Trinity 12 “It’s a miracle” 10/08/08
1Kings19.9-18; Rom10.5-15; Matt14.22-33.
“Take heart, it is I.” (I Am; have no fear) Matt 14.27
Miracles
To recap for those who have been away, last week we looked at the miracle of the loaves and fish. Through it Jesus identifies with Moses and begins to reveal his true identity as Messiah. We see an outpouring of the generosity of God towards his people. We reflected that the miracle was not just then, but is reproduced in the life of the people of God today. Jesus still says to his church ‘You do it.’
Jesus walks on water
In Matthew’s gospel, you may have noticed that this miracle follows on directly from the feeding of the 5000 and helps us to see how the miracles are part of a pattern in which Jesus progressively reveals his identity and destiny. Of course this is in direct contrast to the disciples who respond with misunderstanding, blindness and even betrayal as the life of Jesus culminates in the passion and resurrection. Like the transfiguration which we celebrated this week, these miracles show Jesus’ divinity and his oneness with God.
The Sea
Last week I spoke about the Ignatian approach to the Bible and how we can refresh our understanding of well known passages. We looked at the feeding from the point of view of Jesus, the disciples and the crowd. This week, the sea plays an important part in the miracle, so we’ll start there.
In the Old Testament, the sea is associated with chaotic forces which are subdued by God in creation. Psalm 89: O Lord God of hosts, who is as mighty as you? .. You rule the raging of the sea, when its waves rise you still them, You crushed Rahab like a carcass.” In antiquity, Rahab was the name of a sea monster, a name for chaos God subdues.
Psalm 4: Thus says the Lord who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters. Job: God alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea.”
The message is clear: God alone rules the waves and walks through the waters. God alone defeats the forces of chaos to bring order to creation. God alone can help us when we are facing difficulty and struggle. The prophets and the psalmist spoke these words to the people of Israel when they were going through storms of war, invasion and persecution. See what your God can do. Be encouraged.
The message for today
For the people of Israel, read Church. For God who rules the raging of the sea, read Jesus Christ. He is the one on whom the church relies as it faces political hostility, threats of persecution and the fear it is about to go under.
Note that when they are battling the wind and waves far from land, Jesus comes to them ‘ early in the morning’ which is actually quite late ‘the fourth watch of the night.’ What might this mean for our brothers and sisters In Zimbabwe, under the eye of a hostile government; In Tanzania, battling with Aids, malaria and poor transport system; In Uganda, coping with an acute lack of resources; In Iraq in the midst of ongoing violence; in Georgia today?
Our CofE, is smothered by apathy, indifference and mild hostility while some eagerly anticipate the break up of he Anglican Communion altogether. Yet how inspiring to see the church, grappling with the difficulties of being faithful in the real world, rather than retreat behind a kind of certainty.
God’s people, the church, are not forsaken, the Lord watches over us unseen and he will come quickly, even in the 4th watch. That is a good message for the world wide church, feeling battered in many ways.
Peter: Personal faith.
Peter, the representative disciple climbs out of the boat in faith, responding to Jesus’ call. At first he can do everything that Jesus is doing, But in the face of fear and danger, his faith falters and he cries out to the Lord for help which is immediately available.
How many countless millions through the ages have gone through shared tribulations, wars, natural disasters and the personal storms of sickness, loss, betrayal, bereavement, breakdown? Do you know what it is like to sink in panic?
“Save me O Lord, for the waters have come up to my throat. I sink in deep mire where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters and the flood sweeps over me.” Ps 69.
The life of these miracles is true in the life of the church today. Not necessarily changing the weather or taking a walk on water, but discovering the presence of the one who is able to bring us through our storm and tribulation. The one who says “Peace, be still, it is I, do not be afraid.
Peter steps out of the boat.
I was I inspired this week to come across a website The Rebelution.com, by two teenage brothers Alex and Brett Harris. The challenge to their generation and to all of us is to ‘Do Hard Things.” They note that the Vikings were so successful and created fear everywhere they went because hey rowed themselves into battle rather than relying on slaves, which meant they were literally fighting fit.
We may not have the stomach for fire and the sword, but here’s their challenge: Do hard things. Learn a lesson from the Vikings. Too often we delegate the responsibility for our education, our character, our future, to others who hold far less of a stake in how things turn out. Often a failure to perform in the areas of character and competence are due to a lack of past exertion. Many young people are doing little more than ‘getting by’ in a culture of unbelievably low standards.” We can learn to do hard things by taking and maintaining responsibilities and attempting the impossible.
They quote GK Chesterton: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found lacking. It has been found difficult and left untried.”
Peter shows the challenge of this miracle for us personally and for the church to learn to do hard things, to walk by faith through every storm and keep our eyes on Jesus.
0 Responses to “It’s a miracle”