Sermon Text: Matthew 8:23-27
Sermon Theme: Will Christ’s Church perish in the tempest?

“And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27 (Cf. Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25)

It had been a busy day! Jesus had healed the centurion’s servant, healed Peter’s mother-in-law, healed the sick and cast out devils in some among the multitudes who came to Him, and He had taught about the cost of discipleship to those who spoke of following Him.

He and His disciples then entered into one of the fishing boats and began to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee when a tempest arose. Though the wind and the water were likely calm when they set off, a violent wind storm arose on the sea and the boat in they were making the crossing was being swamped by the waves so that these seasoned fishermen — experienced with storms on the sea — realized they were in peril of dying in the storm. All the while, we read that Jesus was asleep on a cushion in the back of the boat!

And what if the disciples’ fears had come to pass and the boat sank (along with the other boats mentioned in Mark’s Gospel) and they all perished? If you think about it, that boat carried a very precious cargo. It carried Jesus, the Savior of the world, and His disciples, who were being trained to preach the Gospel of forgiveness and life in all the world! If that little boat had sunk, with it would have perished our only hope of salvation and the founding teachers of Christ’s Church (cf. Acts 4:12; Matt. 16:15-18).

And, in so many ways, Christ’s Church in this world — His little band of true believers — is like that boat being swamped by the waves in the windstorm on the Sea of Galilee. There are, of course, many who claim to be Christ’s disciples and true Christians but, because they reject His teaching and do not repent of their sinful ways and place their faith in Christ alone and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world, they are not true Christians and are not a part of His Holy Christian Church which is made up only of true believers. They are not even in the boat with Christ and don’t experience the storm on the sea!

Like that little fishing boat on the sea of Galilee, the winds of false doctrine (cf. 1 Cor. 11:19) and the waves of persecution and suffering (cf. 2 Tim. 3:12-13) beat against the Church and cause us to fear — at least at times — that Christ’s true Church in this world will perish, that the devil’s attacks with erring doctrine and with ridicule and persecution will send the little boat and Christ’s believers to the bottom of the sea. And, all the while, it still so often appears that Christ is asleep in the boat and unconcerned.

And what does Jesus say when His disciples cry out to Him, saying, “Don’t you care that we are about to perish?” (Mark 4:38): “Why are ye so fearful, O ye of little faith?” And we do have little faith when we doubt that Christ can and will preserve His Church through the preaching of His Word and the right administration of His Sacraments.

God promises in Isaiah 55:10-11, “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Cf. Rom. 1:16-17; 10:17; Tit. 3:3-7.

Jesus has promised that “the gates of hell” will “not prevail” against His Church (Matt. 16:18). And His Word assures us that He who began a good work in us will continue and complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (cf. Phil. 1:6; 2 Tim. 4:18).

Though our Lord Jesus may let us struggle for a time against the wind and the waves and suffer the attacks of the devil, the world and our own flesh against us, in His time, He will rebuke our enemies and say, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39). And when He does, all who opposed us and fought against us will be silenced and stilled. And Christ’s Church, which He has redeemed with His own blood and made His own through the waters of Baptism will enjoy an eternity of peace and calm in His everlasting kingdom, for all who rejected the truth will be judged and cast out into the everlasting fires of hell and all who have placed their hope in Christ alone will be raised up to the eternal bliss of heaven! Cf. 2 Thess. 1:6-10.

Forgive us, O Lord, for our fears that we will perish in the midst of the winds of false doctrine and the boisterous waves of persecution. Grant that we not abandon ship but hold fast to You and Your cross in faith, looking forward to the eternal peace and joys of heaven You have promised to us and all who believe. Amen.

[Scripture is taken from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:1-7

Like the people of Old Testament Israel, we all too often spend our lives, our energy and our incomes on things which do not satisfy. Instead of taking the time to read and hear God’s Word and learn of Him and His ways, we use all our time and energy focusing on the cares and pleasures of this life. In the end, such things do not satisfy. They leave us empty and desiring more in the hope that, somehow, we will find happiness.

Again, as He pleaded with the people of Old Testament Israel, He pleads with us: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

God called to His people of old to repent of their sinful ways and return to Him. He promised to make with them an everlasting covenant – the sure mercies of David, the certain mercies won for all by Jesus Christ, the Son of David, who would make atonement for all sins by His innocent sufferings and death upon the cross and who would establish an everlasting kingdom made up of all who repent of their sinful ways and trust in Him.

And God calls upon us – even pleads with us – to turn back to Him before it is too late! He says to us too: “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

The hour of our death and the day of Christ’s return are drawing ever closer. Then it will be too late to repent; the hour of our judgment will have come! While there is yet time – while God is still near to us with His gracious offer of forgiveness and life in Christ – He would have us forsake our sinful thoughts and ways and turn unto Him for mercy and forgiveness.

Through the preaching of the Gospel, through the waters of Holy Baptism, and in the Supper of our Lord, He offers and gives to us the mercy and forgiveness won for us by Christ Jesus, who died for our sins and rose again. He reaches out to us and offers us pardon and forgiveness in Christ Jesus.

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat.”

And when, by the gracious working of the Holy Spirit, we turn back to Him in contrition and faith, God is merciful to us and abundantly pardons. No matter how great our sin, God forgives us all because of the holy life and bitter sufferings and death in our stead of His only begotten Son – and the son of David – Jesus Christ our Lord!

So I ask you before God: Do you acknowledge that you are a sinner and have sinned in thought, word and deed? Do you confess and agree with God that you are guilty and deserving of his wrath and punishment? Do you trust that Christ Jesus has truly redeemed you and made atonement for all your sins? Do you also believe that Jesus, in His Supper, gives you to partake of His body and blood which were given and shed that your sins might be forgiven you? And, as a fruit of your faith, do you truly desire and seek God’s help to amend your life and live it in accord with God’s Word?

If you are truly sorry for your sins and look to Christ and His atoning sacrifice upon the cross for pardon and forgiveness, I announce unto you the grace of God and, in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

O LORD God, by the gracious working of Your Holy Spirit, grant that we live in continual repentance and be found trusting in Jesus Christ our Savior when our earthly life comes to a close. We ask this for the sake of Christ’s innocent sufferings and death in our stead and because of His glorious resurrection. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]