In v27 Jesus said, “Have Courage! It is I. Don’t Be Afraid.

I’ll be the first to tell you that in my 54 years of following Jesus, in my 45 years of preaching, serving and following Jesus can be frightening. Jesus does scary things. Sometimes I look at things and I think, “I See Jesus” and it’s a little scary, which makes me think, “I hope that’s Jesus” – “and at the same time, “I hope that’s NOT Jesus.” Because if that’s Jesus, then I’ve got to get IN on it, and THAT’S Scary. and Jesus says, “Have Courage” (present active, imperative) You Must Right now Have Courage because you NEED it; and don’t be afraid because, “It is I”.

And Peter says, “IF it is YOU – command me to Come” – Oh my be careful what you ask for. Two dangerous things, 1) to say, “I could never” or 2) to say, “Lord, I’d love to…”. My wife and I were driving through Houston in 1989 in Rush Hour traffic and my wife said, “I could NEVER live in Houston.” We lived in an Austin Suburb. I said, “baby, don’t ever say never, with God”. And a year later, we moved to Houston – and lived there for 10 years.

Well, the Lord says, “COME” – I’ve been told that this word has the idea of “taking center stage” – to Arrive. “Come” – When God gives a command or reveals what he is doing, we often say something like, “Ok, Lord, just put me there.” We often express our desire but don’t get busy. But Look at Peter, “And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water toward Jesus.” He didn’t stand and wave, or start a cheering section, he Stepped Out. He climbed out and started walking – we might give Peter a hard time for sinking, but he stepped out and started – I’d rather sink IN the service than stay safely OUT of service. I’d rather struggle IN the service than settle for spectating. And then he saw the strength of the Lord, right? Well, NO. He saw the strength of the wind.

If we will stay focused on the Lord, “It is I”, then we can HAVE COURAGE, but when we take our eyes off the Lord and his command, we focus on the struggle, and we begin to sink. Notice these words, he Stepped out, Started walking, he was ready to Serve in the Struggle, but he looked away from the Savior and Saw the Strength of the wind, and he Started to Sink.

When we get distracted from the Lord and his command to “come” we struggle and can sink. And we have a choice then of sinking and drowning, or we can say, “Lord Save Me!” Peter cried out to the Lord, his focus returned to the correct source. And Immediately, v31, Jesus reached out his hand and caught hold… (saying) “why did you doubt”. He doubted because he took his eyes off the Savior, and set his mind on what he thought about his circumstances and abilities.

It is Jesus – Do not Be Afraid – Take the Stage when God Says, “Come”