St. Matthew 14:22-33
There was a pastor and theologian in the early church by the name of Ambrose who was the senior pastor at the church in Milan, Italy. Ambrose lived in the 300’s AD, and he is one of four men who has really influenced us in ways that we do not even realize. Many of the doctrines that Luther defended and taught were taught and elaborated on by Ambrose. These theologians--Ambrose, Augustine, and Martin Luther helped steer the course of the ship that we call the church. These men thought a great deal about steering the ship. When they taught, they were teaching others to steer in a similar fashion. Ambrose, in fact, went on to say that for pastors there were three main things that they needed to do. First, they were to concern themselves with the instruction of the elementary doctrinal beliefs of the church. Second, they were to faithfully administer the sacraments and, third, they were to supervise the church in the life of charity. These three things, in the minds of these pastors, were to be the way the church is steered. What a course it is on which the church journeys. But these men did not make these things up as they went along. The emphasis for the church and the pastoral ministry is due to the influence of the Holy Scriptures. Ambrose looked to St. Paul, St. Peter and, most importantly, to Jesus. Peter’s zeal was such throughout the gospels that he was the first to dive into the water to get to Jesus who was cooking fish on land after Jesus’ resurrection. Peter was the one who followed Jesus at a distance during Christ’s arrest. Peter was also the one who sees Jesus walking on water and says, “Lord if it is you, command me to come out on the water.” This gospel is rich with its imagery for our lives. The sea represents the abyss of hell. If you sink in it, you will be swallowed up by it. The storms they were experiencing that night represent temptation and the struggles that come to Christians. The multitudes had departed but it was Jesus who had told the disciples to get on the boat. Once on the boat, these disciples would get a little taste of what their future would look like. Jesus is away praying; the storms rage; they are on the boat with protection. It was in the fourth watch of the night that Jesus comes walking on the sea. The symbolism is significant. A military watch in those days was three hours. The fourth watch of the night would mean that at least nine hours had passed as they dealt with the storm as it tossed the boat back and forth. There they are trying to manage the boat in the midst of the storm, and then, after many hours, Jesus comes walking on the water. Jesus is giving the disciples an example of what the journey of the church was to be like for them. Then, when they least expect, Jesus returns. There is much to be learned by all of it. The church is the boat in the world, amidst storms. The church waits for Jesus to come and calm the storm, to stop the waves. “Be of good cheer; It is I; be not afraid,” says Jesus. This is what the church longs to hear. But the struggle is with ourselves, as we see in the example of Peter. Peter believes in Jesus. Peter trusts in Jesus. Peter knows that Jesus can make him walk on water if the Lord wills it. Sure enough, it happens. Peter walks on the water. In Peter is a little bit of each one of us. Peter knows that the sea can swallow him up, so he is really “going out on a limb” to walk on the water, even at Jesus’ command. This shows Peter’s faith. The problem that Peter, and each of one of us, faces is that we doubt and grow weak. The wind was boisterous and scared Peter. Peter became distracted by the storms. We get distracted by the storms of life. Something happened to Peter’s gaze. It was on himself and not on Jesus. Rather than letting it be as it was and rest in Jesus, Peter looked to himself and he knew it didn’t look good. Sin does this. When our gaze is turned to ourselves and we become concerned with our needs, and with our own strength, then we sin. When this happens we are not looking to Jesus. We are focusing on ourselves. When we become preoccupied with our own condition, then we begin to doubt. As Peter began to sink, the church learned something. All eyes are to rest on the face of Jesus. This gospel is meant for us to see a couple of things. First, we cannot diminish the depth of our own sin. Sin hides in what seems to be good intentions. Sin is so cunning that we even convince ourselves that skipping church and bible study, skipping our prayers for the sake of other noble personal needs and desires is somehow better than looking into the face of Jesus in the scriptures and in the sacrament. What we want sometimes gets in the way of what we need. We have to be honest about ourselves. Sin is crafty and we are full of sin. Our own preoccupation leads us to doubt the protection and salvation of Jesus. What we see happen quickly with Peter tends to happen more slowly in our lives. Our own sinking into the sea is less detectable this way. Our Lord, though, is so gracious. Isaiah says something that seems to speak to the gospel. He says, “though the Lord gives the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet your teachers shall not be removed into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers: and your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying ‘This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left’(Isaiah 30:20-21).” While we are turning away from God, be it ever so slightly, Jesus calls us back to Him. In the case of the gospel, Jesus grabs Peter’s hand and pulls him out of the tempestuous sea. Jesus comes to pull us out of hell and cause the wind to cease. Jesus comes to bring peace--not a worldly, earthly peace, but the peace and knowledge that we have been saved and ransomed from sin. Jesus’ suffering and death paid for your sins and pulled you out of the tempestuous sea. In His face is the protection, forgiveness, and grace that sustains the church in the midst of the ways. Those three things that Ambrose commanded pastors to concern themselves with all circled around the same idea: learn Christian doctrine, partake of the sacraments, and rest in Christ’s divine charity. This is life in the boat as the church makes its way through the world. The gaze of the church is to be firmly fixed on Jesus in the scriptures and in the sacraments. In this way there shall be safety, salvation, forgiveness and protection. This will sustain the church and the divine love of Christ shall cover us, as it flows to others as we all hear the voice of Jesus call to us, and as we see our Lord coming through the storms to bring us home. Amen. -- Rev. Chad Kendall Trinity Lutheran Church Lowell, Indiana www.trinitylowell.org http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=243282012833
