Sermon -- 11th Sunday after Pentecost (August 13, 2023)

MATTHEW 14:23-22

THE ONLY SURE FOOTING IS ON GOD’S WORD.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Bible records many miracles of Jesus, and they are all amazing.  They made Jesus very popular, and people spoke well of him.  However, none of Jesus’ miracles were done for the sake of showmanship.  Jesus did not come to be a performer.  His miracles were acts of mercy, usually bringing healing and relief to the diseased, the disabled, and the demon-possessed. 

     That makes this miracle a bit of a head-scratcher.   Why did Jesus walk on the water?  He could have walked along the shore like the crowds he had dismissed.  He could have found another boat to sail in.  Or he could have told his disciples, “I am going up the hill to pray.  Wait here.  When I return, we can sail across the sea together.”  Jesus could have done any of those.  Instead, “He made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side” (Matthew 14:22). 

     Jesus spent hours on the mountain praying to his Father.  At the same time, the disciples were straining at the oars with the waves pushing against them.  It does not appear to have been life threatening, but it made progress difficult.  Then Jesus descended the mountain to meet his disciples … in the middle of the Sea of Galilee.  “In the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea” (Matthew 14:25).

     When the disciples saw Jesus, they were terrified.  Can you blame them?  What would you do if you were out on Lake St. Clair and saw someone walking out to you at 4 am?  Jesus immediately calmed their fears.  “Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I.  Do not be afraid’” (Matthew 14:27).  When we urge a hysterical person, “Calm down,” very rarely do our words get them to calm down.  However, when Jesus speaks words to dispel fear, his word imparts the very courage it calls for.  As long as they stood on Jesus’ words, they had sure footing.

     Peter called for further assurance from Jesus.  Jesus had identified himself, “It is I,” or more literally, “I AM” (Matthew 14:27), which is the name of the Lord.  The Lord was with them.  But Peter wanted more.  “‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’  He said, ‘Come.’  So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus” (Matthew 14:28-29).  Once again, the words of Jesus produced what they said.  The summons, “Come,” enabled Peter to get out and walk on the water like Jesus did. 

     Unfortunately, Peter observed all kinds of reasons to not trust the words of Jesus.  “When he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink” (Matthew 14:30).  Peter felt the strong wind pelting him.  He saw the waves pounding around him.  He may have reasoned, “What am I doing out here?  People can’t walk on water!”  Everything Peter observed was accurate.  All his senses and all his experiences told him that fear was a proper reaction.  He abandoned the solid footing of God’s word for his own reasoning and feelings.  Therefore, he sank.  He had asked Jesus to uphold him on the water.  Jesus had given him a word to do just that, but Peter did not trust it.  The only sure footing is on God’s word.

     We share Peter’s little faith when it comes to God’s promises, and for the same reasons.  We look at society and see division, hostility, and confusion.  We experience betrayal, hardship, and loss.  We recognize just how fragile our health is.  Anxiety and fear cripple us because the world is full of problems, and they are all real.  We even become anxious about things that have not happened but might.  We focus on the problems and lose focus on God’s promises.  We sink in panic or despair.  If there is any good that comes out of such fears, we repeat the prayer that Peter uttered, “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30). 

     The only sure footing is on God’s word.  It doesn’t mean that God will take away all the problems.  It means that God will sustain us, strengthen us, and comfort us despite the problems that swarm around us.  Jesus’ words did not stop the wind or calm the waves.  Rather, they allowed Peter to walk on the water despite the wind and the waves.  In the same way, God’s word does not make the world less chaotic or wicked.  A broken and dying world will remain broken and dying until Jesus liberates it on Judgment Day.  Sinners will go on proving they are sinners.  But God’s word enables you to stand firmly and confidently in the midst of the chaos and wickedness.  Jesus enables you to conduct yourself with calmness while others drown in panic.

     The only sure footing is on God’s word.  But that means you need to know the promises which provide comfort, confidence, and calmness.  You also need to know what God has not promised lest you think God has failed you when he did not do what you assumed he would.  For example, Peter was able to walk on water because Jesus had given him a specific promise for just this incident.  If Peter had sailed out to the middle of the Sea of Galilee the following week and stepped overboard, he would have had to tread water.  Peter had no promise that he could forever after walk on water. 

     The Lord has made many promises.  We study the Scriptures so that we can rely on them and find comfort in them.  Let’s consider just one.  In our epistle reading, we heard, “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).  This promise provides endless comfort to us.  It assures us that God knows what he is doing.  It assures us that whatever God sends into our lives, whatever he allows in this world, whatever chaos or confusion or catastrophe we must endure, he works out it for our eternal good.  This promise is solid footing for your life.

     This promises is shaky only because you and I have specific ideas about what we think would be good for us.  Some are selfish.  Some are sensible.  Generally, we think of what will benefit us right now—lack of strife, lack of stress, notoriety, prosperity, entertainment, and pleasure.  And by tonight, please.  God, however, always thinks of the eternal picture.  His goal is to bring you to heavenly glory.  That might mean it is best for you right now to suffer loss or disease or bitterness.  God does not promise that it will be fun, but it will be good for getting you to the eternal goal.  Even through hardship, the only sure footing is on God’s word.

     A number of you followed the story of Finneas Bater, a two-year old boy who had a brain tumor.  Now, I don’t think anyone would call a tumor good.  Because it isn’t.  It is a mutation of cells and is destructive to the body.  Finneas’ parents had plans for him to grow up and do great things with his life.  It was certainly not for nine months of chemotherapy and extended stays at Los Angeles Children’s Hospital.  Finneas’ parents prayed that he would be free from cancer and live a long life.  As it turns out, God answered their prayers, but not as they had hoped.  Finneas was baptized as an infant because his parents knew that one day, Finneas would die.  He was cleansed of sin through baptism so that he would enter heavenly glory at his death.  Who knew that that would happen before his third birthday?  So, even something as brutal as a brain tumor God used for Finneas’ good.  Today, Finneas is free from cancer, free from harsh treatments, and free from sorrow.  Today, Finneas does not merely have a long life; Finneas lives forever with Jesus.  His little body awaits the resurrection from the dead when he will be raised with a body that will never be subjected to disease or death again.  Finneas’ parents will grieve his loss for a long time.  Yet, even in the face of cruel death, this promise remains true: “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).  Their world may have crumbled, but God’s word remains sure footing.

     The only sure footing is on God’s word.  That’s because nothing can shake God’s love, God’s mercy, and God’s faithfulness.  That was proven to us by Jesus.  Jesus lived in this chaotic world among confused and conniving people.  In faithful love, Jesus did everything to deliver sinners from a world which makes promises it cannot keep.  Jesus delivers to us a peace which the world cannot give.  Everything in the world is deceptive and uncertain.  Your money will fail you.  Your health will fail you.  Even friends and family may fail you.  The Lord Jesus does not.  He has taken away every sin from you so that you will not be condemned—even sins of doubting God’s promises because of difficult circumstances.  Jesus was condemned at the cross for you; you receive a full pardon.  Then Jesus rose from the dead.  He lives and reigns over all things, even death and the grave.  Death is not as certain as you think.  The grave has to give you back at the command of Jesus.  So, not even death can shake God’s promises.  The only sure footing is on God’s word.

     The Lord had given Peter a specific promise which gave Peter sure footing on a turbulent sea.  Sadly, Peter was more convinced by his circumstances than he was by the word of the Lord.  So, Peter began to sink.  He cried out, “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30), which is always a good prayer.  And Jesus did.  Then Jesus rebuked Peter: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).  Jesus did not let Peter plunge to the depths of the sea, as if to let Peter get what he deserved.  Rather, “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him” (Matthew 14:31).  Even if Peter was one of little faith, Jesus remained faithful.

     Perhaps you have little faith.  Perhaps you are dismayed by the chaos in this world.  Perhaps your life is a bit of a mess.  The Lord does not promise to remove the chaos.  What he does promise in the midst of the chaos is that he will be faithful to you.  He will not abandon you in your fears or doubts or anxiety.  He will provide a peace that the world cannot give.  And he will work all these things for your eternal good.

     The only sure footing is on God’s word.  The world may fall apart.  In fact, it will.  Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).  Everything in this world will fail you in the end.  But the word of the Lord endures, and so do those who rest upon it.  In the end, Jesus will bring you into his everlasting kingdom of peace and glory.  Rest assured; you have his word on that.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.