February 2, 2025 - Epiphany 4 Sermon

Color: Green

Old Testament: Jonah 1:1–17
Psalm: Psalm 96; antiphon: v. 2
Epistle: Romans 13:8–10
Epistle: Romans 8:18–23
Gospel: Matthew 8:23–27
Introit: Psalm 107:1, 8, 24–25; antiphon: vv. 28–29
Gradual: Psalm 102:15–16
Verse: Psalm 97:1

Jesus Is Lord of All Creation
 
In Jonah we see ourselves. For Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord (Jonah 1:1–17) even as we sinners turn our backs on God and go our own way. This brings the storm of God’s judgment. But in Jonah we also see Christ. For even as he was in the great fish for three days and three nights, so also Christ Jesus was buried in the depths of death for us and raised on the third day. The Lord of creation, who rules over the wind and the wave (Matt. 8:23–27), saved us from the fury of divine wrath by taking the judgment in His own body. His love is the fulfillment of the Law (Rom. 13:8–10). Though our faith be weak in the face of peril, yet we are kept in safety on the ship of the Church; for the Son of God is with us. Though the whole creation groans with us under the curse, yet by Jesus’ speaking, there is a great calm. For we know that our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18–23).

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship