| May 18, 2008
You are welcome to reflect on this message
“Mamma Told Me Not To Come,” was a ‘70's ballad by “Three Dog Night;” one of those “I-told-you-so-songs,” where the refrain goes: “That ain't the way to have fun son, that ain't the way to have fun.” There's always somebody around trying to tell you how to have fun. Or how not to. Mostly their way. Problem is, once they start telling somebody how to do anything, they move on to bigger things. Like how to be ethical or religious or even how many kids you can have. And if that doesn't keep them in control, they resort to violence. A sure sign that one’s position has lost the moral high-ground.
I grew up with the Protestant Work Ethic, of whom “Mamma’s” the epitome. You know, have character, dependability, and most of all be hard-working. I've tried to be at my best most days. I haven’t always succeeded but like most church-goers, I’m mostly a responsible person. Mostly. But the trick is to have fun doing it. Whether its being a husband, a father, doing yard work, or paying the bills. I’ve given it all I’ve got for 40 years, trying to be a good preacher. That’s something positive we owe to the P.W.E. But it also creates burn-outs and obsessive, over-achievers. So we come to worship on Sunday morning with all these “shoulds and oughts.” And church calls for church work ... more commitment, more duty, more obligation. Lots more out-put than in-put.
One of the gospel songs we sang at church when I was a kid, “Everyday with Jesus is Sweeter than the day Before.” Remember that one? But I never bought it. What about those times when our days with Jesus are worse than the day before! Like anything profound, simplified: its only half-true. But a lot of folks wonder why they aren't walking around deliriously happy all the time. Truth is, this every-day-happy stuff can drain you dry. And it’s sure better than the alternative! But whether it's “sweeter than the day before,” well it depends on the day...and the person I guess. But it’s not easy to hang in there, when “every day with Jesus is worse than the day before.”
Like this episode in Matthew about Jesus, who just got word of his illustrious cousin being decapitated (v. 12). Jesus decided to vacate the premises. To take some time away from his busy church-work: ministering, healing, forgiving sins, preaching. And get away for a little R & R. And you know it’s hard to be anonymous and popular simultaneously. Everybody wanted a piece of him. 5000 men (not counting the ladies and young ‘uns) were hungry; bodies needed healing; there were souls to save and lessons to teach. In the midst of all this godly activity comes a sad word about John. So Jesus and his disciples decided to split. Then he retreated alone, up in the mountains to pray.
On the mountain, Jesus felt the sweet release from the Christian Work Ethic. He discussed it with his Daddy and shed a few tears over John. So Jesus is up in the mountains by himself. And the disciples are being dutifully obedient; out in the Galilee, rowing against the wind. Is that not an accurate picture of the church? Trying hard, but getting nowhere fast. Just hoping to keep afloat till dawn. It’s midnight and no Jesus. One o'clock and still no Jesus. And no let-up either. Ever been there?
But between 3 and 6 AM, the blackest watch of the night, here comes Jesus, walking on the water! Far out! What a stunt! He had to know how it effected the disciples. ‘Cause they’re freaking big-time! Earlier in the day Jesus used a boy's lunch of five barley loaves and two fish to somehow feed thousands. Both acts required the power of God. Only one is work and the other is play. One helped people; the other didn’t help anybody. But for Jesus, it sure must’ve been fun! One, no doubt would be frowned on by Mamma; the other smiled at by God.
This says something attractive about Jesus: that he felt free to do fun things as well as religious things. That he had a life outside religion. His first miracle was to turn some water into 180 gallons of wine at a wedding feast! That’s a lot of Manischevitz folks. So what’s he doing out walking on the water at 4:00 AM? A boy's sack lunch fed hungry people. That's noble enough. The wine at Cana made a young couple happy. OK. But walking on the water? Is that an appropriate use of the power of God? Surely Jesus could do something a little more constructive, more religious with his gifts. A little less frivolous perhaps? Mamma would approve. “That ain't the way to have fun, Son!” But not God. Aren't you glad Jesus isn’t bound by our narrow definitions of what is and is not a proper use of God’s power?
Do you ever feel like doing something you’ve never done before? Going someplace you've never been before? Feeling something you’ve never felt before? Could this story indicate that Jesus understands our need to take risks, be a kid, push the envelope? To do something that makes you happy, and not the way other people expect? Think of it: to walk on the water and not go under, breaking Mother nature’s rules? Jesus broke other rules too. O yeah. And I don’t mean running stop signs, jaywalking, or smokin’ in the boy’s room either. Mainly religious rules because there are so many to break. And it got him in a heap o’ hot water. But Jesus wasn’t one to let somebody else tell him how to have fun! Somebody who wants you to “like what they like.”
Why walk on the water anyhow? He could’ve taken a boat. I don't think he did it because it’s the quickest way to the disciples. Matthew doesn’t tell us why he did it. Maybe he just needed to soar a little bit. John the Baptist just got himself beheaded. That no doubt, had something to do with it. So Jesus takes a casual stroll across the Galilee in a fierce storm. Did he know he could do it? Maybe not. Did he enjoy it? I’m betting he loved it! Did it really happen? The scripture says he did and that's good enough for me.
I think he did it because he needed to, because he got fed-up with being responsible. There's got to be more to life than handing out hand-outs, healing hurts, forgiving sins, and putting up with these 12 doofuses! Gotta love the disciples though. They thought he was “a ghost!” Chill out fellas! “Take heart, it’s me, don’t be afraid.” Impulsive Peter couldn't stand it. He wanted in on it too. He was beyond being tired of rowing, so “Let me come.” And Jesus said, “Come!” And he came.
Take a long look at the church rowing and getting no place. Jesus never promised serving him would be easy or fair. What he promised was: “In the world you shall have tribulation.” Minimum protection. But then there’s this: “Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” Maximum support. I don't know all that means, but it surely doesn't mean we're going to be happy or secure or get our way all the time. In our busiest, scariest times, Jesus comes walking on the water; when we're rowing the hardest and getting noplace. It's the best thing I've seen him do! We might even call it “secular.” I don’t see anything holy about it. But it’s just like Jesus. Everybody needs something like that every now and then, like he did. “Substitutionary theology” sees to it that we get a good dose of the blood and the cross when we come to church; in prayer, sermon, song, and liturgy because the crucifixion is the deepest paradox of our faith. Healing, preaching, forgiving, well they're a little more interesting but a lot like rowing. So ... a walk on the water! Now that's class; style. And it beats the heck out of rowing!
So old Peter tries to get in on it. And Jesus said, “Jump on in Pete, the water’s fine!” He never said, “I told you not to come!” Naw, Jesus is one of those “Come-on-in”guys. And Peter walked on the water too! I'm glad he let him do it, for God knows our need to act on impulse. And rowing isn't all there is to life, Christian or otherwise. So when “everyday with Jesus is worse than the day before,” take a spin across the lake. Ecstasy is short-lived in this kind of world. And happiness has its limitations.
A lot of people think having money makes you happy. But there’s a lot of miserable rich people. The world says get all you can, keep all you can...so that when you die? Ah it just goes to somebody else. It appears to me, at least in this story, Jesus says to have all the fun you can, whenever you can. The church says happiness comes in serving others. That means we have to turn off what’s-in-it-for-me. Instead of trying to achieve happiness, Jesus would have us happily achieve. So by all means, be the best. But do it and relax! Happiness must be exhaled, not inhaled. The happiest people are constantly adjusting. The best baseball pitchers have a good change-up.
Peter’s walk on the water didn’t last long, before he went under. But Jesus pulled him back in the boat and got in with him. Maybe because happiness and fun stuff aren't as important as being in the boat on mission for God. Our purpose in life is not to be pampered, but to be servants. Yeah we keep trying to tell somebody else how to be happy. But “abundant life” depends on what we become in the boat. If you give your life to Christ, you’re going to be sometimes happy, sometimes broken. Sometimes full. Other times empty. Sometimes ecstatic. Other times bleeding. So the time inevitably comes to take a break.
And when it feels like life’s passing you by, get out of the boat and walk around awhile. If you're tired of the wind in your face and the sweat on your body, the burden of being dependable, conventional, the world tells us: buy something expensive, find somebody else, have an affair, get high, look the other way when its to your advantage. Aw it’s just a quick-fix. Mamma’s right-on about that and you know it! “That ain't the way to have fun.” When you’re living a purposeful life, enjoying life, serving God, loving neighbor; that gives life meaning and happiness. And that’s why this church is here, to provide us an avenue for that to happen.
Jesus won’t deny us the experience of water-walking. He knows we need it like he did. Because church work can wear you out! But since Jesus already died for the church, we don’t have to. That’s so liberating. But he pulled Peter back into the boat, just like he wouldn’t let him stay on the Mount of Transfiguration, where everything was all aglow. And when Peter began to “feed Jesus' sheep,” he discovered the very thing that he thought mountain-dwelling and water-walking would provide.
So. Jesus walked on the water! How do we know it’s true? I can only tell you what the Book says. This Guy! Talk about having fun. Next thing we know, he’s up on top of the Mt. of Olives, according to the Book of Acts, “And when he had said this, while they were looking on, he’s lifted up, and a cloud took him out of sight.” Outa sight! Jesus is at it again...
Pastoral Prayer:
We offer prayers for our mixed-up, maxed-out world, where there is so much misery abroad...and even more here at home. The skyrocketing cost to get anywhere, people losing there homes for biting off more than they can chew. Just maxed-out. The stress and strain of living, where up is down and down is up, racism and sexism still thrive, and our yearning for a messiah to fix it for us has lent itself to an insane gullibility. Nations struggle to rebuild from the travesty of war and natural destruction. Especially we think of those in Iraq, China and Myanmar.
Encourage our hearts today in this hour, that we may stand with those who suffer. Give us shoulders, broad enough to walk alongside the broken and undone. Give us spirits tempered with humility, so we can re‑charge our spirits, and discover the abundant life you offer us. Be with those whose souls and bodies and homes are in dire need of healing. None of us has the strength equal to our needs, so bless us by Thy presence, guide us with Thy Spirit, and strengthen us with Thy might for “the living of these days.” Then we will not only find strength for our need, but need for our strength. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. |
