Jesus has kept me above the water – Pastor Jade Yi

I believe that we all know this story of Peter well. Seeing Jesus walking on the water toward the boat, Peter wanted to do the same thing – walk on the water! With the assurance of Jesus’ words, he chose to trust in Jesus and stepped out of the boat where his faith was tested. If you were there, would you have done the same thing as Peter, courageously walking on the water to Jesus who calls you and promises to protect you from sinking?

我相信我們對彼得的這個故事，都非常地熟悉。看到耶穌在水面上走向船的那個時刻，彼得也想要做同樣的事——走在水面上！彼得選擇了相信，耶穌會保他安全，他把腳跨出了船外。在水面上開始走向耶穌的每一步，他對耶穌的信心也同時受到了考驗。如果是你，在耶穌呼喊你向祂走去時，你也會像彼得一樣，勇敢地在水面上走向耶穌嗎？

By this time, Peter had seen what Jesus could do. He saw how Jesus healed his sick mother-in-law. He also saw how Jesus fed more than 5000 hungry people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Even so, he was still a new disciple because his faith hadn’t matured yet. His faith needed to be tested.

這個時候的彼得，已經見識過耶穌的能力。他看到了耶穌是如何醫治他生病的婆婆。他還親眼看到耶穌是如何用五個餅和兩條魚喂飽了5000多人。但是，他仍然是一位新的信徒，因為他的信心還不夠成熟，是需要被考驗的。

While walking on the water toward Jesus, he lost his focus on Jesus and got distracted by unexpected winds. He might not have realized that walking on the water was not so much about being able to do what Jesus did, but rather an opportunity to test his faith. The moment he shifted his focus to the strong wind that created the choppy waters, he couldn’t hold himself together. He didn’t just lose his faith for a moment but also lost himself. Then he began to sink.

在水面上走向耶穌的時候，因為突然來的一陣強風，使他分心了。他可能沒有意識到，走在水面上並不僅僅是為了能經歷到耶穌的大能，也是在考驗他的信心的時刻。當他把注意力從耶穌身上，轉移到刮起波浪的強風時，他失去了平衡。他不僅在那一瞬間失去了信心，還迷失了自己。結果是，他開始往下沉。

Our faith journey is pretty much like walking on the water. It all begins with confession, which is professing our trust in Jesus. From time to time, we, like Peter, take the courage to step out of our comfort zone and walk to Jesus who has everything under control. What is the only power that can keep our sanity and our safety from any distraction? Our trust in Jesus! With Jesus beside us, we surely can walk our faith journey by grace through faith.

我們的信仰之旅，就像似走在水面上一樣。懺悔是跨出信仰的第一步。這也就是對耶穌信任的一個表態。我們和彼得一樣，時常需要勇氣走出自己的舒適區，走向那一位掌握一切的耶穌。唯一能保持我們的理智及安危，且不分心的力量是什麼？是我們對耶穌的信任！在我們的信仰之旅有了耶穌的陪伴，我們當然可以藉著恩典和信心過日子。

If thinking of walking on the water as an example of walking our faith journey isn’t enough, how about thinking of a toddler learning to walk? When a toddler begins learning how to walk, there must be someone or something that the toddler can hold onto and focus on in the process. While steps are not stable yet, any unexpected distraction – like a car that suddenly passes by or unexpected loud sounds that can scare the toddler – even can cause a fall. Repeated practices can build up the legs’ muscles just like our faith muscles need to be built up and strengthened.

如果把走在水面上作為信仰之旅的例子還不夠的話，那麼想想一個正在學習走路的幼兒吧？在幼兒開始學習走路的過程中，他們的眼睛會專注於他們能信靠的人，或是靠近一些能穩住自己平恆的東西。任何意外的干擾——如突然從身邊經過的汽車或意外的響聲，由於驚嚇，都會使腳步不穩定——甚至有可能導致摔倒。反復的練習可以使腳部的肌肉強壯有力，就有如我們的信仰肌肉一樣，是要透過歷練，才能健壯，經得起考驗。

The way of knowing whether our faith muscles are ready is going through tests by stepping out of our own comfort zone and trusting in Jesus. The more our faith muscles are tested, the more mature and strong they become. When our faith becomes mature and strong, we can recognize God’s grace in our lives much easier. Seeing and being grateful to God’s grace more, our capacity to humble ourselves and ask God for help naturally increases.

想要知道我們的信仰肌肉是否已經足夠強壯，好的方法就是通過歷練，憑著信靠耶穌，走出自己的舒適區。我們的信仰肌肉被歷練得越多，它們就變得越強大。當我們的信仰變得成熟和強大時，我們就可以更容易地看見上帝賜於我們生活中的恩典。當我越能看到來自上帝的恩典時，並為其而感恩，我們就更能夠謙卑自己來求主幫忙。

We all know that we can’t avoid distraction or challenges in our faith journey. But can we actually choose when and how we want our faith to be tested? Unfortunately, it can happen either planned or unplanned. What really struck me this time when I read this passage is that we can’t really follow Jesus faithfully and embrace our salvation fully if we don’t even have the courage to walk to Jesus in whom we trust.

我們都知道在信仰之旅中，我們無法避免干擾或挑戰。但我們真的可以選擇何時以及如何來歷練我們的信仰嗎？這真不能如我們的意，歷練我們的信仰是可以在計劃中發生的，但也會在未計劃中發生。這次我讀到這段經文時，讓我印象最深刻的是，如果我們連走向我們所信靠的耶穌的勇氣都沒有的話，那麼，我們便無法信實地跟隨耶穌並完全的接受上帝賜與我們的救恩。

The salvation God gives to us has to do with our trust in God and our relationship with one another. That’s the very reason Jesus gives us the great commandment – love our God with all our hearts and minds just as we love others while loving ourselves. Relationships are messy but can be amazingly blessed by God. Jesus rescued Peter. And Jesus would also rescue you and me whenever we are in danger.

上帝給予我們的救恩，是與我們對上帝的信靠，以及人與人之間的和諧，習習相關的。這也就是為什麼耶穌給我們大誡命的主要原因——祂要我們全心全意地愛我們的上帝，就像我們要愛自己，也以用同理心去愛別人。人與人之間的和睦關係，通常是很複雜的，但上帝賜與我們人間和睦的祝福，是很豐勝驚人的。耶穌那日拯救了彼得。當我們處於危險時，耶穌也會拯救你和我。

Danger can be of our own making or be caused by others. Any danger like strong winds or choppy water might threaten the wellbeing of not just our physical body but also our mental health or spiritual stability. What are the strong winds or the choppy waters in your life now, or in our life together as a faith community?

危險可能是我們自己造成的，也可能是他人造成的。任何像似強風或是汹湧的波浪的危險，都可能威脅到不止於我們身體的安康，也可能會影響到我們的心理的健康和靈性上的狀態。在你生活中，目前有什麼大風大浪嗎？或者是在我們這個信仰團體的生活中，有甚麼使我們分心的風浪嗎？

Indeed, in our lives, we all face strong winds, choppy water or even turbulent waves from time to time. When unexpected challenges occur, we often don’t find a quick solution or a cookie cutter result. Instead of blaming what’s going on and looking for an easy way out, may we remember Peter’s story. It is totally okay to meet God in our lowest places and in our most miserable situations like the sinking situation Peter faced.

確實，在我們的生活中，我們都會時不時地面臨暴風、洰浪甚至波濤洶湧。當意外和困難發生時，我們常常想要找到快速的解決方案或是期待一個符合我們心意的結果。與其責怪發生的事情，或是尋找捷徑，我們不如記住彼得的故事。在我們最低谷和最悲慘的情況下，與上帝相遇是件好事，就像彼得所面臨的情況，是一樣的。

What did Jesus say to Peter while he was sinking? Jesus said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” If Peter took an easy way out by putting blame on the strong winds or the choppy water, his faith wouldn’t mature. In the same way, if our faith has never been tested, or we always find an easy way out to avoid challenges, our faith won’t get stronger and mature.

當彼得下沉時，耶穌對他說：“你為什麼信不過我，為什麼要疑惑呢？” 如果彼得歸咎強風或波浪，或是選擇一條不用歷練的道路，他的信仰就不會成熟。同樣地，如果我們的信仰從未受到歷練，或者我們總是尋找一條容易的道路來避免挑戰，我們的信仰就不會變得更堅定和成熟。

Peter had no idea that his name and his faith story would be known and mentioned by 2.83 billion Christians in the world after nearly 2000 years. Thanks be to God for his faith story that we can learn from. In his faith story, we learn about his courage to leave his profession as a fishman and put his trust in Jesus who made him fish for people. We also learn about his courage to step out of the boat, walk to Jesus, and follow him faithfully.

彼得從未想過，他的名字和他的信仰故事居然會在近2000年後被全世界28.3億的基督徒們知曉和被提及。感謝上帝，我們可以藉由他的信仰故事來學習。在他的信仰故事中，我們學習到他放棄了漁夫的職業，信靠耶穌，使他得人。我們也學習到他勇敢地跨出船隻，走向耶穌，並忠實地跟隨他。

Within a short 4 month period, Grace has had to grieve for the unbearable separation from two pastors. In a situation like this, may you remember that you’re not separated or distanced from God’s amazing grace at all. God was here with those who were committed to God’s mission in the past. God is still here with anyone who is committed to God’s mission now. And God will still be here doing amazing things in the future. What faith stories will you pass on to your future generations who will gather in this place? What’s the ending of today’s story? It says in verse 32-33 that the wind ceased when Jesus and Peter got into the boat. And those in the boat worshiped him. By faith, may we see God’s Grace abound, praise God and give thanks to God each day.

在過去這短短的四個月內，因為兩位牧師的離別，恩惠堂不得不為此而悲傷。在這樣的情況下，願你們謹記，你們並沒有與上帝奇妙的恩典分離或疏遠。過去，上帝與那些投入於上帝使命的人同在。現在，上帝仍然與任何願意投入於上帝使命的人同在。在未來的日子，上帝仍然將在這裡做驚人的大事情。今日的故事，是如何結束的呢? 第32-33節紀載著，當耶穌和彼得回到船上時，風停止了。在船上的人都敬拜祂。你們將會傳遞什麼樣的信仰故事給你們那些將在這個地方聚集的後代呢？願我們藉著信心，能看見上帝豐富的恩典，每日來讚美上帝並感謝祂。

Amen. 阿們。