THE LAST WORD

 

MARCH 28, 2023

Matthew 14:24-33

²⁴ … the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 

 

This isn’t the first time Jesus' disciples got into trouble on the Sea of Galilee. And in both times Jesus seems to have gotten them into that trouble. Earlier in Matthew, Jesus climbed into a boat with his disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee.

Very soon they found themselves in a raging storm that threatened to overwhelm their ability to keep the boat afloat. “Master, don’t you care?” they cried out as they woke him up. Jesus calmly stood up and commanded the storm to be quiet—"Be still!” And it was.

This time Jesus again tells his disciples to take the boat and cross over to the other side. But rather than going with them, he heads up the mountain to pray. Once again, the disciples are hit by a storm. Once again, their abilities are challenged. And this time, it looks like they’re going to have to take care of themselves.

Then something really strange happens. In the distance the disciples see someone literally walking on the water, undisturbed by the raging storm around him. If the storm hasn’t terrified them, this certainly does! “It’s a ghost!” they cry out. “It’s me,” Jesus calls out, this time not to the storm but to his disciples. “Don’t be afraid, it’s me!”

“Don’t be afraid, it’s me!” In each of these stories, Jesus’ disciples wind up in the middle of a storm that causes them to fear for their lives. In each story, Jesus deals with the storm and with their fears. And in both stories the disciples begin to realize—perhaps just a little bit more—who they’re dealing with: the Lord of the wind and the waves, the One who, when it comes to storms, gets the last word.

Be encouraged today that the one we worship, has the last word on the storms around us too!

LET US PRAY

Help me God, to always remember that you have the "last word" on all things, and to trust you in the rough stormy places. May we hear those comforting words "it's me, Do Not Be Afraid."