2. For all other languages, press 0.
Please select one of the following options:
Press 1 for Requests.
Press 2 for Thanksgiving.
Press 3 for Complaints.
Press 4 for all other inquiries.
I am sorry; all of our angels and saints are busy helping other sinners right now. However, your prayer is important to us, and we will answer it in the order it was received. Please stay on the line. If you would like to speak to: God, press 1. Jesus, press 2. Holy Spirit, press 3. If you would like to hear King David sing a psalm while you are holding, press 4.

To find a loved one that has been assigned to Heaven, press 5, then enter his or her social security number, followed by the “$” sign. (If you receive a negative response, please hang up and try area code 666).
For reservations at Heaven, please enter J-O-H-N, followed by the numbers 3-1-6. For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs, the age of the earth, life on other planets, and where Noah's Ark is, please wait until you arrive.
Our computers show that you have already prayed today.
Please hang up and try again tomorrow. The office is now closed for the weekend to observe a religious holiday. Please pray again on Monday after 9:30 am. If you are calling after hours and need emergency assistance, please contact your local pastor. Thank you, and have a heavenly day!

Aren't you glad that God makes direct contact with his children when they pray, that believers have direct access to Him and conversation with Him is not through a local carrier, an answering machine, or a personal computer?

Jesus' response was instantaneous (v 27) in hearing the disciples’ cry and seeing their panic. His words calmed fears, dispelled doubts and answered questions. Relief, assurance and help were at hand. Both Matthew (v 27) and Mark (6:50) use the word “immediately” to describe Jesus' direct response to the disciples' fear and both ascribe similar words from Jesus’ mouth: “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.” Jesus' voice was forceful, familiar and friendly. His words were inspiring, instructive and influential, and His presence cheered, calmed, and comforted them. The disciples had no reason to fear when Jesus was nearby, with them and for them.

It's been said “Don't fear” is a terrible, meaningless and negative piece of advice. All the boating versions in Matthew, Mark and John recorded Jesus’ revealing His identity – “It is I” - before issuing his “fear not” command (Matt 15:27, Mark 6:50, John 6:20). Jesus had never stopped with the words “fear not” in all his words and ministry - a positive command was always attached. Jesus' commission to Peter was, “Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men” (Luke 5:10). To Jairus, he said: “Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed” (Luke 8:50). At the Mount of Transfiguration, he instructed the disciples to “get up and do not be afraid” (Matt 17:7). Similarly, the post-resurrected Jesus assured the disciples, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matt 28:9-10). The assertion of His presence, His ability and readiness to help to the disciples were loud and clear.

Similarly, the single Greek word for “take courage/take heart,” was not a cliché or slogan to Jesus (Matt 9:22, Luke 8:48). It was a helpful, kind and compassionate gesture and reassurance, especially to those who barely knew Him and just got to know Him. To the paralytic lying on a mat (Matt 9:2), Jesus said, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” and to the woman who bled for twelve years, he urged, “Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you.”

Correct Your Focus
28 “Lord, if it's you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
(Matt 14:28-33)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute released a four-year study on the cost of driving distraction. The most comprehensive of its kind to date, the study tracked 241 drivers as they drove more than 2 million miles, recording 82 crashes — none fatal — as well as 761 near-crashes and 8,295 “critical incidents,” which roughly translates to driver errors. The 100 “candid cameras” planted on motorists for more than a year in the study focused on drivers' eyes, recording each glance that strayed from the road ahead. The landmark study of driver behavior determined that nearly 80% of automobile crashes and 65% of close calls involve distracted driving — including dialing cellphones, putting on makeup, and sleepiness. The research showed that when drivers took their eyes off the road for more than two seconds, their risks of a crash or near-miss increased. The study implicated cellphone use in about 7% of accidents. However, dialing while driving raised the danger of an accident or close call by almost three times. “Dialing was more dangerous but was performed less frequently, whereas talking/listening was less dangerous but performed more frequently,” the report said.

Among the findings is that while men are involved in more crashes, women were more likely to be in accidents caused by inattention. Also, applying makeup is even riskier than dialing a cellphone. The study found that dialing drivers had 2.8 times the crash or near-crash risk of fully attentive drivers, while those applying cosmetics were 3.1 times more dangerous than undistracted motorists. Drinking non-alcoholic beverages while driving appears to add no risk, but eating while driving is 0.3% more dangerous than talking on a cellphone (1.6 to 1 odds vs. 1.3 to 1). Reading while driving increases the risk of a crash or near-crash more than threefold. The report indicates that drowsiness raises the risk of a crash at least fourfold. The most dangerous distraction identified in the study was reaching for a moving object, which increases the odds of a crash or close call almost ninefold. (Cameras Find Drivers Distracted by More Than Cellphones,” Los Angeles Times, April 21, 2006)

Finally, Peter's fear of the wind is an intriguing study. Unfortunately, the NIV left out the adjective “strong” (v 30) - boisterous or valiant, to describe the wind that scared Peter so. Peter's fear arose when the wind caught, stung and affected his eyes. Jesus’ attention was on Peter, but Peter’s focus was on the wind (v 30). Peter saw eye-to-eye and had eye contact with the creation, and not the Creator. His passing glance became a lingering stare and later a permanent fixation. He was captivated, gripped and bothered by the fury of nature, the laws of physics, and the frailty of man.

Peter wanted to walk like his master, walk to his master and walk with his master. It was an enticing, electrifying and exclusive possibility just a stride away. However, when Peter saw the freezing, howling and biting winds, his doubts surfaced and he sank. Peter did not have the faith to correct his faults, to confront, contest and conquer his fears. Jesus asked him “Why do you doubt?” The word “doubt” in Greek is derived from the number “two.” Peter was in two minds and had a change of heart. His request to walk on water has been used to endorse risk-taking, thrill-seeking and heart-pounding behavior, activities or faith, but behind Peter's high jinks, lofty ambition and charming personality was a double- and insecure-minded man. Already the phrase “if you” (v 28) reverberated of dare, defiance and distrust. All the “if you” challenges to Jesus in the gospels – whether from the devil (Matt 4:3), the priests (Matt 26:63) or the crowd (Matt 27:40, Luke 23:37, John 10:24) – were from conflict and contest, not conviction or challenge.

Also, Jesus usually had the last word on courage or fear – whether in his encouragement to the paralytic (Mt 9:2), to the woman with the issue of blood (Mt 9:22), to blind Bartimaeus (Mk 10:49) or to Jairus, the synagogue ruler, whose daughter was dead (Mk 5:36). They usually kept their mouth shut, quietly took a backseat and watch the action unfold, but not so with Peter. Peter had to have the last word and start a new conversation, had to stand out from others and had to take a different course. Jesus' intercession, intervention and involvement had to be proven time and again; it was not enough for Peter.

Jesus did not promise the wind and the waves would subside or stop in our walking with Him or to Him. The only immediate promise in the passage was is assured presence and a helping hand (vv 22, 27, 31). Testing the waters was a foolish idea, a bad experiment and a stubborn, reckless and childish desire that God permitted, not commanded. Jesus’ desire for his disciples is to walk by faith, not walk on water. Jesus rebuked Peter for his rapid forgetfulness, shallow understanding and hardened hearts, even after Jesus had fed five thousand men, as interpreted by Mark (Mark 6:52).

Conclusion: Fear is a costly, chronic and crippling disease. Some fear of failure, others fear of reprisal and many fear to act. People with no heart, help or hope have reason to fear, but in Christ we have the promise, the ability and the backing to combat, contain and conquer fear (Romans 8:38-39). Someone once said, “Sometimes the Lord calms the storm. Sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child.” Fear is a test and not a trap. Jesus does not allow things to happen for the sake of thrilling, teasing or tempting His children, but used it as an opportunity to deepen and deliver them. Are you walking by faith or by sight? Do you trust your experience or His expertise? Have you called out for His presence, fixed your eyes on Him and held on to His hand for your dear life when all else fails, blurs and changes.