Proper 7 - Living Out in Service Through the Storm

Welcome Statement

Good Morning Everyone, this week we are Journeying with Christ and his apostles out to sea, as they weather a storm, and we are also going to witness from Paul some thoughts on what it means to struggle through witness, and how it is not a glamorous life.

Mark 4:35-41 NRSV

Mark 4:35–41 NRSV

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Surrounding Context

To set some context for us as a reader, This is Chapter 4 in Mark’s Gospel, Right After his Parables of the Sower, Growing Seed, and the Mustard Seed, and his analogy to a Lamp on a Stand. Right after this storm, the first thing Mark writes about is Jesus restoring a Demon-Posessed Man, and Jesus raising a Dead Girl, as well as healing a sick woman.

We should also remember he has already healed, in Chapter 2 he heals a paralyzed man by forgiving his sins, which makes him suggest a claim to the Divine name, suggesting he himself is God.

In Chapter 3 we witness him also heal someone on the Sabbath.

This context is going to be important as we break down what Jesus is saying here.

Have you Still no Faith?

This phrase, “have you still no faith” is jarring to say the least. Remember I mentioned that at this point of Mark’s Gospel there has already been miracles. Jesus clearly has already displayed his sovereignty over disease and the human condition. Why wouldn’t he be able to calm the storm? Again, as I’ve mentioned in the past, hindsight is 20/20, we have creeds, and philosophies all well thought out now establishing our understanding of God’s sovereignty, these apostles and their understanding of Christ was in its infancy, so it is very easy to give them a hard time, we must insert ourselves into this picture, this story can become a great allegory to our own lives when we weather storms and also cry out “God don’t you care?”. Sometimes Christ will come and tell the storm to be still, but other times we will find ourselves like Job.

Sometimes we feel like we shouldn’t be weathering a storm if we are Christian, or that things should feel easier or lighter, as we read in verses like: Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 11:28–30 NRSV

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

There is some struggle here, because, what does it really mean, that it’s a light burden? Sometimes this burden to be Christian in a modern world really sure doesn’t feel light, we feel as if we are conflicted everywhere we go, how we should take the wisdom of Christ and apply it in our everyday actions, and we never once feel like Christ is telling the storm to be still.

One thing I can attest to, is the burden of the world, is much heavier, in a relative sense, without Christ. Taking on the burden of being disciplined and Sanctified by Christ can hurt, but its benefits are infinite, and give one rest in the soul, that one can’t find anywhere else. Paul makes it clearer, that our struggles can be evidence of our faith, and are not evidencec that God has abandoned us. He makes this plainly clear in 2nd letter to the Church of Corinth.

NT Reading - 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

2 Corinthians 6:1–13 NRSV

As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.

Don’t let your Struggle become an Idol

Some of us in desiring meaning from our struggle though, can start to worship the struggle itself too much, and allow it to justify any of our actions, and instead of working smart, we are willing to work hard, because that’s evidence of our love for God. Piety becomes a vice not a virtue.

Ecclesiastes has some harsh words about how meaningless toil can be, but I will leave us with this interesting and perplexing verse:

Ecclesiastes 2:24–25 ESV

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?

It is clear here that the author of Ecclessiastes is telling us to work smart in some sense. This doesn’t mean all good work will bear fruit for our enjoyment, but the point is that all of our work should be on behalf of the hand of God in some sense, otherwise it is meaningless toil. That is a brutal statement. Paul was very concerned about this. This is why I emphasize that we in some sense surrender our blessings at the altar, that we have that vulnerability to trust God he was the one who blessed us, and can hold our blessings, and our weaknesses. We should surrender not just our grief, but our glad tidings as well, to him.

Old Testament Point #2

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Old Testament Point #3

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New Testament Point #1

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New Testament Point #2

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New Testament Point #3

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Closing Statement

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Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, adfs asdfa

Amen.

Doxology / Benediction / Closing

May you Have a Blessed Sunday, and rest of your Week! Amen!