Opening Prayer
Lord, make our souls quiet before You. Amen.
Text: Matthew 14:24-32
But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Devotion
Now our Lord Jesus is on the mountain, praying. He is at God’s right hand and intercedes with the Father for what is best for us. But He is with us at the same time, because He is glorified and everywhere present. He said: “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mat 28:20). And when we are in trouble, He watches closely. When Israel was afflicted in Egypt, it seemed that He didn’t care about them, but at the right time He says: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows” (Exo 3:7). For “we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15). Still we must often struggle with worry and waves in the midst of the sea all night, even to the fourth watch, that is, the last one, and when He comes, we don’t recognize Him, but are terrified by the way He comes. This the case for God’s Church, and for each believer. We think that God’s Word and Church must go under, or you yourself have entered into such darkness and such storms that your tear-stained eyes do not recognize the Lord, but are frightened and cry out in fear.
This event with the disciples on the Sea of Galilee is very instructive and edifying. They surely thought He waited too long, but He came at the right time. They were afraid, but He said: “Be of good cheer! It is I!” Let us hear this: It is our Lord Jesus, who is in the storm. It is He who walks on the troubled sea, and He does not sink into it. Remember that the sea is a picture of the people of the world, on which sails the ship of the Church. If you do not recognize Him, if His way is all too wonderful for you, then listen: “It is I,” He says.
When the disciples went out onto the sea according to the Lord’s command, then they could not sink, but when Peter chose for himself to walk on the sea, he fell short with his faith, and yet the Lord helped him, because he called out to Him. The lesson in this is easy to find. But apply it to yourself!
Isn’t our Jesus in truth God’s Son? Isn’t He the Lord of glory? His wisdom and power are unsearchable, and His mercy likewise. Neither the Church nor you shall sink, but your faith shall grow. You shall worship Him and rightly confess: Lord Jesus, You are truly the Son of God!
Closing Prayer
Yes, give us the light and grace of Your Holy Spirit to do this! Tell us when we are to go out on the sea following You, never, never alone. And come to meet us and save us, when it storms! O increase our faith. Reveal Your glory to us and through us! Rule in the world. Bless Your people! Amen.
Hymn
Entrust yourself to God’s will
Though storm clouds round you stand,
Though ‘gainst you waters rise still
And death seems close at hand!
Our home is there above!
When with us is our Savior,
Through storms we shall not waver;
He helps us in His love!
When we are busy fretting
And storms are howling wild,
Our Lord the clouds shall threaten,
Then all is still and mild,
So lovely, light, and low.
That all our pow’r is worthless
When Jesus His pow’r uses,
This teaches us to know.
Landstad: Godt Haab i gode Kristne L 221:2-3 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Aus meines Herzens Grunde (ELH 79); alternate hymn: O little flock, fear not the foe ELH 375:4