Weekly Bible Notes

Ordinary 19 Year A  (Trinity 12)

Introduction

To walk on water, you have to get out of the boat

In the week in which the Olympics begins in Beijing, I am reminded of the phrase 'you've got to be in it to win it.' The point is obvious, we will never achieve unless we participate. The flip side is that as well as achievement, we can also fail in our endeavours. Perhaps it is that fear of failure which prevents so many people from making the effort, and trying to make our dreams become reality. This is true of so many things, not least our willingness to serve God, to allow our talents to be used in his service. The Apostle Peter is a real example to us all, he made mistakes, he had failure in his life, yet he was prepared to have a go, and because of that Jesus called him 'the rock' the one he chose upon which to build his church. In the passage from Matthew today, Peter jumps out of the boat to meet Jesus. Whilst walking on water for a time he soon loses confidence and starts to sink. However we have to pay tribute to Peter because at least he had a go. I am reminded of words by Theodore Roosevelt

'It is not the critic who counts; not the one who points out hoe the strong stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the one who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly who errs and comes us short again and again; who knows great enthusiasm and great devotion; who spends him/herself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who, at worst, if he/she fails, at least fails while daring greatly. So that his/her place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.'

Opening Verses of Scripture    Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.


Collect Prayer for the Day — Before we read we pray

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we are to pray and to give more than either we desire or deserve: pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ your Son our lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.   Common Worship

God of constant mercy, who sent your Son to save us: remind us of your goodness, increase your grace within us, that our thankfulness may grow, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  Common Worship Shorter Collect  

Living God, you have placed in the hearts of your children a longing for your word and a hunger for your truth. Grant that, believing in the One whom you have sent, we may know him to be the true bread of heaven, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. Methodist Worship

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us your mercy that with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not things eternal; grant this, heavenly father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Methodist Worship


First Bible Reading  1 Kings 19:9-18

There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
 

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." (This is the word of the Lord -- Thanks be to God)
 

Second Reading  Romans Chapter 10:5-15

Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them." But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the deep?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (This is the word of the Lord -- Thanks be to God)

(After the Gospel is announced All: ‘Glory to Christ our Saviour’)

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." “Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
(Reader: This is the word of the Lord — Thanks be to God)
 

Post Communion Sentence

Lord of all mercy, we your faithful people have celebrated that one true sacrifice which takes away our sins and brings pardon and peace: by our communion keep us firm on the foundation of the gospel and preserve us from all sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
 

Commentary

The story of Jesus walking on the water follows the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand. The two episodes make obvious an important lesson for the disciples and for us. When faced with enormous difficulties we are tempted to think that all is lost and we cannot cope. It is exactly at that time that we must realise that we do not have to cope on our own. Jesus is with us and even the most desperate situations are changed when we place our trust in him.

Matthew wrote at a time when Christians were persecuted, the Apostle Peter has most likely been crucified. The episode of the storm addressed issues of danger, fear and faith. The boat seems to represent the church, buffeted by temptations, trials and persecutions. Jesus however is the church's champion, who is strong to save those who call on him in faith. The message must have brought great comfort to the early Christians. While not spared suffering and death, they were confident that Christ would save them even if they were to die.

It is important to remember that the disciples encounter the storm, not because they are rebellious or foolhardy, rather because they are obedient. The difficulties that they experience on the sea are not of their own making, but stem from their compliance with Jesus' command.

The disciples find themselves perhaps three miles out in the small boat, far from shore, in a storm. In Biblical literature, the sea is often represented as the abode of demonic forces hostile to God. In the Apocalypse, the final reign of God will mean that the sea no longer exists (21:1) To have command over the sea shows God’s triumph over evil. Jesus comes walking toward the disciples on the sea. Matthew has identified Jesus as Emmanuel -- God with us (1:23) -- and this story reinforces that role.

Matthew's church is weathering a storm of persecution. These Christians are not in rebellion, but are faithfully serving God. The story of the disciples on the sea, therefore, mirrors exactly the situation of Matthew's church. It holds a promise that Jesus comes to Christians in the midst of the storm -- that the storm does not hold the upper hand -- that Christ is present with us in the storm and redeems us from the storm.

When the disciples see Jesus, they are afraid. The storm, while dangerous, is familiar. The disciples know what to expect from a storm and what to do to keep the boat afloat. They do not know anything about men walking on water far from land, and fear that they are seeing a ghost. Jesus responds with a threefold statement: "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."
Jesus uses the first phrase, "Take heart" (Greek: tharseite -- have courage -- be of good cheer) elsewhere in this Gospel to hearten a paralytic (9:2) and a woman with a hemorrhage (9:22). It is not a rebuke but an encouragement.
The second phrase, "it is I" (Greek: ego eimi -- literally "I am") is God's name (Exod 3:14).
The third phrase, Do not be afraid  In this Gospel, an angel uses the third phrase, "do not be afraid" to reassure Joseph (1:20) and the women at the empty tomb (28:5, 10). Jesus uses it to reassure the Twelve as they go on their mission (10:26, 28, 31) and the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration (17:7). Again, it is an encouragement rather than a rebuke.

This story reassures Matthew's church that, even in the midst of persecution, they need not fear -- Jesus is present with them. It offers the same reassurance to us in times of illness, death, persecution, or other troubles. It prepares us for times when things are going badly -- or well. Adversity is not a sign of God's displeasure or prosperity a sign of God's pleasure. Wealth does not equate to God's favour or poverty to lack of favour. Illness is not a sign of inadequate faith or health a sign of great faith. Jesus says that God "makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (5:45). Paradoxically, the storms of life can be a means of blessing. When things are going badly, our hearts are more receptive to Jesus. A broken heart is often a door through which Christ can find entry. He still comes to us in the midst of our troubles, saying, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."
 

Meditation

After just defeating 450 prophets of Baal, it is very embarrassing that God’s best prophet Elijah is now hiding in a cave afraid of the murderous enemy King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. . Now an angel has guided Elijah to Sinai (Mt. Horeb), the same mountain where Moses met the Almighty.
At this moment of crisis God comes to Elijah but not with power and a convincing display, rather in a still small voice. Not very exciting. But isn’t that what life is like? we too look for God at times of crisis, personal and communal. Where is God amid the chaos of the world? Are we not entitled to hear something of the divine road, rather than a whisper? Yet we who live by faith know that whilst God is imperceptible, yet he is present to us. Elijah will have to call the people back to fidelity to God and the covenant; to a faith not based on spectacles and signs of power, but on a relationship of love and trust in God.
When people demanded signs of power from Christ, like storm, fire, wind and earthquake, he refused to give them. Instead, he invited people to trust in him even without instant relief and spectacle. Elijah got the message, he set out on his difficult journey trusting God would support him and not abandon him in his coming trials. As he went forward he would have to continue to listen to the still voice of God within—just as all faithful people must.
When we find ourselves withdrawing to a cave of fear, defeat, discouragement or despair, we might draw the conclusion that we are all alone in our struggle. Or, we can make the impossible leap of faith that says, “I believe God is with me, even in the sound of silence.” It turns out, Elijah’s fearful flight away from Ahab and Jezebel has set him back on the path to absolute dependence on God. God has not abandoned him after all. God did not given up on Elijah; Elijah did not give up on God, this is a lesson for us all.      Charles Royden

Should we fall, we should not despair and so estrange ourselves from the Lord's love...Let us always be ready to make a new start. If you fall, rise up. If you fall again, rise up again.

—St. Peter of Damaskos (12th century)

Hymns

Dear lord and father  111 Mission Praise (Tune Repton)

How lovely on the mountains 249 Mission Praise

Eternal Father   122   (Tune Melita)

O God of truth and justice - Tune Thornbury

At the name of Jesus 41 (Tune Camberwell)
 

O God of truth and justice
defender of the poor,
we trust your promise faithful,
your mercy ever sure.
Come not in fire or earthquake,
or sign of worldly power,
but let your gentle whisper
announce the hallowed hour!

2 When storms of life around us
condemn our hearts to fear,
then let the voice of stillness
compose the anxious ear,
and from our fears remake us
with faithful hearts and brave,
who, fixing on the Saviour,
may ride the threatening wave.

3 O give us grace to follow
where Christ himself has trod,
with gentle voice proclaiming
the perfect peace of God:
the promise of redemption
which first the fathers heard,
in Jesus Christ made perfect,
the co-eternal Word.

Michael Forster (born 1946)
© 1993 Kevin Mayhew Ltd
7 6 7 6 D Iambic  Tune Thornbury

Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead

 

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