More great teaching and Biblical application from Pastor Douthwaite, preaching on Mark 4:35-41, about the storm on the Sea of Galilee, with Jesus being, literally and figuratively, โin the same boatโ with the disciples.
ย From Rev. James Douthwaite, St. Athanasius Lutheran Church: Pentecost 4 Sermon:
When youโre on a boat out in the middle of the sea, thereโs no place to go if something goes wrong. Think of all the cruise ship horror stories that have been in the news the past couple of years. When thereโs a fire on board, thereโs no place to go to get away from it. If the engines die or thereโs a power failure, you canโt just call the repairman. When sickness starts to spread and overtake the ship, thereโs no place to avoid it. All around you is just water, maybe for as far as the eye can see, dividing you from land, separating you from others, and threatening to swallow you up.
On land, itโs different. Thereโs usually someplace you can go if something goes wrong. If a tornado threatens, the folks in tornado alley have shelters they can take refuge in and be protected. If a hurricane nears the coast, or flooding threatens, you can evacuate inland and get away from the worst of it. Or if thereโs fire or power problems, there are people you can call for help and who are ready to come quickly. But when youโre out on the water, thereโs no place to go. When youโre out on the water and all you can see is water on all four sides, then what?
Well then you are exactly where Jesus wants you. That when you have no place to go, you go to Him.
And so we heard in the Holy Gospel today of the disciples in a boat, out on the Sea of Galilee. Some of them, at least, were experienced fishermen; experienced on being out on the water and how to handle it. But the storm that arose that day was a doozy! Even more than they could handle. Weโre not told everything that happened and the exact sequence of things, but undoubtedly they tried their best to handle the situation, doing what they had always done when storms arose, and what they knew needed to be done. But still they found themselves in danger, against a storm โ or maybe it was a superstorm, like what devastated New Jersey and New York a couple years ago. And it was too much for them. There was nothing they could do and they had no place to go.
So finally they go to Jesus. Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? they ask. Itโs a plea for help disguised under an accusation. And so itโs a plea for help without having to humble themselves or admit their weakness.โCause we donโt like to humble ourselves or admit we need help or cannot do something. Thatโs why if you ask a child to help you move something, they will always try to carry the biggest thing. Or why men (usually men) in pre-GPS days would rather drive around lost for half an hour before stopping and asking directions. Itโs a pride thing; a self-sufficieny thing; an โI can do itโ thing. Which in worldly matters, maybe yes, maybe no. But in spiritual matters, a definite no. And in spiritual matters, a deadly thing.
And so a spiritual stubbornness in us that needs to be killed. So that we have no place to go but to Jesus. . . .
For the very reason Jesus was in the boat with them was that He cared that we were perishing. His very presence was the answer to their question, Donโt you care? But I donโt mean the fact that He was in the boat instead of somewhere on shore โ I mean the fact that the very Son of God had become flesh and was dwelling with us, living with us, in our sin and weakness and stubbornness and sinfulness; in our peril and danger. His presence in our world proved that He cared, and that He would do everything necessary to save us who are perishing . . . even be swallowed up for us, by death.ยDonโt you care that we are perishing? What a question! Jesus does nothing but care. His teaching, His miracles, His compassion, and His rebuking, His discipline, and the troubles and crosses He sends โ all are because He cares. To kill our pride so that we repent. To humble us so He may lift us up. To expose how foolish our pride and our ideas of self-sufficiency so that we rely on Him. That when we have no place to go (and when it is God who maybe puts us there), we know we always have someplace to go โ to Him. For He is the One who is able to help, who wants to help, who will help, and has come to help. For who is this? the disciples asked. The very Son of God, in human flesh, to save you.ยFor itโs easy to go cruising through this life (yes, pun intended!) when the waters are calm and the livinโ is easy. Itโs when trouble hits that faith is revealed . . . and who your faith is in. And thatโs true for you as an individual Christian, or when weโre all together in the boat, as the Church. So when the troubles come, when the storms hit, and they show your weakness or that youโve been going along really with faith in yourself, thanks be to God! That we turn to Him now and rely on Him now.ยยOr as St. Paul put it: Folks, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. And so we humble ourselves now and repent of our sin now, and receive His forgiveness and life now. We remember our baptism now, and know that those waters arenโt meant to make us good swimmers, but to kill the old sinner in us and give us a new life. We hear the Word of God proclaimed now, calling us to faith in Him and not in ourselves. And we feed now on the food our Lord gives us, His answer for all time to the question: Donโt you care that we are perishing? He replies: This is My Body, This is My Blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins โ thatโs how much I care. Give and shed for your wrong faith, for your pride, for your vain self-sufficiency. This is My Body, This is My Blood, given and shed for you because I do care. So, now, depart in peace.ยPeace. The same Word spoken to the wind and the sea, now spoken to you and your heart. Whatever troubles you, whatever is frightening you, whatever is threatening you, whatever is haunting you, whatever worries you, your past, your present, or your future . . . peace. You have the One who is greater than all. Or perhaps better to say, He has you. He has you in His hands, in His eye, in His heart.ยยIs sin the problem? Jesus died for your sin on the cross. It has been paid for, atoned for. You are forgiven. Peace.ยIs death the problem? Jesus died your death and then broke itโs power in His resurrection. It cannot hold you anymore. When you die your life will continue, new, in Jesus. You will rise with Him. Peace.ยOr is life the problem? โCause no matter how hard you try, you just canโt do it? You keep falling into the same traps and temptations? You keep messing up and failing and kicking yourself? Peace.ยยItโs not up to you. Jesus has done it. All that is necessary for you and your salvation. And Heโs in the boat with you. Though ascended into heaven, He has not left, but is here, as He promised. And He sent His Spirit, as He promised. And He is coming again, as He promised. Because He does care. Always. And Heโs not stopping. Ever.ยSometimes it takes a storm to teach us that again, and to expose us again. If so, how fortunate we are to have a God who sends us not just nice weather, but those storms that we need. And who even more, is with us Himself in them. To see us through. To give us peace. To save. That we never have no place to go, but at all times and in all places go to Him who came to us and is working all things for your good.ย