It’s the darkest time of the night, and the coldest - the hours just before dawn.
That’s the time when guards on duty find it the most difficult to stay awake.
That’s the time when people who pace the floor can find it the most discouraging.
People toss and turn in bed reliving events of yesterday, or problems that await them at school or the office the next day.

And it’s the time when the story we’re going to read together takes place.

In ancient times it was referred to as "the fourth watch" - between 3 and 6 am.
A new day would be dawning soon.... but not yet.
Light is just over the horizon.... but for now it is still dark.

Some of you know this time of the night well - when times get rough, your schedule or other stresses build to the breaking point, your heart is broken - sleep just doesn’t come. The mind plays and replays those events again and again and again.....
        And as time crawls by they seem to grow larger, huge, overwhelming, no way out.

The camera of scripture is going to zoom in on Jesus and his disciples in the fourth watch of the night - a stormy night after a particularly stormy, event-filled day.
        News had filtered down to the group that Jesus’ cousin, related by blood and close in life calling, John the Baptist, had been brutally murdered by Herod, the ruthless ruler. Would he come for them next? And the grief over losing a friend and family member.
        They needed some time alone, and tried to find it. But they don’t get it, because a crowd chases them.
        So Jesus, heavy with grief, attends to them and their huge needs. The disciples help where and how they can.

        Eventually the crowd leaves and now, finally, perhaps, a few moments alone! Let’s pick up the bible’s account here:
 
 

I wonder what was going through the disciples' minds as they tugged on the oars in the dark? The waves were large, pounding the boat -- tormenting, says another translation. Not any immediate threat of capsizing, but turbulent enough to bounce them around, spin them this way and that, and make headway all but impossible.
        The gospel of John tells us they were about 5-6 km out, far enough that they wouldn’t be able to really measure any progress against land - especially not in the dark.
        Working hard..... bounced around..... and getting nowhere.
        Sound familiar?

Immediate frustrations are compounded by the weight of the day’s memories.
        Heavy hearts at the news about John.
        Aching feet from dealing with and feeding all those people.
        Eyes that want to close in sleep.

They push on because, well, what else could they do?
Jesus, after all, had sent them out.
It’s not the first time they’re in this situation. They’re fishermen, after all.
So – do what they know best...... row, hard, and hope for the best.
Till the unexpected shows up. And we read about what happened.
        Their fear.
        Peter’s impulse request.
                His daring. His failure.
                Jesus’ rescue.

It’s a picture that downloads hope and direction into our lives as we wait out the 4^th watch of A.D. 2000.
        For some of us, perhaps, a year of incredible success, promotion, new life, growth, and joy.
        For others a year of incredible storms, no sunshine at all, insecurity, uncertainty.
        For all of us, there is the dawn of a new day, a new year, and a new millennium just hours away. And with it...... well, who knows what it will bring?
                The economy seems to grow more uncertain by the day.
                Health - well, as events in our community have shown, our health hangs on a most delicate thread.
                Indeed - who knows what 2001 will bring?
 
 

We could plug ahead and keep going – rowing from 2000 right into 2001.
Just keep doing what we know how to do, and hoping for the best.

We could......
But can we, perhaps, stop for an ever-so brief moment and hear the words of Jesus as they come to the disciples
        and through them to us:

                Take courage!
                It is I.
                Don’t be afraid.

Hear those words, please, for they form the heart and core of this passage.

Often people will read this story and latch onto the part about Peter climbing out of the boat.
        Be like him. Take a risk.
        Don’t be like the ones who take the safe route and stay in the boat.

Quite frankly, while you could, perhaps, go there it’s NOT the heart of the story.
The heart is these words of Jesus:
        words that come to people who are like Peter;
        and to people who are like the other disciples;
                people who take a risk, break the mould, and do something out of the ordinary,
                and people who operate best within settings that are familiar, where they know the routine, places they’ve been before.
                        out on the water
                        or in the boat.

There is a place for people to cross the boundaries, step out onto uncharted territory, and take huge risks....... across the gunwales and onto the water.
        .....as long as Jesus calls them.

And the story doesn’t condemn, not at all, those who chose to stay in the boat.

But in both cases, what they do can be futile
        or downright deadly
                if they do it without keeping their eyes on the Lord
                if they do it apart from the Lord’s presence and power.

You may sense God calling you into new ventures in 2001, new challenges that perhaps everyone else thinks you’re nuts to even try.
        Then go.
        But remember - just because God calls you to do something, or go somewhere, does not guarantee you success. You could still drown.
                Keep your focus on Him.
                Don’t let where you are or what you are doing get the better of you.
                Unless you’re awfully good at treading water, if you get my drift.

And - if you’re one who is waiting out the dying hours, the 4^th watch of 2000, with plans to carry on into 2001 with the same approach as you took this year, no major new initiatives or startling new plans, focus on the boat.
        Rowing, rowing, rowing.
        And not making any real headway till they invite Jesus on board.
                At which point the obstacles fall away.
                Progress is made.
                And they’re able to head towards the work of the new day.
                        or in our case – the new year.

Either way,
        hear the clear words of Jesus
        who walks on the water
        who stands stronger than the obstacles that life, time and nature can throw at us.

                Take courage!
                It is I.
                Don’t be afraid.

It is both a command and a gift.
        The command to face the future with courage.
        And the gift of His powerful presence.

The English translation of these three phrases doesn’t bring out the power as clearly as it could. Where Jesus says, "It is I" he’s using the same words that God uses in the Old Testament as His personal name – "I AM."
        It’s the name He gives to Moses when that man is faced with the impending task of freeing Israel from slavery and bringing them to a new land.

He says, "Excuse me, but, ah, when they ask, who may I say it was that told me to try this crazy stunt?"
        And the mighty Creator of the Cosmos tells Moses, "I AM."
                The One who always was, and is, and will be.
                The One who is the source of all life.
                The One who is the power for living.
                        Take courage!
                        I AM.
                        Don’t be afraid.

They are the words of the same powerful, holy One who said through the prophet Isaiah: (Isaiah 43:1-5):

"But now, this is what the Lord says - he who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;..... you are precious and honoured in my sight..... Do not be afraid, for I am with you....’"

I can’t help but wonder if the minds of the disciples,
        either during the incident, or later when they were a tad calmer,
went back to words they would have sung and heard in the synagogue -
        - from Psalm 107:23-30:

"Others went out on the sea in ships.... the Lord spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away.... Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven."

There is plenty in the new year that could swamp and sink us:
        some of you are uncertain about health issues, dealing with doctors
        others of you are unstable in the work environment
        still others are awaiting the birth of a child -
                will it be healthy, what will the future hold for this little one?
        wondering how marriage and relationships will develop in a stress-filled, demanding and sometimes tempting world
        you’re finding school tough; unsure of where to go with your future
        for all of us as church in an increasingly secular time

The writer of Psalm 121 put it this way, facing huge, mountain-like challenges in his life - I lift up my eyes to the mountains.
                [thinking of the mountain-like obstacles he faced]
        Where does my help come from?
        My help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

That is One whose birth we recently celebrated.
The One who takes our hand when we feel as though we’re all alone and drowning;
The One who climbs right into our life experiences and says:
        Take courage!
        I AM.
        Don’t be afraid.

Our challenge is to keep our eyes, our trust, our faith firmly fixed on Him.
If you do any orienteering, hiking out in the bush, you know that one thing you MUST have is a compass.
        Know what happens to people who try to cut through the bush without paying attention to their compass — what happens to people lost in the bush? They end up wandering in circles.

Christ is our hope.
His word is the compass for our lives.
His power is the security that will bring us safely through another year.

And on December 31, 2000 it is stretched out to us.
Grab hold, dear friends!
Grab hold!