Lord Save Me!

Sermon Proper 14 

Sunday, August 7^th, 2011

Matthew 14:22-33

Very few if any protestant churches will you find in their services,  the congregation admitting before God and each other that they are poor miserable sinners. Rather through beat driven music and the leading of a band the people seek to be spiritually and more likely emotionally lifted into the presence of God to thank and praise Him. Also churches that do not use liturgy are without the Kyrie “Lord have mercy” and they are without the “Hosanna” in the communion liturgy.  “Hosanna in the Highest blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”  Hosanna meaning “Lord Save Us,” which harkens us back to Jesus palm laden procession into Jerusalem, to Mt. Zion.

The question is why do we worship the way we do? Why does it matter?  Why do some churches use the liturgy and others do not?

You as a member of the priesthood of believers, a priesthood that was anointed by the waters of baptism, have spent your week dealing with your neighbor whether it be a family member, school mate, fellow worker,  a person who provides you services or the person who lives next door.

 As you review the Ten Commandments and its meanings, how did you do this week?  Did you truly love your neighbor as Christ commands?  Did you keep from be angry with or being jealous of your neighbor?  Did you provide substantial help to your neighbor if they were in need or did just say I pray the Lord blesses you as you move on.  How about your behavior and thoughts toward your neighbors as you drive our congested highways? Did you keep from fighting with your spouse or a brother or sister? 

It is no fun to be reminded of these things but unless we face this reality that we sin then we have no thought of being in trouble or that we need a Savior.  For Peter there was clear and present danger as he began to sink below the hostile wind and waves.

Perhaps it is not our sins that terrify us but the attacks of the devil.  Perhaps it is an illness or it is out right resistance by the world because you are a Christian.  Do you ever ask yourself what is wrong with this world? Why does it feel like the whole world is against me?  Perhaps this resistance comes from a place it shouldn’t such as a family member, or fellow congregation members or from church workers.   Such resistance is not unlike the demonic wind that was against the twelve disciples who struggled in the boat on the Sea of Galilee.

The church has been portrayed as a boat or an ark that rides upon the sea.  It is an instrument that God uses to save and preserve his people just as he saved eight on Noah’s ark from the evil of this world and certain death and destruction he brings us into His bride the church, through it we are joined to Him as one body. 

Many times the architecture and even the nautical terms such as the Nave help us to see that this place is a sanctuary from the sin ridden world.  Noah and his family were sinners but the difference from those who perished was that they knew it and they had faith that the Lord would deliver them from this evil. 

Going before the presence of God without the righteousness of Jesus puts us in a dire strait.  And to assume that we simply are entitled to and deserve God’s love because we are created by Him is a poor assumption. No it is by grace alone that God reaches out to sinners like you and me. We get from Jesus what we do not deserve, that is God’s forgiveness and love. 

So it is utterly appropriate that we come before God not assuming our salvation but crying out for His mercy and His salvation. We do this as we examine our sin ridden lives.  This is a reverent posture for you as a member of the royal priesthood.  This is not unlike the posture of the sinner who asked for forgiveness from the rear of the temple compared to the Pharisee who gave thanks that he was not like the sinner in the rear of the temple.

The Pharisee assumes his righteousness and believes he can stand before God “coram Deo” based upon his own merits.  The type of worship that attempts to spiritually lift through emotion driven music to give thanks and praise to Jesus who sits confined in heaven as John Calvin teaches is like the attitude of the Pharisee who assumes his righteousness. There is no thought given to their dire condition

Rather Jesus in worship in Divine Service comes to us sinners who are need of His salvation. He walks upon the sea, the place of danger and certain death and the demonic wind that blows against the church cannot stop His coming.  The pagans thought that there was a god in the sea. In this case it was called Yam.  The Greek word “thalasow”  means Yam.   This term points to the false god that Jesus easily walks upon and subdues.

Jesus in the midst of the storm gives the twelve courage saying “Take heart, it is I am. Do not be afraid.” Yes I know our translation says “I” but the Greek says ego aymi which is translated literally “I am.” Jesus is giving them courage and faith that He is God which is later confirmed by the twelve worshiping Him and there confession that He is truly the Son of God.

 Jesus came to earth to defeat the powers of Satan and, as God did in the Old Testament, demonstrate His dominance over false manmade gods. You may experience times when it feels that the whole world and culture is against you but remember Jesus has defeated Satan and your adversaries. He is still ultimately in control. When Jesus climbs into the boat with us the winds cease.  When Jesus is our midst in this Divine Service, in this church, then Satan must be silent or told to be silent and he must obey.

It is hard to know why Peter wanted to get out of the boat.  Perhaps he wanted to test his faith. Perhaps he wanted to tap into some of Christ’s divine power.  Either way  “If” is a test  or temptation word.  “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  Peter here is being tempted to test His faith. 

 Whatever the limitations of Peter’s faith he did get this part right, that we can do nothing apart from Christ’s command.   It is Christ’s command that makes the sacraments of baptism and the Lord Supper effective.  It is Christ’s command to forgive that makes it real.  I cannot go off and invent sacraments and rituals in the name of Jesus and be certain that they will work.  This type innovation borders on witch craft, trying to control God or His power by the use of His name. This certainly goes against taking the Lord’s name in vain.  But where Jesus does make a command such as making disciples by baptism and teaching, then we can be assured and certain that God’s will, will be done.  Peter was able to walk supernaturally the few steps he did because Christ said to him, “Come.”

This is why in our Divine Service we cling to what Christ institutes in baptism, confession and absolution, reading the Word, preaching for repentance and forgiveness and the Lord’s Supper.  Our liturgy and hymns contain and reinforce these gifts. Songs from other Christian traditions do not. The Divine Service is designed to worship God with reverence and awe as the writer of Hebrews teaches.

How we worship or practice worship does matter because it shows what we truly believe regarding our relationship with God.  We cannot divorce our faith from our practice but many do and when this occurs the practice changes the faith.  In this case, we work to make our preferred practice fit into the scriptures somehow. We force an interpretation on the scriptures that was never intended.  Rather our practice must be in service and subordinate to God’s Word. The Divine Service and what it contains is a witness to what we believe and it strives to eliminate ambiguity and bring clarity to our Lord’s saving proclamation.

Jesus comes to save those who are burdened by their sin and resistance to Christianity in the World.  You are in need of His saving word. He says to you this day, “Be courageous, it I am, do not be afraid.”  Do not be afraid because He forgives you this day and as a pledge to this promise He gives to you His very body and blood to eat and drink.  This is his New Testament to you which you received at His death which He incorporated you into through the gift of baptism. There is nothing more certain than that.

Our worship does not come from inside us through an emotional experience but it is rather spiritual. Actuated by God’s Word through the Holy Spirit and through Jesus our thanks and praise go to God. It is in the Spirit given confession that Jesus is truly the Son of God that He is worshiped.

You cry out Hosanna in the ancient hymn of the Sanctus and Jesus answers your prayer by coming to you in this place. He is in the boat with you. He is in the church with you.  Truly He is the Son of God. Truly He is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.    Amen