A friend wanted to show me his new red car. He invited me on a short trip around our town. This trip I will never forget. He drove like Kimii Raikinnen and each curve was an adventure. The graveyard seemed to be nearer than our home. The only thing which calmed me down was that my friend had a valid driver´s licence and he hadn´t crashed recently. Before our trip we had dinner together and I knew that he hadn´t had any alcohol or drugs. But if the driver had been unknown and I hadn´t known anything about him, I would have left the car at the first red traffic light. So the most important question was: Do I trust my friend or don´t I? 

Sometimes my life is comparable to this trip with my friend in the red car. My life is like a race, it´s impossible to slow down or stop. I have to go on and reach the aim. All depends on the person who is at the wheel and is able to lead me. And it also depends on my trust to this person.
The disciples of Jesus went through this experience by boat, not in a red car.

What had happened before: Jesus fed 5000 people by a miracle. After that it was late afternoon. The satisfied people were still camping on the grass. Meanwhile Jesus called on his disciples to leave, rowing over the Sea Genezareth. He himself retreated to the hill, communicating with his Father in heaven, recharging his battery and feeling sure in the love of his Father. Jesus needed the silence without any disturbance.

Meanwhile on the sea there a drama initiated. Storm, high waves, darkness and a boat with 12 men, who were helpless in their coracle. 

You will imagine how it feels sitting in this small boat. Besides there are enough situations which are very similar to sitting in a boat while a storm rages. You have to manage a change in your job, your family breaks up, you find yourself in a crisis and injury hurts. There may be a storm in our live which brings deep fear of existence. 

In the middle of the waves the disciples saw a shadow on the water which came nearer. Obviously they have forgotten that Jesus had all power from his Father in heaven. They didn´t count on him. The shadow seemed to be a foreign ghost. But Jesus introduced himself: "It is I." The disciples should have remembered Jesus words, when he fed the 5000: I am the bread of life. This bread is not only for the hungry body, but also for the fear of existence. Jesus came to the people in the small boat bobbing up and down on the water. The 12 weren´t alone anymore.

But why did Jesus walk on the water? Why did he act in this spectacular way? Why did he break the law of nature and expect this miracle of us? Couldn´t he help in another way? Evidently Jesus wanted to get the whole attention of the disciples. He didn´t want to calm the storm and return to everyday life. He introduced his followers into a new chapter of discipleship, he led them to a deeper belief in God: However only Peter recognized this. The others stayed as spectators in the boat. They missed the occasion of learning a new lesson.

Are we similar to Peter or to the 11? Do we try the new lesson or do we observe what´s going on with Peter and others?

Peter wanted to learn walking on the water. He saw the challenge, but didn´t throw himself into the waves at once. He didn´t belong to the group of contemporaries who are looking for the ultimate kick in bungee jumping, extreme climbing or survival-training in the Antarktic. He didn´t look for ego-booster but for the call of Jesus. He wanted to hear the voice of Jesus louder than the voice of the storm. He wished to think he was capable of walking on the water. He accepted both: Come! Or: Stay in the boat. 

It seems to be easy, obeying the call of Jesus. But in our everyday life Jesus doesn´t stand in front of the window  of our working place. He doesn´t stand in front of our bed at night, when nightmares bother us. Recognising the voice of Jesus often is very difficult.

An interesting way to find out, what Jesus says, I have learned from the Quakers. If someone from the Quakers´ congregation has to make a decision, he calls some friends together who represent the "clearing commitee". Their task is to ask questions which can answer the person who is looking for the way. For example: Parker Palmer got the call to become the dean of a theological university. He wasn´t sure whether this was the call of Jesus or someone else. So he convoked the clearing committee. They asked many questions: What´s your vision for the university? Which gifts do you have for this job? And so on. At last a friend asked: What do you like best becoming a dean? Parker Palmer answered: I don´t like to manage money, to care for employees, to be a member of several commitees, to struggle against structures and competitors. The friend asked: Why do you want to become a dean, when you don´t like all tasks of a dean? Parker Palmer became red and conceded, that he liked to see his picture in the newspaper. Now he knew, that it was not Jesus who called him but his pride. The story of Parker Palmer shows that the questions of friends lead to the truth. Often we don´t need tips but questions of friends which lead to the truth and to the voice of Jesus.

Here is the heart of this lesson. Peter did the first step, it was the most important.

Do we risk this first step out of the boat? Am I ready to accept a new task, to do the first step of reconciliation, the break to a situation which is bad for me? Do I have enough belief in God?

Only for a moment Peter didn´t look to Jesus. At once he saw big waves surrounding him. May be he thought: How could I be so mad, trying to walk on the water? And he began to sink. The 11 sat in the boat, they seemed to be sure, but on the other hand, they missed a very important experience: 1. The water was valid for one or two steps. 2. Jesus was still there, he heard the cry for help.

Sure, the story would be nicer, if Peter looked at Jesus all the time. But the sinking Peter is nearer to us. Because we know about Jesus and again and again we look away from Jesus to the big waves in our lives. We fear the problems, people who threaten us, or tasks that are too much for us. But nevertheless Peter learned from his lessons. After several experiences of sinking he became a very important missionary. He took his chance learning by doing. The 11 in the boat missed this lesson.

The most important question is: Do you trust me or not? Jesus asked this question face to face without publicity. Believing is, trusting Jesus even though the waves are high. The 11 could learn this lesson as people in front of a TV. But Peter learned by wearing the wet clothes and feeling the hand of Jesus drawing him out of the water. 

The lesson of the eleven was: Learning to wait. All the time that Jesus was busy with Peter they had to wait for Jesus to calm the storm. They couldn´t be sure that their boat would stay on the water. There was the possibility that the boat would overturn. The 11 had to learn that Jesus helped in his timing. And their need was not the first priority to Jesus. He wanted to teach "Trust in Jesus", not "Jesus calms storms". The position of the 11 disciples was not more comfortable than that of Peter. Each had to learn their lessons.

And we also have to learn our lessons: Trusting in Jesus on the way out of the boat or waiting for help. 

So at the end of the night all worship together saying: "Truly you are the Son of God!"

We are invited to worship with the disciples and to confess, that only Jesus has the power to call us out of our everyday life into an existence where we are dependent on Jesus alone.