Immediately [Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Looking at this reading, you may think the devil is working overtime. The first verse says Jesus made the disciples get into the boat “immediately.” Why the hurry? In Saint John’s account of the event (feeding the 5000 with five loaves of bread and two fish (see verses 13-21)), Jesus perceived the crowds “were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king” (John 6:15). If Jesus could heal the sick and provide bread and fish, what else did He have to offer? That, along with the disciples muddled concepts of the Kingdom of God, could easily join the crowd in urging Jesus to accept the offer. We can be sure that the devil with his minion was urging the disciples and the crowd to press their advantage. And we cannot forget that Satan had tempted Jesus by placing all the kingdoms of the world and their glory before His eyes (see Matthew 4:8-9). Jesus knew how to deal with such temptation—leave the area where not only strangers but even friends might tempt. Jesus also shows us not only to run from temptation but that an earnest talk with God should follow.
However, the devil had not given up on the day. “A long way from the land” the disciples were out in the boat caught by a windstorm. We can blame the devil for wind and waves, after all, he was behind the windstorm that killed Job’s children (See Job 2:18-19). No doubt the devil was in the boat feeding the doubts and fears that God could or would not take care of the disciples on the lake. Then sometime between 3 and 6 AM, the disciples are terrified by the glimpse of someone walking on the water. They probably thought it was the Angel of Death coming to get them. No matter the circumstance, the thoughts of leaving this world are the devil’s playground. The seeds of fear he plants quickly grow into a jungle of darkness capable of blocking out the sun, or should we spell it SON? But to calm them the Lord says, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” The devil probably had a good laugh when Peter’s confidence turned to terror and he began to sink. But the devil chin must have dropped when Jesus got Peter into the boat, and the disciples worshipped Jesus saying, “Truly You are the Son of God” (33).
The devil can laugh all he wants; we know that in Christ his power has been crushed. Saint Paul gives words of hope to everyone who feels they are sinking beneath the waves during their current storm with God’s promise: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Our Lord knows our fears and doubts and responds by taking our hand and leading us through the storm and through the night to our forever home.
Grace Lutheran Church LCMS
825 North 1st West
Cheyenne Wells, CO, 80810-0728
Sunday Service begins at 9:00 AM
Reverend Steven Zandstra
