Matthew 14:31 (22-33)
"A Simple but Significant Fact Is that Jesus Saved Us!"
Sunday, August 10, 2008; 13th Sunday after Pentecost
[Job 38:4-18; Romans 10:5-17]
In the name of the Triune God-Father, X Son, and Holy Spirit. [Amen.]
(Matt 14:31 ESV) "Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of
him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'"
Introduction: Dear fellow saved saints of God.
What began as a fun time of father-and-son frolicking in the swimming
pool almost turned into a horrifying tragedy. You see, our children and I
loved to play together in swimming pools when they were still young . and my
sons were not yet large enough to take me down and under.
On one particular occasion our now 26 year-old son and I were playing
together in a swimming pool alone. He was very young, very small, unable to
swim, and able to stand with his head above the water only when he was on
the steps leading down into the pool. For a brief instant I turned my
attention away from him. When I turned back to him I was terrified to see
that he had stepped down into the water that was over his head . and was
frantically flailing under the water. I quickly moved to him, grabbed him,
and lifted him above the water where he could freely breathe once again. In
a very real way I saved him because of which, by God's grace, he was not
harmed and is healthily alive today.
The Blessed Sacrament of Holy Baptism is a truly wonderful and
marvelous thing! It's all about God saving us from drowning in sin, being
overcome by Satan, and being defeated by death itself.
In his efforts to effectively educate his readers about Holy Baptism
Doctor Martin Luther wrote,
(Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation, © 1991 CPH, page 204) "What
benefits does Baptism give? It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from
death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as
the words and promises of God declare.
"Which are these words and promises of God? Christ our Lord says in the
last chapter of Mark: 'Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but
whoever does not believe will be condemned.' [Mark 16:16]"
Saint Paul wrote to Titus about this,
(Titus 3:4-5 ESV) ". God our Savior . saved us, . according to his own
mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit . ."
In addition, the Apostle Peter wrote that
(1 Peter 3:21 ESV) "Baptism, . now saves you . ."
Today's text tells us that when Jesus grabbed Peter He saved that
sinner-declared-saint from drowning. In like manner, we find that .
Transition: A Simple but Significant Fact Is that Jesus Saved Us! in the
context of which He Comforts Us with Reassuring Words and He Invites Us to
Come to Him.
I. He Comforts Us with Reassuring Words. [22-27: "Immediately he made
the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while
he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up
on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves,
for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came
to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the
sea, they were terrified, and said, 'It is a ghost!' and they cried out in
fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'Take heart; it is I.
Do not be afraid.'"] We need reassuring words. In today's world that's
filled with so many trials, tribulations, heartaches, and despair; with so
much hatred, dissension, crime, violence, war, bloodshed, anger, and
contention; we long to hear reassuring words. And the same Jesus, who spoke
those reassuring words, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid" to His
disciples then speaks them to us today. When we are lonely or oppressed He
tells us, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." When illness, injury,
disease, or the aging process ravages our body He tells us, "Take heart; it
is I. Do not be afraid." When our personal, family, societal, or
congregational finances seem to be crumbling He tells us, "Take heart; it is
I. Do not be afraid." When our spouse, child, parent, fellow
congregational member, or someone else damages, disrupts, or even dissolves
a relationship with us He tells us, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be
afraid." When conflict, controversy, disagreement, or discord replace
peace, unity, and harmony He tells us, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be
afraid." When our guilt-laden conscience plagues us because of sinful
thoughts, attitudes, words, or deeds He tells us, "Take heart; it is I. Do
not be afraid."
In fact, in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds when we
feel like just giving up, not only do we benefit from hearing Jesus say,
"Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid," but we also do well to follow the
example He gave when .
A. Jesus rejuvenated Himself with prayer. Among the many questions
and answers in the prayer section of our current Synodical Catechism are the
following few.
(Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation, © 1991 CPH, page
169ff.) "194. What is prayer? Prayer is speaking to God in words and
thoughts.
"196. Whose prayers are acceptable to God? Only those who
believe in Jesus Christ may pray to God and expect to be heard.
"197. What should be the content of our prayers? In our
prayers we should ask for everything that tends to the glory of God and to
our own and our neighbor's welfare, both spiritual and bodily blessings. We
should also praise and thank God for who He is and what He has done.
"198. How should we pray? We should pray A. in the name of
Jesus, that is, with faith in Him as our Redeemer; B. with confidence, that
is with firm trust that for Jesus' sake our prayers will be answered; [and]
C. according to God's revealed will.
"200. How does God answer prayer? God hears the prayers of
all Christians and answers in His own way and at His own time."
It's mysteriously marvelous that God rejuvenates us by
proper prayer. Oh, don't be mistaken . prayer is not a means of grace
through which God refreshes us with His gracious gifts of forgiveness,
salvation, and eternal life. Rather, prayer is God's divine electrical cord
by which we plug into His gracious comfort and strength.
That's what's so spiritually special about the Divine
Service liturgies. They are prayer activities in the fullest and most
meaningful sense. In them we express to God our heartfelt longing for His
mercy and grace and He comforts and strengthens us with the certain
assurance of such.
Prayer rejuvenated Jesus so He could carry on His
appointed activities and through prayer God also rejuvenates us to do so.
In addition, .
B. Jesus personally approached His disciples. That's what God
first did in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve had sinned. He didn't
wait for them to approach Him. No, He approached them, confronted them with
Law, and comforted them with the Gospel promise of the future Messiah.
In like manner, Jesus approaches us today in God's Holy
Word that we read and hear and Christ's Holy Supper that we eat and drink.
God's Holy Word confronts us with Law that accuses and condemns us of sin.
His same Holy Word comforts us with Gospel that forgives and saves us with
the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Immanuel's Holy Supper, in which we
consume His crucified and resurrected body and blood, gives all who properly
partake of it the certain assurance that sins are forgiven, souls are
healed, and eternity will be spent in heaven's glorious mansions.
In other words, Jesus personally approached His disciples
then and personally approaches us today to tell us that .
Transition: A Simple but Significant Fact Is that Jesus Saved Us! in the
context of which He Comforts Us with Reassuring Words and He Invites Us to
Come to Him.
II. He Invites Us to Come to Him. [28-30, 32-33: "And Peter answered him,
'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. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he
cried out, 'Lord, save me.' And when they got into the boat, the wind
ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son
of God.'"] It's exciting to receive invitations! They tell us that someone
really cares for us, even loves us. Hey! That's how God is. Because He
really cares for and loves us He extends gracious invitations to us (some of
which even contain comforting promises) such as
(Ps 50:15 ESV) ". call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver
you, and you shall glorify me."
(Matt 11:28 ESV) "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and
I will give you rest."
(John 7:37 ESV) "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink."
Jesus extended an invitation to Peter to walk on the water in
response to his request. As is often true with us as well, the reason that
he wanted that invitation was because .
A. Peter sought proof from Christ of His reality. Proof! That's
nothing new. Remember Moses, who said to God,
(Ex 3:13 ESV) ". 'If I come to the people of Israel and say to
them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you," and they ask me, "What
is his name?" what shall I say to them?'"
Then there's Gideon, who said to God,
(Judg 6:36, 37, 39 ESV) ". 'If there is dew on the fleece
alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save
Israel by my hand, as you have said.' Then Gideon said to God, 'Let not
your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test
just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only,
and on all the ground let there be dew.'"
In both of those cases (as well as many others) God gave
convincing proof. Does God still provide proof of His reality to us today?
Of course! He gives such convincing proof in His Holy Word that we read and
hear which provides Spirit-inspired accurate historical information about
the Living Word, Jesus Christ. That's what St. Paul referred to when he
informed the Ephesians,
(Eph 1:7-8 ESV) "In him [Jesus Christ] we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the
riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us . ."
In addition, Jesus instituted Holy Communion, in, with,
and under the bread and wine of which He gives us His real body and blood
that was crucified once and for all time on Calvary's cross to atone for the
sins of all people. Now all who partake of that Holy Supper repenting of
their sins and trusting Jesus alone for forgiveness with Spirit-given faith
in Him receive His thirst-quenching mercy and grace which relieves the load
of guilt under which they had been laboring.
However, Peter still struggled . and we still struggle.
In fact, as is often true with us as well .
B. Peter's frail faith made him vulnerable. We experience many
difficulties, temptations, trials, and tribulations in our lives that
challenge our spiritual strength and stamina. Satan seeks to shift our
focus from Jesus to ourselves by using things such as failing physical
health; increasing expenses and decreasing income; damaging and destructive
weather; disrupted and broken relationships; weakening spiritual vitality
here locally and throughout our nation; conflict and bitterness in homes,
schools, churches, and workplaces; and the list could go on without end. He
does so to separate us from each other and, much more detrimentally, from
Jesus Himself.
In the face of such dangers we do well to pray that
beloved hymn that, sadly, is not in our new hymnal,
(The Lutheran Hymnal, © 1941 CPH, #396:1,2,6)
"Oh, for a faith that will not shrink
Tho' pressed by many a foe;
That will not tremble on the brink
Of poverty or woe.
"That will not murmur nor complain
Beneath the chast'ning rod,
But in the hour of grief or pain
Can lean upon its God;
"Lord, give us such a faith as this;
And then, whate'er may come,
We'll taste e'en now the hallowed bliss
Of an eternal home."
Then we do even better to recall the certain assurance God
gives us from Saint Paul's pen,
(1 Cor 10:13 ESV) "God is faithful, and he will not let you be
tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide
the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
We confidently know that the way of escape is none other
than Immanuel, who declared,
(Matt 28:20 ESV) ". I am with you always, to the end of the
age."
He said that after He lived the holy life we cannot live,
suffered and died the crucifixion punishment we deserve, and arose from the
dead in defeat of sin, Satan, and death itself. He did it all to show us
that .
Transition: A Simple but Significant Fact Is that Jesus Saved Us! in the
context of which He Comforts Us with Reassuring Words and He Invites Us to
Come to Him.
Conclusion: God confronted Job after he whined about his seemingly sad
situation,
(Job 38:4, 18 ESV) "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding. Have you comprehended the expanse of
the earth? Declare, if you know all this."
As Pastor Marks emphasized last weekend, our God is a really big God!
Well, not only is He a really big God but He is also a really powerful God!
He is so powerful that He designed, planned, and created the heavens and the
earth. Since He's powerful enough to do that, doesn't it stand to reason
that He can also save us from Satan, the sin-stained world around us, and
our own sin-infected flesh? He certainly is . and He certainly did! So,
let's acknowledge Him as such, praise and thank Him for doing so, and live
lives that honor Him as the Master Designer and Creator.
Although the Apostle Paul once persecuted and assisted with the
execution of Christians, God saved him and used him to save countless
others. In fact, he wrote the simple salvation-solution as .
(Rom 10:9-10, 13 ESV) ". if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth
one confesses and is saved. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.'"
That's what we formally do when we confess the Creeds, sing the hymns, speak
and sing the liturgy, and pray the prayers in the weekly Divine Services.
Let's take it two steps farther. One, let's live our lives everyday in
ways that reflect our mouth-confession and heart-belief. And two, let's
tell others the Good News about Jesus that we confess and believe so they
also will know and trust Him as Lord and Savior, and realize the forgiveness
of sins, salvation, and eternal life that He gained for us. Let's do so
always joyfully celebrating the reality that A Simple but Significant Fact
Is that Jesus Saved Us! in the context of which He Comforts Us with
Reassuring Words and He Invites Us to Come to Him.
God grant it all for the sake of Jesus Christ, His humble Son, our holy
Savior. Amen.
In the name of the Triune God-Father, X Son, and Holy Spirit. [Amen.]
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