2026-08-09 (Iain) Peter walks on water too: Invitation not Command

9/8/26 Peter walks on water too: Invitation not Command - Iain L

I want to explore this morning the difference between command and invitation, a contrast which is evident in our two passages. In the wonderful story of God speaking to Elijah, not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire but in the silence - there’s a whole sermon right there - God, as he often does with the OT prophets commands Elijah what to do - Go to Damascus, Anoint so and so, and this is what will happen. But Jesus seems to invite people rather than command.

Our Gospel starts with Jesus wanting time alone, going up the mountain to pray, and sending the disciples across the lake. Whenever Jesus sends the disciples across the sea of Galilee it is a sign that he wants them to cross a threshold to a new level of consciousness and thinking, to teach something important. The nature miracles, like the walking on the water, the miraculous catch of fishes and so forth, are stories for insiders, for the disciples, while healings and exorcisms are for outsiders, people along the road, as it were. So in this story Jesus comes on the water to teach his disciples, then and now. Now I don’t dispute whether the story is true but to find its meaning for us today it helps to look at it like a parable - and see the symbolism within it.

While, up the mountain, as evening comes, a storm begins to brew and Jesus sees the boat being buffeted by the waves. Interestingly he withholds rescuing immediately and waits until morning, and with a new dawn emerging, walks onto the water towards the boat. Understandably the disciples don’t expect or even imagine that Jesus can walk on the water and become afraid thinking he is a ghost.

Jesus' response is to reassure them, ‘Take heart, don’t be afraid.’ And Peter cries out, ’If it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ This is an interesting encounter because firstly Peter is not 100% sure it is Jesus, secondly the idea of getting out of the boat comes from Peter, and thirdly he wants a command from Jesus. But instead Jesus' invitation to Peter ‘to come’, is softer.

This distinction between command and invitation is significant because a command goes some way of absolving responsibility of what happens – you ordered me to step on to the water. Whereas an invitation gives Peter the freedom to choose whether to step out of the boat or not, and therefore he has to take some responsibility for his decision.

In my experience, God invites us into new beginnings rather than commands, because God wants us to act out of our own freedom, and this freedom to choose is scary because with it comes responsibility and accountability for our actions and decisions. Our faith journey is easier if we hear God’s command because it takes away choice and responsibility. I have spent hours in prayer waiting for a clear command, only for any decision to come back to me – God honours and values our freedom to choose, and will support us even if in hindsight we feel we may have made the wrong choice, if done with the right motivation.

So Peter has the freedom to choose whether to get out of the boat and he does. This is extraordinary because: Peter walks on water too. This is the change of consciousness Jesus is trying to communicate. He is effectively saying to Peter, ‘You can do what I do.’ ‘You too can metaphorically walk on water, you too can do amazing, miraculous things in your life.’ And Jesus was right – this illiterate fisherman from Galilee effectively learnt to walk on water and do the things Jesus did: to preach & teach, to heal, to be a leader and fisher of people. Peter’s willingness to step out of the boat in turbulent waters marked Peter as a leader, and why Jesus recognises that Peter should be the rock on which his movement would be built upon. ‘Leadership is the willingness to take the risk to initiate, to involve ourselves and others in producing what did not exist before.’ (Repeat) – i.e. to co-create with God and others the birth of something new. It is ‘the willingness to step into uncertainty’. This is exactly what Peter does – he has a willingness to step out of the boat into uncertainty.

In a healthy church, there should be numerous leaders, within a structure of accountability, who, if given the right conditions and freedom to make choices, are able to step out of the boat into uncertainty and be incredibly creative. A structure of accountability is important as there needs to be a conductor of the orchestra - that is my role and that of vestry - to avoid duplication, to ensure new developments are aligned with core values, to put in support and guidance etc.

But a change of consciousness and culture is required: from a consumer mindset where we attend church and make judgments about whether it fulfills our criteria of what makes a good community to a participatory one where we use our freedom to act and choose to co-create with God, and others, the community we would like it to be. When we do our sense of ownership and belonging increases and we criticize, judge, and blame less.

I have seen this dynamic here at St. James with our younger members - who have stepped out of the boat, showing creativity and leadership in organising meetings together, having fun events, helping new members belong, taking on roles within the community, and, when appropriate checking in with myself and vestry.

So back to the story, where we come to the critical moment, when Peter, as he is walking towards Jesus, becomes aware of the wind and waves and becomes frightened and starts sinking and one important lesson is that: If the leadership of the church takes off in a boat without Jesus, it will sink, when things get turbulent, and won’t reach their destination. In stepping out of the boat we need to keep our eyes on Jesus.

As Peter sinks, Jesus reaches out his hand to save Peter and says: ‘O you of little trust, why did you doubt.’,- do not doubt and trust in me but I believe Jesus is also saying to his disciples, ‘why didn’t you trust yourself, why did you doubt yourself’; Trust God, YES of course, but also trust yourselves – you too can do things you thought weren't possible. It goes back to what I have been saying repeatedly: Without God we cannot; without us God will not - we are required to step out the boat!

Jesus says: You too are sons and daughters of God, you too can metaphorically walk on water if you trust in the ultimate source of creativity and love: This source is not out there in the sky but within you and within others. Trust and have faith in me but also yourself. Pastorally, I see talented and gifted people who lack confidence, and I want to say, do say: you are good at this, you really are, be courageous, step out of the boat, take that risk, go for it. Of course there is a caveat - it is important to seek God, to talk to trusted people for guidance and advice when we step into something new - we need to weigh up cost & benefit - but ultimately it is up to us to have the courage to make that initial step.

This risks making wrong decisions – but God is still with us. Paul says, ‘In all things God works for the good of those who love him.’ The important thing is to step out with right intention: If you are on the cusp of something new, maybe it's time to step out of the boat into uncertainty, possibly into turbulent waters, trusting in God and also ourselves - this is how we initiate new beginnings and influence the world around us. When we get out of the boat, like Peter, we may hear our inner critic, ‘The Cop in the Head,’ I call it, bringing up all the reasons why we can’t walk on the water: Who do you think you are? Do you really think you can make that happen? What about the other times you’ve failed, …… we all have cops in the head to make us sink but carrying doubts and fears is part of being human; Jesus knows that but invites us to stop letting doubts and fears prevent us from doing new things.

We are given freedom and capacity to make choices and with that comes responsibility. Let’s use that freedom courageously and not always stay in the boat or on the sidelines observing and judging our community or the world around us but use our freedom to participate in creating the community, the world we want to be part of – let us be co-creators with God and others to make it happen. Let us metaphorically step out of the boat trusting in both God, but also ourselves and one another, so that we can participate in bringing in a new world. Amen