The Word: It's The Only Thing The Church Has

Text: Matthew 8:23-27

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

I can remember, as a kid, getting into arguments with friends about the best superhero.  The conversation went something like this, 

“Spiderman is the best superhero.  He can climb on walls and swing from spider webs.”

Another kid would then scrunch up his face and respond, 

“No way, the Incredible Hulk could smash Spiderman with his great strength.” 

And then another kid would say, 

“You are both wrong; Superman is stronger than the Incredible Hulk.  Besides, unlike Spiderman, Superman can shoot lasers from his eyes and even fly in the sky.”

And around and around the argument would go: a bunch of young boys comparing superheroes' superpowers to determine who had the most power.  

Now, with this in mind, let me ask the same question of Jesus: what is His superpower?  Please know I am not comparing Jesus to the Incredible Hulk or Superman.  I am not trying to be edgy or sacrilegious by comparing Him to Spiderman.  Instead, I mention these superheroes and their superpowers to help you think about Jesus and His miraculous power.    

And so, pause and think about Christ – what was His superpower in the Gospels per se?  

In thinking through the Gospels, there is quite a bit to consider.  In John 2, Jesus turned water into wine.  In Luke 6, Jesus knew people’s thoughts.  In Mark 5, Jesus cast out demons.  Let’s not forget all the blind, deaf, mute, and sick people Jesus healed.  We hear in John 20 that Jesus walked through a wall when the doors were locked.  We hear that Jesus walked on water in Matthew 14, multiplied food in Matthew 15, and brought Lazarus back from the dead in John 11.  All in all, Jesus did approximately 40 different miracles in the Gospels.  

Today, though, I would like to point out something quite profound.  Jesus did about 30 miracles to and for people – miracles that directly helped people.  Miracles like healing the blind, casting out demons, and raising the dead. Now, please stay with me on this point. When Jesus did these miracles to and for people, virtually every miracle was done by His spoken Word. Hear that again: when Jesus did miracles to help people, virtually every miracle was done by His spoken Word.  Whether Jesus rebuked an evil demon to come out of a man, spoke a word of blessing to multiply fish for a hungry crowd, or commanded death to let go of dead Lazarus, His spoken Word had divine authority to create, heal, command, rebuke, and give life.   

So, back to the question: Jesus’ superpower was and is the power to speak. When Jesus spoke, things happened. This is what we see and hear in the Gospel of Matthew.  

In the Gospel of Matthew, we heard the disciples were in a boat.  One moment, things were fine; the next, they were in a severe storm.  9-10 foot waves began crashing into and over the boat.  But Jesus, He was asleep.  Long story short, after Jesus was woken up, He reprimanded the disciples, saying, 

“Why are you such cowards with such faint hearts?”  

And then, with ease, Jesus stood up and reprimanded the wind and the sea, 

“Silence.”  

And just like that, the sea became smooth as glass.  

Now, dear friends, here is what I want you to pay attention to – the disciples' response to this.  They said, 

“What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Indeed, what kind of man can speak to a storm, and the wind and waves listen to His voice?  

Baptized Saints, this was not the first time the wind, waves, and sea had heard that voice.  You see, when we go back to the very beginning of all things, when the wind, waves, and sea were created at the very beginning of time in the book of Genesis, we hear the same voice – we hear the same Spoken Word,  

“And God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so.” 

Baptized Saint, the Spoken Word at the very beginning of creation – the Word that created all things – is the very same Word that spoke to the waves and wind that almost destroyed the disciples.  In other words, the Word spoken in the Book of Genesis is the same Word in that boat.  The only difference is that the Word in the boat had flesh and blood.  The Word had become flesh.  

Now, it makes sense why the wind and waves listened to Jesus – they were listening to their Creator.  

* * *

But this begs the question – what about now?  What about Jesus’ Words for His Church?  

Baptized Saints, as Jesus’ Church, it is important to understand that the church's only power is the Word of God.  As a church, we do not swing a military sword, we do not influence political policy with political dollars, and we certainly cannot change the world with a soup kitchen, as important as they are.  Instead, the only thing that the church has is the Word of God.  Please listen right now to the Word, 

“Your sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake.” 

But as you know, many well-intentioned Christians will push back on this saying, 

“A pastor can’t forgive sins.”  

Guess what, they are right.  Pastor Richard and Pastor Roth cannot forgive sins, for our words – as sinful men – carry no weight.  That is to say, Pastor Roth and Pastor Richard are here today; tomorrow, we may be gone, for we are both like grass.  We are withering, and we will fade.  However, the Word of God stands forever.  

And so, when we Pastors say that your sins are forgiven, we are not saying these words as our own words but rather they are the Word of Jesus to you, His precious sheep.  The forgiveness of the pastor is God’s forgiveness, by Christ, for you, 

“In the stead and by the command of Jesus Christ, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’”  

And so, what this means, when you hear these words of forgiveness spoken by insignificant pastors, it is the same Word spoken from that boat with the disciples and the same Word spoken to the deaf, the demonically possessed, the dead, and the entire world at creation.  To the point; when the words, “Your sins are forgiven,” are spoken to you, then you can know with absolute certainty that you are forgiven by the One who created this world, the One who died for this world, and the One who is coming back for you on the last day.  

In fact, Baptized Saints, do you want to hear something profound?  

On the last day, assuming you are already dead and in your grave, the trumpets will sound, and Jesus Himself will descend from heaven.  That is right, on the last day, the victorious Conqueror of death and hell will come to your dead body in the grave, and you will hear the voice of Jesus, just like Lazarus did, and you will come out of your grave with a glorified body.  Even though your body will be decayed and eaten by worms, even though your bones will fall apart into a pile in your coffin, and even though you will be ground by time into dust and ashes, you will absolutely hear the voice of Jesus on the great last day.  You will hear the all-powerful command of Jesus – the spoken Word – and He will call you out of death unto life so that you may stand before Him without any blemish of death and without any stain of sin.  And Jesus will say to you, 

“Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  

And Baptized Saints, you will inherit the kingdom because Jesus says it is so.  

* * *

Baptized Saints, this is why we gather here in this sanctuary week after week after week.  You do not come to hear the ramblings of a foolish and stupid pastor.  You don’t come to this sanctuary to be entertained by meaningless stories.  You do not come into this sanctuary to hear about empty political talking points.  You do not come into this sanctuary to hear shallow life tips, for all of these are the words of mankind and not the powerful Words of Jesus.  Instead, you come to this holy Sanctuary to hear the holy Word of God, spoken in the Words of Absolution to you, 

“Your sins are forgiven.”  

You come to hear the Word of God from the holy font, 

“In baptism, you have been clothed in the robe of Christ’s righteousness that covers all your sins.”

You come to hear the Word of God from the holy lectern and pulpit.  You come to hear the Word of God from the holy altar, 

“Take and eat… take and drink… for the forgiveness of all your sins.” 

Blessed Baptized Saints, may the living and powerful Word – Jesus Christ – be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path as He gives you forgiveness, strengthens your faith, and equips you in all good works until the last day when He will call you unto Himself.  

In the name of Jesus. Amen.