Video of the Divine Service is here. The sermon begins around the 25:00 mark.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Usually, we don’t think of the Bible having ghost stories. There is that weird story in 1 Samuel 28, when God is no longer speaking to Saul, so he visits a medium, which is sometimes translated “witch.” Saul asks her to bring up Samuel from the dead, and apparently God allows Samuel’s spirit to appear to Saul. Here in Matthew’s Gospel, the disciples think they see a ghost and cry out in fear, just as the medium did in 1 Samuel.

The disciples have been trying to cross the Sea of Galilee all night, ever since Jesus sent them across in a boat, and went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. Now, it’s the fourth watch of the night, meaning it’s almost day-light, and they see something they never expected to see. Jesus was on the shore the last time they saw Him, and now He shows up in a place where they do not expect Him, and where, frankly, He shouldn’t be. Walking on water is not a normal thing. So they think He’s a ghost, a phantasm. And they cry out in fear. But immediately Jesus speaks to them: Take heart. I am He. Do not be—or, probably, stop being—afraid.

Peter’s not so sure. He says, “If it is You…” It may be, or it may not be, but if it is You, command me to come to You on the water. And Jesus commands him. So Peter steps out of the boat and walks toward Jesus. But then he looks around at the waves, and the spray driven by the wind all around him, and he becomes afraid. And that’s when he starts to sink, and cries out like the disciples in the boat cried out. Lord, save me! And then, the second “immediately” in these verses: Immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him. He says to Peter, “Little-faith one, why did you doubt?”

Fear and doubt go together. Either we doubt, and we become fearful, or out of our fear, we begin to doubt. We doubt God’s goodness, God’s provision, God’s forgiveness, God’s existence. Our fear and doubt feed each other, and turn our eyes from Jesus, and make us do stupid things like try to walk on water. We often want to view Peter here as an example of faith, for stepping out of the boat and walking on the water. But is he? “If it is You” is not a very ringing endorsement of Peter’s faith in Jesus. And where does Jesus put Peter after He saves him from drowning? Right back into the boat! I suspect that is where Peter should have stayed the whole time. And as soon as Jesus is in the boat with them, the wind ceases, and the waves come to rest.

And then the disciples’ and Peter’s fear is transformed, from terrifying visions of ghosts and terrifying near-drownings, to true fear of God: they worship and say, “Truly, You are the Son of God.” This is not the fear of something spiritual coming to destroy them in the middle of the lake. This is not the fear of doubting and drowning. This is the true fear of God, that knows that He has made all creation, including the wind and the waves, and He has the power to destroy them. But that’s not why He’s there. Immediately, He speaks comfort. Immediately, He reaches out and grabs hold of Peter and saves him. This is no ghost story. It is the true, bodily Son of God, in their midst and bringing them peace.

So it goes, later in the Gospel as well. Jesus shows up where they do not expect Him. The last time they saw Him, He was up on the cross by Himself, praying to His Father for their forgiveness. But then He was dead and buried, and they’ve been battling the winds of fear and doubt for three days. That’s when Jesus shows up, in the midst of their doubt and fear. He shows up and greets the women, and says, Stop being afraid. They took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. And then on the mountain, He shows up among the disciples, and they worshiped Him, but also they wavered. Take heart! All authority in heaven and on earth is Mine, given to Me by My Father. It is Me.

We hear in the other Gospels how Jesus shows up in locked rooms, showing them His hands and feet and side, asking for something to eat. This is no ghost story! Spirits do not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have. I am He! When we are drowning in the midst of our fear and doubt, crying out to God, not knowing if He hears us or will answer; when we are afraid that the things approaching may destroy us, maybe even that God is against us; then, immediately, Jesus speaks again His promises. You are My child. I am your God. Take heart! Stop being afraid. This is no ghost story! It is the story of the true and eternal Son of God, who took flesh, and appears among us in our fear and doubt. Whether it is our circumstances, or what we see around us, or whatever else, Jesus shows up right where He has promised to be: with His disciples, outside an empty tomb, on a mountain in Galilee, with His baptized people all the days until the completion of this age. This is no ghost, no body-less spirit, no spiritualized abstraction. This is His true and real Body and Blood, given to you for the forgiveness of your sins, your life, and your salvation. And He takes all our fear and doubt, and transforms it into worship: Truly, You are the Son of God.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, ESV). Amen.

– Pr. Timothy Winterstein, 8/11/23