sermon excerpts: Don't Panic

... So after all these appetizers, I finally get to the main course of what I want to preach on: fear itself. We spend a lot of time being afraid. We flip through the channels, the newspaper, the websites, and see war in Israel, Lebanon, don’t forget South Korea, or bird flu or hurricane season or terrorists or an unalerted vapour release in Sarnia’s Chemical Valley or arson in Forest.

It was a dark and stormy night on the sea when a group of friends, struggling in a boat see an apparition of someone walking on the water. The disciples see Jesus doing this and are afraid. Although we can’t be sure of what: Were they scared that they were in trouble, or that it wasn’t Jesus but a water demon from Poseiden or another water god come to trick them, or that Jesus would drown?

It’s a fairly common theme for John’s gospel, how darkness represents life without Christ. The disciples hadn’t been doing very well, managing only a few miles despite rowing for much of the night. Yet they did what they did best as fishermen, they rowed the boat. It wasn’t particularly effective, but they did it anyway because it was the only answer they had, it was the only thing they knew.

It is a scary thing to attempt something different and novel, even if we profess trust in the ongoing work of God. When our churches are floundering, we see so often we try doing the same things we’ve done before, even if it’s no longer effective, simply because we know it’s worked before and we know it’s something we’re good at doing.

Jesus appears to the disciples with the words, “It is I” which can also be translated as “I AM” which are the famous words of God to Moses. We see so much of the identity of Christ, like “I am the bread of life; I am the true vine; I am the way, the truth and the life; I am the good shepherd” and the like.

His appearance represented something different. Maybe the disciples were afraid of what he was going to have them do or try. He had taken them out of their comfort zone time and time again, what was going to happen next?

In our own decision-making, do we look for Christ calling us to something new, a different approach or a new tactic? Or are we too afraid of the change and turmoil that comes along with it, even if we know in our hearts that’s what God wants us to pursue.

And sometimes we run out of time. There was a sudden stop to the story, I was waiting for Peter to get out of the boat to try and walk to Jesus. Although I shouldn’t have been surprised, the real destination was to receive Christ and when the disciples wanted to bring him into their boat, figuratively into their hearts, they had arrived.

The Bible is a big and complex book. Yet we could find the essential message about how to live as a person of faith in these 21 verses. Here we have examples about faith, trust, assurance; teachings to serve others, give fully of ourselves, be humble, not be afraid, and simply believe. Of course what it boils down to is the fact that with belief, anything can happen. Miracles, bread and fish multiplied, sandaled feet walking on the water, point to a greater power and purpose than our limited experience and understanding. That Christ is more kingly than any human commander, offering a life in the kingdom of God where mercy, justice, comfort, safety and abundance.

It’s a world very different than the hazardous and tenuous existence we have here. We see and expect the worst; it’s in our nature. Even the disciples, the same men who saw him already calm a storm, cast out demons, heal the desperately sick, raise the dead, and feed thousands, those very companions, reacted with fear when they saw Jesus once again coming to meet them in the night.

So my closing comment is also a recurring message of the gospel seems to be: “Do not be afraid.” Don’t panic. Science fiction fans might recognize the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is labelled and marketed with the fact that it has emblazoned on the front, the words “Don’t Panic”. Maybe a new marketing technique would be to sell Bibles with the same comforting words? Or maybe I'll stick to my day job. In all things, trust and know that God is there, despite our failures and temptations; we will be fed with abundance and sheltered in safety. Don’t panic. Be at peace.