Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14A)

August 9, 2020

Text: Matt. 14:22-33

            What is it that terrifies them, the storm-tossed boat full of disciples in this morning’s Holy Gospel?  Is it the weather?  Undoubtedly the wind and the waves add to the anxiety.  But don’t mix this up with the time the boat was filling with water and the disciples feared for their lives, while Jesus was sleeping soundly in the stern (Matt. 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41).  In that instance, it was the storm that scared them, and the question was whether Jesus cared and whether He would save them.  He did, and it was an important reminder that Jesus is in control, that He cares for us in every need, and that no matter what, all is well as long as Jesus is in the boat with His people. 

            But Jesus is not in the boat this time.  He had sent the disciples ahead to the other side while He dismissed the crowd after the feeding of the 5,000.  And then He went up on the mountain for solitude and rest and prayer.  But the disciples were struggling in the midst of the sea.  Making no progress, beaten by the waves, the wind was against them.  Frustrated.  Anxious.  And by the way, did no one think to ask how Jesus would get to the other side to meet them? 

            Turns out, He’s going to walk.  Not around, but on.  Jesus comes to them in the fourth watch of the night, between 3 and 6 in the morning, walking on the sea.  And this is what fills them with terror.  “It is a ghost!” they cry (Matt. 14:26; ESV), a phantasm, a sea demon come to drag them down to Davy Jones’ Locker.  Now, this is important, because it gives us great insight into the struggle between faith and doubt, and the very real fears that afflict Christians in this fallen world in this storm-tossed boat called Holy Church.  Though the weather is bad, this time, it isn’t that that terrifies the disciples.  It is the coming of Jesus!  They mistake Him for an evil spirit out to get them.  Think about that!

            Here we are in the ark of the Christian Church, a little band of disciples, easily frustrated and anxious, and now, needless to say, a storm has descended upon us.  Waves of civil unrest and societal instability beat upon us, and the winds of pandemic and government restriction are against us.  Not to mention the chaos of our individual lives, our sins, our pains, our afflictions, and in the end, death.  Now a Figure comes walking toward us, calmly, on top of the swirling chaos of wind and wave, and what is our reaction?  This is going to surprise you.  You know what it is?  Utter terror.  Because our eyes are fallen.  We do not have eyes to see.  And so we think Jesus is a demon, out to get us. 

            I’m not talking about Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild, as He comes to you in devotions and hymns and pious spiritual exercises.  I’m talking about Jesus coming to you in suffering and the cross… when Jesus comes to you precisely through all that is terrifying and deadly, the things that cause you anguish and sorrow.  It is impossible for fleshly eyes to see who it is that comes to you in that.  He appears to your eyes as a phantasm, a demon out to kill you.  When COVID enters your community and infects your body or a loved one.  When the government shuts down your business, or your Church.  When you receive a cancer diagnosis.  When your child perishes in a car wreck.  Who is this, walking steadily toward me in all of that?  It must be evil! 

            You do not have eyes to see.  So Jesus must give you ears to hear.  “Take heart; it is I” (v. 27).  Or better, “Take heart; I AM!”  “Do not be afraid.”  How often have you pined to see Jesus with your own eyes… not just the eyes of faith, but these fallen eyes… especially in the midst of suffering.  If I could just see Him for myself, I would know that everything is okay.  Turns out, that just isn’t the case.  It’s a noble desire, and you will see Him when your fleshly eyes are renewed and opened to behold Him in heaven and in the resurrection, even as you see Him spiritually now by faith.  But here the disciples see Him with their fleshly eyes, walking in glory on the sea, and they are terrified!  And it is sheer arrogance to think that your reaction would be any different.  No, your eyes are not the organ of faith.  Your ears are.  Jesus speaks, and that is what delivers the disciples from their terror.  So Jesus speaks to you in the midst of the chaos of your life in this fallen world, and that is what delivers you.  For what does He say?  “I AM.”  This man is no demon.  He is God, the God who became a flesh and blood man for us, the eternal Son of the Father, who inserts Himself right in the midst of the storm and the terror as our Emmanuel, God with us.  And then, “Do not be afraid.”  It is not like when you say to a fearful person, “Oh, don’t be afraid, it will all turn out all right.”  That rarely works.  It’s like telling a worried person, “Don’t worry!”… “Oh, thanks, I didn’t think of that.”  No, when Jesus says “Do not be afraid,” He is taking away your fear.  By placing Himself in between your fear and its cause. 

            The cross.  He dies your death.  You live His life.  Isn’t that the cause of all fear?  Death and condemnation?  There He is, taking it on Himself, taking it off of you.  No more need to fear.  Your sins are forgiven.  Your debt is paid in full.  Death has no claim on you.  The devil will have to go to hell without you.  Christ is risen.  And He will raise you. 

            So Jesus speaks His Word, “I AM.  Do not be afraid.”  And that changes everything.  The chaos loses its power.  We are safe.  Ears on Jesus, and we will not perish.  It leads us to confess with St. Paul that, in spite of all appearances, “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).  It can even give us the confidence of Peter to bid the Lord, “if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (Matt. 14:28).  I wouldn’t make a big deal out of the word “if.”  It can also be translated, “since.”  “Since it is You.”  This is a statement of faith.  Hearing Jesus’ Word, Peter believes and confesses.  And Jesus speaks again: “Come” (v. 29).  And it is amazing!  Peter does it.  He walks on water to Jesus.  By the power of that little word.  “Come.”  “Ἐλθέ.”  Everything goes along swimmingly, until Peter trusts his fleshly eyes instead of his ears.  When he saw the wind… By the way, how do you see wind?... When he saw the wind, immediately back to fear.  And in that situation, Peter does what every Christian should do (after all, every Christian has these moments, often).  He prays!  “Lord, save me” (v. 30).  And of course, Jesus does just that, for that is what He came to do.  Yes, that Figure walking on top of all the chaos is no demon come to kill you.  He is the Savior come to save you from it all.  “O you of little faith,” He says to Peter, “why did you doubt?” (v. 31).  And then He gets in the boat, and the wind ceases, and the disciples worship and confess that He is the Son of God (vv. 32-33). 

            I don’t know about you, but I’m so tired, so troubled, so frustrated and anxious by all that I see in the news and on social media, in politics and society and even and especially in my own sinful heart and life.  Things don’t look good.  It appears there is no end to all of this.  And whatever is coming on top of this all must be evil.  It must be demonic, and it’s downright terrifying.  Until He speaks.  “Take heart; I AM.  Do not be afraid.”  Jesus is on top of it all.  Do not let your eyes deceive you.  He is coming through the suffering, through the chaos and storm that has no power over Him.  He is its Lord!  And ours. 

            You have your doubts.  You are of little faith, just like Peter.  One Word from Christ, and you can walk around and play on top of the chaos with our Lord, as Christians so often do, laughing and singing and rejoicing, even in the midst of great suffering.  Trust your fleshly eyes and you will see the evil wind and billowing waves, and you will sink into the sea.  But there is Jesus.  He will save you.  He came to do just that.  Pray.  Trust.  Call upon Him in every trouble.  “Lord, save me.”  You may be of little faith, but you have Jesus.  Or better, Jesus has you.  And that is all that matters.

            And you do have Him, and He does have you.  Listen.  “I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit… Lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age… I forgive you all your sins… Take, eat; this is my body… Take, drink; this is my blood… given and shed for you for the forgiveness of all of your sins.”  “Take heart; I AM.  Do not be afraid.”  He comes, the Son of God.  Here and now.  In His gifts.  To you.  For you.  It is awful stormy out there, and the devil is having his day.  But you are in the boat, and Jesus is coming.  Fear not.  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son (+), and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.