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The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Today’s Reading: Matthew 8:23-27
Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 14:1-21; Titus 2:7-3:15
And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” (Matthew 8:25)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The disciples were right. They were perishing. But the storm-tossed boat wasn’t the only thing sinking. Their faith was being swamped by panic, doubt, and despair.
“Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Jesus’ words to His disciples reveal the same sin in them that we see in ourselves. We do not fear, love, and trust in God above all things. Like the disciples, times of distress cause us to doubt Christ’s promises, despair of His grace—or worse yet—doubt that He is with us just as He was with the disciples. So Jesus rebukes the disciples’ sin and then He rebukes the wind and waves. He rebukes our sin, and then He calms our distressing, doubtful, despairing hearts with the same Word.
Do not be afraid of the world, no matter how ugly and wicked it gets. “I have overcome the world,” says Jesus. Do not be afraid of the devil’s fiery darts of temptation. Every one of them is quenched by the liquid shield of your Baptism. And the devil is defeated, crushed, and conquered in My death for you. Do not be afraid of your own sinful flesh. “For behold, I make all things new.”
With the same Word which He used to rebuke the wind and waves, Jesus says, “It is finished.” Your sin is rebuked. It’s gone. And your death, too. It’s all paid for in Jesus. You have nothing to fear. With that same marvelous Word, Jesus replaces your doubt and despair with the gift of faith and joy in Him. Who is this that even sin and death obey? It is Jesus, the great Captain of your salvation who went down with the ship to save you. And you are anchored firmly to His cross forever by water, Word, Body and Blood. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Praise the One who breaks the darkness With a liberating light; Praise the One who frees the pris’ners Turning blindness into sight. Praise the One who preached the Gospel, Healing ev’ry dread disease, Calming storms and feeding thousands With the very Bread of peace. (Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness, LSB 849:1)
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By Higher Things®Today’s Reading: Matthew 8:23-27
Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 14:1-21; Titus 2:7-3:15
And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” (Matthew 8:25)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The disciples were right. They were perishing. But the storm-tossed boat wasn’t the only thing sinking. Their faith was being swamped by panic, doubt, and despair.
“Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Jesus’ words to His disciples reveal the same sin in them that we see in ourselves. We do not fear, love, and trust in God above all things. Like the disciples, times of distress cause us to doubt Christ’s promises, despair of His grace—or worse yet—doubt that He is with us just as He was with the disciples. So Jesus rebukes the disciples’ sin and then He rebukes the wind and waves. He rebukes our sin, and then He calms our distressing, doubtful, despairing hearts with the same Word.
Do not be afraid of the world, no matter how ugly and wicked it gets. “I have overcome the world,” says Jesus. Do not be afraid of the devil’s fiery darts of temptation. Every one of them is quenched by the liquid shield of your Baptism. And the devil is defeated, crushed, and conquered in My death for you. Do not be afraid of your own sinful flesh. “For behold, I make all things new.”
With the same Word which He used to rebuke the wind and waves, Jesus says, “It is finished.” Your sin is rebuked. It’s gone. And your death, too. It’s all paid for in Jesus. You have nothing to fear. With that same marvelous Word, Jesus replaces your doubt and despair with the gift of faith and joy in Him. Who is this that even sin and death obey? It is Jesus, the great Captain of your salvation who went down with the ship to save you. And you are anchored firmly to His cross forever by water, Word, Body and Blood. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Praise the One who breaks the darkness With a liberating light; Praise the One who frees the pris’ners Turning blindness into sight. Praise the One who preached the Gospel, Healing ev’ry dread disease, Calming storms and feeding thousands With the very Bread of peace. (Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness, LSB 849:1)