In our Lenten series, we are focusing on “The Hand of the Lord.” Specifically, we are focusing on the hand of our Lord Jesus—God in the flesh, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit is the Creator. In this evening’s Gospel reading, Jesus’ hand reaches down to save Peter.

THE HAND OF THE LORD SAVES

Up to this point in Matthew’s Gospel account, Jesus’ hand has been at work. Immediately before tonight’s Gospel, Jesus took five loaves and two fish into His hands—feeding five thousand men, besides women and children. Jesus was very much in control of that situation, and He has a handle on this situation with Peter—even before Peter needs Jesus to grab him out of the water. After feeding the 5,000, Jesus immediately makes the disciples get into the boat. They struggle against the wind and the waves as they sail across the lake. Jesus comes to His disciples, walking on the water’s waves. 

All of this so far points us to exactly who Jesus is. Jesus is God. Jesus is the Creator in the flesh. The book of Job teaches that God “alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea.” Jesus is the great I AM—I AM being God’s name revealed in the Old Testament. Jesus is the Word through whom “all things were made.” Jesus is God walking on the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus’ hand stretches out, it is truly the hand of the Lord. So, what Jesus does with those hands is also the work of God.

Jesus’ hand is in control. But sometimes, our limited understanding has difficulty grasping when God seems distant, mysterious, and even terrifying. While the disciples are out in the boat, they have one of those moments. They are frightened during that late night/early morning as they row across the lake. But our text doesn’t say the wind and waves scare them. They had, no doubt, handled their fair share of wind and waves out on the Sea of Galilee. Then, what terrifies them? The figure of a man walking on the water! They cry out, “It’s a ghost!” Such a sight strikes fear into the hearts of these men—as it would anyone. 

But the Lord addresses each of their concerns. The sight of the figure walking across the water troubles them, so Jesus says, “Take heart.” In response to their thoughts that they see a ghost, Jesus says, “It is I.” Reacting to their fear, Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.” The Lord immediately addresses all of their concerns in that moment! They have everything they need in His words. Everything is in His hands.

But Peter, instead of clinging to Jesus’ words alone, takes matters into his own hands. He wants Jesus to prove it to him on his terms. Peter says, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” The Lord—perhaps surprisingly—does as Peter requests. So, Peter leaves the boat and starts walking on the water toward Jesus! But it’s not long until Peter takes his eyes off Jesus—takes his focus off Jesus—and he begins to sink into the Sea of Galilee.

Now, before we get too hard on Peter, we should see that Peter’s actions also reflect our own misguided attempts to take things into our own hands. So many times it happens in a moment of uncertainty, and we may wonder why the Lord is allowing this thing or that thing to be happening to us. How often have we been like Peter—that is, not content to trust the Lord’s words of promise? Rather, we tend to attempt to seize—with our hands—something that’s out of our control, when we really ought to have started by folding those hands in prayer. How often have we ignored patience in the Lord in favor of hasty action of our own doing? How often have we attempted to be so bold as to live as though Jesus’ words of promise aren’t enough for us? How often do we end up crying out—just like Peter—when everything slips through our fingers? Our sinful condition is illustrated here so well. Our hands alone can’t keep us from sinking to the depths of Sheol and eternal judgment. All we can say with Peter is this: “Lord, save me.”

Immediately the hand of the Lord reaches down and saves Peter. Jesus acts immediately at just the right time. At the beginning of tonight’s Gospel, Jesus immediately makes the disciples get in the boat. He immediately calms their fears. Now, our Lord immediately reaches out His hand in compassion and mercy at the right time. While Peter attempts to take things into his own hands, the Lord’s hand reaches out and grabs hold of him. Everything is in the Lord’s hands. Even Peter. Even you.

Jesus answers your cries of “Lord, save me.” He has taken care of your sinful condition. He has reached down into the depths. Your Lord has taken upon Himself your own human flesh. He humbled Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross, for you. This is the “Hand of the Lord” at work to save you today—as only God in the flesh can do. Only the Word—through whom all things were created—can pull us from the depths of judgment and despair.

This is true even in our moments of uncertainty. The Lord hasn’t promised that every challenge, hardship, or trial will go away immediately. Nor has He promised that working through it will be easy or that there will be easy fixes to everything that ails us. Nor will we always understand God’s work in our lives. But the Lord’s merciful hand is always right here with you. His presence and forgiveness in His Word are immediately here. His Word and Sacraments are true, no matter how great or little our faith is. The Means of Grace get their power not from our faith but from Jesus Himself who instituted them and works through them.

Jesus reaches down with His Word and His Sacraments to save you. You can always trust His promises, which are true. Your old self has been drowned in Holy Baptism so that the new self arises daily in repentance. He reaches down to proclaim to you in Confession and Absolution that your sins are indeed forgiven. He reaches down to feed you with His very body and blood—given and shed for you! You have everything that you need! You have everything that you need in the gracious hand of the Lord who created you, saves you, and sanctifies you. Amen.