Matthew 14:22-33
Pr. Kurt A. Van Fossan – In Nomine Christi Iesu
Hello, how are you? Whenever we ask that question we’re hoping the other person is fine. But we also know from personal experience that even though we can always say that we’re doing better than we deserve according to our sinful nature, sometimes it feels as if we’re going through hell in this world. Perhaps you are going through some struggles right now--troubles which you're having a hard time seeing the end of. You try to put on a brave face, but if the truth were known you are worried and frightened.
Times of trouble, grief, and sorrow are part and parcel of this sinful world which each of us experience in varying degrees, whether we have a Christian faith or not. As Christians, however, instead of turning to the world for help in dealing with times of distress, we naturally turn to God and His Word, or do we? I'm afraid even the best of us can let our troubles take control of our lives instead of our Christian faith. That's one reason why we need God (through His Word and Sacraments) to continually remind us of the blessings that are ours as His children, and to strengthen our faith in His promises. Our Lord, in our text for this morning, does a good job of doing just that. I pray that God would bless the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts as we consider our Gospel reading for today under the theme "Walking Over the Storms of Life."
Just after miraculously feeding the 5,000 plus people (our Gospel from last week), Matthew tells us that "Immediately, [Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side [the other side of the sea of Galilee], while He dismissed the crowds."
The words Matthew uses here give a sense of urgency to Jesus' actions. He "made the disciples get into the boat," which sounds as if He were rushing them off. What was going on here? Why the rush?
In John's gospel, where he records this same event, we're given further information which helps us understand a little more of what was going on. Evidently during the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, and while the disciples were picking up the leftovers, there was a plan being circulated among the people. John writes: “When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!" Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself” (Jn 6:14-15).
It think it's easy to understand the people's feelings that day. They had been waiting for the promised Messiah for a long time. And now they were suffering under an oppressive Roman government. This was a problem they could not see the end of, unless of course the Saviour would come and sort it out for them. Therefore, if Jesus was the Saviour, as His miracle seemed to suggest, then the people were eager to rally behind Him to put Him in power, in place of the Romans.
This natural reaction of the people is also a natural reaction in us, especially when we are facing difficult times. We naturally want to be delivered from times of hardship and suffering. As a result, since Jesus is our Saviour, we expect Him to help us in the way we think is best--and certainly in a way that delivers us from our present sufferings.
In our text, Jesus demonstrates His disapproval of the peoples method of dealing with their problem by not going along with their plan. And when we try to solve our problems in a similar way He again demonstrates His disapproval by not always answering our prayers the way (and in the time scale) we think they should be answered.
Unfortunately, it’s often during such times (when God answers our prayers His way and not ours) that we begin to loose faith in Jesus as our Saviour. We start to take our eyes off of Him and put our faith in other things or people, like ourselves, which are sign’s of a “shallow” faith.
This reminds me of I first learned how to swim. All I wanted to do was swim in the shallow end of the pool because in the shallow end, whenever I got in trouble, I could stand on my feet with my head above the water—I was still in control.
Does that illustrate your faith? Are you comfortable only in four feet of water where you think you can stay in control? If so then don’t be surprised if God moves or has moved you into deep water—out of your comfort zone in order to strengthen your faith in Him (and so that He can in turn use you, strengthened in faith, to help others).
I think that’s what God was doing with His disciples in our text—moving them out of their comfort zone in order to strengthen their faith and trust in Him. After the disciples got into a boat to go to the other side of the sea of Galilee, God allowed stormy weather to beat against their boat, preventing them from making much headway (see also Lk 8:22-25). Then, not coming to them immediately but waiting until the fourth watch of the night (between 3.00 to 6.00am), Jesus went out to them, walking on stormy waters. "When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, 'It's a ghost!' and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
During times of suffering in our lives, when the wind is blowing against us and we cannot keep our heads above the water—when we are out of control—Jesus assures us through His Word that we need not worry. He is with us, and He is in control.
That doesn't necessarily mean that our immediate problems will instantly disappear just because Jesus is with us. Notice that when Jesus assured His disciples that He was with them, He had not yet calmed the waters, the wind was still blowing against them. But His presence does mean that our ultimate destination is secure—that we can see the end and that end is with Jesus. Nothing will be able to separate us from Him and His love (Ro 8.28f).
Notice also that when Peter had his mind focused on Jesus he too was able to walk over the stormy waters. It was only when he took his eyes off of the Lord and focused instead on himself and the storm around him that he began to sink.
The sinful nature within each of us tempts us to keep our attention focused on ourselves, our abilities and our “problems”. The longer this remains as our only focus the more we will be dragged down into the depths of depression, guilt and fear.
Our Lord invites and enables us to fix our eyes on Him. What do we see when we, through the gift of faith, fix our eyes on Jesus or come to Him? We see someone who loves us so much that He was willing to take upon Himself what we by our sins deserve. We see Him not only walking over stormy waters, but who also rising from the dead and assuring us of an eternal future with Him, free from all the suffering and problems of this sinful world. And we hear Him promise, “I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Mt 28:20).
It’s this Jesus Christ who enables us to walk over the storms of life (and through His message of salvation to enable others to do the same). I don’t know what storms of life will come your way this week, or what storm you may be enduring at this very moment. But you and I can be sure of this: even as the storms rage around us, Jesus, in the still small voice of His Word is saying to me and you, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” In time the storm will pass, and Jesus will still be there holding you in His hand (see Romans 8:37).
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
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