Sermon Text for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost

The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost 

Job 38:4-18  
Romans 10:5-17  
Matthew 14:22-33

O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.

In the state of Indiana, public school has either started or is about to begin a new school year. It’s been a while since I or our son was in school, but I imagine some things have not changed. Before school, parents, teachers, and students meet one another. Questions are asked and answer. Then, on the first day of class there is a statement about expectations, stated goals for learning, sometimes called projected outcomes. One class period turns to another, then time passes by and before we know it, progress reports are issued. Students and interested parties learn the progress of learning and striving toward the desired goals and outcomes. Most of us are both relieved and happy when progress is observed and applauded. 

All of this came to mind as I reflected upon the gospel reading for today. This is the second time in which the disciples witness Jesus doing out on the open water that which is truly stunning and unlike anything they have ever imagined or experienced before. The first time is Matthew 8:23-27. The response of the disciples is considerably different between Matthew 8 and Matthew 14. The disciples are showing progress. Their understanding of Jesus is developing. Their faith in Jesus is growing and deepening. 

In Matthew 8, Jesus is in the boat with the disciples. Jesus is worn out from the healing and teaching that he has done. As he is a carpenter and neither a fisherman nor a sailor, he has nothing to do so he takes a much-needed nap. Alas! The peace does not last for long. A storm whips up. The waves are high. Water is coming in faster than they can bail it out. Knowing that his hour has not come and that the words of Psalm 121 are most certainly true, “The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.”  Jesus sleeps through it all until the disciples wake him up saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” Once awake, Jesus scolds the disciples with one of his accusing questions, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” The text then says, “Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?’” 

What I want to draw your attention to in Matthew 8 is not the accusing question, but the disciples reaction to what they just beheld. First: they marveled. Second, they wondered out loud to one another: “what sort of man is this?”  

In between Matthew 8 and Matthew 14, they watched Jesus heal two demon possessed men, forgive a paralyzed man and then heal him so that he walks, restores a little girl’s life, heals a sick woman and makes two blind men see and makes a mute speak. Jesus also sends the Apostles out into the countryside with the authority to proclaim the coming kingdom of heaven and to heal the sick. When they come back to Jesus, they witness additional miraculous healings, and listen to a whole lot more teaching that range from parables to the cost of discipleship and more. We recall that right before today’s gospel, Jesus fed 5,000 attentive listeners in a desolate place with only five loaves of bread and two fish that miraculously left 12 basketfuls of leftovers for later. 

Since the incident of Jesus commanding the storm to stop in Matthew 8, the disciples have seen, heard, and experienced the working and word of God like no one else since the great prophet and law giver Moses. Somewhere, amid all these real-life experiences and events, learning is occurring. The disciples are progressing. They are coming to an understanding of what kind of man Jesus is. And, just as important, their faith in him is increasing. 

In Matthew 14, once again, the disciples are in a boat on the water. The incident that Matthew 14 describes comes right after the feeding of the 5,000. The miracle of Jesus walking on water is also recorded in Mark 6:45-52 and John 6:16-21. Because we are blessed with multiple reporting of the same incident, we have more details. John 6 reports that in the fourth watch of the night, somewhere between 3am and 6am, the boat is 3-4 miles out from shore. The wind has really slowed the men down. 

Jesus comes upon them. It’s dark. The wind kicks up the waves. There is spray everywhere. Being 3-4 miles out, they don’t see people walking toward them. They can be forgiven for mistaking Jesus for something scary. What is important though is that as soon as Jesus speaks, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid,” They do. Then, Peter goes one step further. He wants to stand with Jesus. He wants to be with his Lord. At the Lord Jesus’ invitation, Peter steps out of the boat. All goes well as long as he stays focused on Jesus. But, as soon as he gets distracted by the waves and the weather, he sinks. 

I think what happens next is a beautiful illustration of Jesus as our Good Shepherd. Peter sinks. He cries out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately grabs hold of Peter and lifts him up while gently scolding him as if he were a foolish child. “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Together, they get into the boat. 

Peter and the disciples have come a long way since Matthew 8. They have learned. Their understanding of Jesus has deepened. Their faith has grown. They trust Jesus. They have more of a sense of him now. We know this because of what happens next. They don’t marvel at Jesus and wonder what kind of man this is. No, they are beyond marveling. They worship Jesus. They no longer wonder. They believe. They confess. “Truly you are the Son of God!” 

Progress. Growth. Learning. It can and does happen. The Holy Spirit creates and strengthens faith as we hear the Word. The disciples heard the Word straight from the mouth of the living Word. The Holy Spirit was active in opening their minds and hearts as Jesus discipled them.  

All of you who are baptized are also disciples of Christ Jesus. Jesus has reached through the baptismal waters and saved you from your sins. He has placed you in the safety of the boat that we call “the Church.” Since your baptism, you have regularly heard the good news that the Son of God became incarnate for you in the one we know as Jesus of Nazareth, born of Mary. Jesus grew up to die on the cross for you. He is risen from the dead for you. Jesus received the penalty of your sins upon himself so that you can enjoy the freedom of forgiveness from your sin and the promise of everlasting life with God in heaven. 

As we await the fulfillment of God’s promises, we continue to grow in faith. We are ever learning how to be followers of Jesus. We are ever learning how to keep our eyes focused on Jesus in the midst of the storms we must suffer through outside the boat.

When you were baptized, God called you His own. He called you beloved as he wrapped you in His righteousness. Your faith is strengthened by the assurance that should you be distracted as Peter was and begin to sink, when you cry out, “Lord, save me.” Our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep will lovingly pull you back up and put you back in the boat. 

In gratitude for His grace toward us. We follow the example of the original disciples of Jesus. We worship him. We confess that he is the Son of God and our Lord. 

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.