Pentecost 10
- Proper 14
09 August
2020
Matthew
14:27
“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Almighty and most merciful God, preserve us
from all harm and danger that we, being ready in both body and soul, may
cheerfully accomplish what You want done; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our
Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever.
As Matthew
tells the story of Jesus walking on the sea he uses a word that literally jumps
off the page. He uses the word – Immediately. Immediately Jesus compelled his disciples to
enter the boat. He forced them to leave. And, as the story unfolds, immediately
Jesus comforts them; reassuring his disciples that he is present that they do
not need to fear.
It is easy to
have faith when all goes well. Faith is seen like a lamp when night comes. The
disciples had a night experience on the sea when their faith was challenged. We
need a faith that will not fail in times of crises. A faith needed for troubled
times.
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get
into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the
crowd. After he had dismissed them,
he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was
there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land,
buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch
of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.” (Vv.22-25)
Jesus sent His
disciples away. The disciples were “made” to go to sea.
Jesus wanted and needed to be alone to pray about John’s recent murder by
Herod.
The disciples
are not stupid. In fact, they know a lot about the lake. They are experienced
fishermen. They knew that storms brew at night.
They knew it is not safe to be in a boat in the middle of the night that
far from shore. And yet, they obey. They
do as they are told. They follow Jesus’ command.
In their
obedience they ran into trouble, a storm at sea. There is a fundamental truth
here. We’re living in a broken world outside
of Eden. We will get trouble, hardship, and crisis in this life. Jesus never
promised all sunshine for his followers. Are you up for the challenge? Trouble
will find you. Hard times might come.
But they last only for a season.
There’s much movement
in this story. The disciples are straining while Jesus is walking. The
disciples are stressed under much pressure. Jesus comes to their rescue. Jesus came to them walking on the seas. Although
the danger was overpowering. Jesus brings calm.
The fourth
watch came between three and six in the morning, the darkest time of the night.
Jesus came to the storm-tossed disciples after they futilely struggle against
the storm throughout the night.
A person’s extremity is God’s opportunity to
rescue. “When the disciples saw him walking on the
lake, they were terrified.”It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in
fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be
afraid." (Vv. 26-27)
Yet Jesus
comforted them by identifying Himself. The words of Jesus to Peter are pure
promise: “It is I” Jesus is the great
"I am." He is always present. Always near. Never absent. He is the ever-present Savior offering his gifts
of forgiveness and life.
“Lord, if it's you," Peter replied,
"tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said”
(Vv.28-29) Jesus granted
Peter’s request with an enabling word. “Since
it is you, command me to come to you.” Notice who is taking charge in this conversation.
Jesus commands the disciples to enter the
boat. He commands Peter to come. He rescues. He saves.
Without this
promise of his presence, Jesus’ words to Peter would be cruel. Why can Peter take courage? Because Jesus is there with him. Even in the midst
of a storm.
Here is a
gracious reminder that we can still be in the boat with Jesus and only have a
little faith. Having lots of faith is
not a requirement for journeying with Jesus. Rather a word of encouragement and
hope. Jesus is present even in the midst of a storm.
Believing is
receiving. Even when Jesus works a miracle its meaning can only be understood in
faith. “And when they climbed into the
boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying,
"Truly you are the Son of God."
(Vv. 32-33)
Yet faith
receives Him and His forgiveness regardless of how great or small our faith may
be. “Yet to all who received Him, to
those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God
– children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or of a husband’s
will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13)
Jesus has come
to save not destroy. As the Son of God, He carried out the saving plan. His
substitution worked because He is the Savior as St. Paul teaches, “God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the
world unto Himself, not counting man’s sins against them. And He has committed
to us this message of reconciliation.” {2 Corinthians 5:19}
“Lord save me!” That was the cry of
Peter. It is the cry of the voice of faith. May this be our cry. Whatever the
situation Jesus is able to help. Fear came knocking at the door, Jesus
answered, and fear went away! May that be your experience throughout your
journey of faith and your walk with Jesus as He orders your days and directs
your path.
Image: Backhuysen,
Ludolf. Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, from Art in the Christian
Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, Tenn.
No comments:
Post a Comment