Proper 7 (June 23, 2024)

Mark 4:35–41 NIV84

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

GOAL: To grow in confidence in Jesus so that the traumas of life will not shake us but instead cause us to know that the peace of God guards and sustains us in this earthly life.

A GREAT CALM

There are times when life can be overwhelming and even terrifying. Well over twenty years ago Tanya and I had two dogs, Fritz and Oscar. Fritz was a rescue dog and was an adult when he came to us. Oscar was a puppy when he came into our home; we got him from a breeder. And yes, they both were Cocker Spaniels.

They were incredibly sweet dogs. But it turns out that the puppy Oscar—now an adult—had a problem. He had a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality. Most of the time he was sweet and lovable, that is until he turned into a little demon. He would growl and bear his teeth at you; if you touched him 100% guaranteed he would attack and bite. As it turned out, something wasn’t right in his head and he was having a seizure during those episodes.

The Veterinarian prescribed some medication to treat his seizures, which helped a lot, but not 100% of the time. The Vet recommended a muzzle and perhaps putting him to sleep. He really was not a safe dog. We chose to do neither, instead we love him even more despite his medical problem.

I learned to gently control him when when a seizure and convulsions would come on him, which was about once a month. I would get down on the floor and come up behind him, then in one movement would gently placed my right hand on his rib cage, with my left pressed against his left jaw to keep him from turning to bite me. Then I’d gently press him to the floor so he was laying on his side, and with my hand still on his jaw, I would then lay my chest and stomach down on top of him, until the seizure and convulsions passed. This was our life for probably three years until whatever was going on in his head ended his life. He died in our arms around midnight one evening.

All this was quite terrifying. Recall a time when you were truly scared. I think of our young military men and women in war zones, and the terror that must come over them when a firefight breaks out of nowhere, and they know that there is a likelihood of being shot, with the distinct possibility of dying.

Put yourself in the boat with the disciples, many of whom were seasoned fishermen with a great deal of sea experience. They were afraid, and justifiably so, for the growling wind was causing the barking waves to crash into the boat and they actually thought they were going to die.

But there was another matter. Deeper than the sea in which they feared drowning was the one they should have trusted. Jesus. It turns out He spoke two powerful words to the storm. “Quiet! Be muzzled!” Jesus wills the storm’s end to be immediate and complete. The great calm that follows demonstrates creation’s obedience to its Creator.

We all confess that “Jesus is my Lord.” Yet there are times when our lives betray that confession of faith. This is due to our flesh always warring against our spirit, as well as to the fact that Jesus’ lordship is largely veiled. That veil is uncovered in today’s Gospel. With the world of barking waves and growling winds against the disciples, and us, Jesus discloses His lordship. As a result, we, like the disciples, exclaim who then is this?

He is the Lord of Nature

He created nature.

His Word and Spirit were the agent (John 1:1-3; Gen.1; Prov. 8:22-31).

He is the firstborn and head of creation (Col. 1:15-20).

He redeemed nature.

He tasted death for everyone (Ps. 8:4-5; cf. Heb.2:6-8).

His blood was sprinkled on earth for an atonement to free nature from captivity to sin and mortality (Rom. 8:19-23).

He is the provider for all.

He gives sunshine and rain in due season to all (Matt. 5:45).

Everything depends on Him for sustenance (Matt.6:25-33).

He intervenes to muzzle storms and still the seas (Mark 4:39).

He is the Lord of Faith

The disciples’ speaking revealed the depth of their faith in Jesus.

Their desperate scramble to keep the boat afloat provides a stark contrast with Jesus sleeping in the back. Although they were in no state of mind to perceive it at the time, Jesus’ utter calm while he continued sleeping was a sign of God’s care and control.

Yet, these seasoned fishermen spoke a rebuke or a frustration to Jesus because he didn’t intervene as they thought he should.

The reason they spoke was purely selfish: “Don’t you care” about us (Mark 4:38)?

And how foolish to turn on the one who could help them.

Our speaking may also turn to accusation when we’re terrified.

When we’re afraid, we often turn defensive, accusing.

When we fear illness and death, we often turn our frustrations on those who try to help—family, friends, medical people.

When we fear a relationship is in danger, we turn to distrust rather than devotion, blame rather than bond.

Do we not also get impatient with God when it seems he doesn’t care?

Sometimes in a moment of immediate danger, the first word out of our mouth might be taking his name in vain.

But even in quiet brooding, God may be the victim.

Lack of faith and trust is at the center of it all.

With Jesus present, the disciples—and we—really have nothing to fear.

Jesus was at complete peace in the boat— Although the disciples they were in no state of mind to perceive it at the time, Jesus’ utter calm while he continued sleeping was a sign of God’s care and control.

Jesus’ peace demonstrates that He has our every crisis under control.

But, of course, sin rules and we doubt.

Then Jesus speaks: “Quiet! Be Muzzled!” (Mark 4:39).

He utters the perfect words to still the growling wind and barking waves, creating a peace and a calm.

His speaking “peace or Quiet” certainly calmed the disciples’ terror in the storm.

Most important for us, his speaking calms our fears when we face danger.

He speaks “peace” because his death on the cross has removed the sin that not only disrupted the harmony of creation but also destroyed our relationship with God. Now that that sin has been removed, we are reconciled to God, back at peace with him, so that we now can be assured of his constant care.

His speaking “peace,” therefore, says he will never leave us or forsake us when we face danger, illness, death, aloneness.

So, Jesus is Lord of Nature and He is the Lord of Faith. And,

He is My Lord

He unveils His power daily, especially amid troubles. (The early Christians remembered this account in their persecutions.)

He releases His grace in daily forgiveness:

1 John 1:7 NET

7 But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

He disciplines me, often with affliction, to keep me as His own:

Hebrews 12:5–11 NET

5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you. 6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.” 7 Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. 9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. 11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.

I confess His Lordship through the Holy Spirit:

1 Corinthians 12:3 NET

3 So I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

What do we finally say? Christ Jesus is in control, over nature and over our eternal welfare. Therefore, I have nothing to fear. He has spoken the word that declared us whole, based on what he did on the cross. With God for us, how can anything or anyone prevail against us? They can’t! All praise be to God that we now have this peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.