Why Are You Afraid?

Mark 4:35–41 NRSV

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 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?” 39 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. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 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?”

Not owning the mission

The disciples were physically present with Jesus. Many an armchair disciple over the years has indicated that they would have done much better if they could have seen and talked to Jesus directly.

This is the wrong way to look at history. First of all, you can’t learn anything if you think you are superior to those you are reading about. Secondly, think about how complicated your present day in person relationships can be. The way to look at it is that it’s different, not easier. These are people we know about 2,000 years later. So they weren’t inferior people. They got the job done. They passed on the faith in their time. Otherwise you and me would not know the story.

But they didn’t get it right all the time. Part of what makes them exceptional is they wanted the true story told, warts and all. And so on this day we can learn from a harrowing experience they had. Jesus gave them a mission. He said, “ Let’s go to the other side.” When Jesus nudges or calls us we should spring into action.

Mark 4:35–36 NRSV

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him.

The line that stands out to me is: they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Just as I am without one plea, but that thy boat has room for me. And a nice cushion for a nap.

It seems like they feel they are nautical Uber-drivers taking their latest fare across the lake. Peter and Thunder Sons Boat Taxi service. Ok, Jesus come along with us in our boat.

They are taking up a task, a duty. They are not owning a mission. Are you seeing the difference? This is a subtle difference but it makes a big difference as the story goes on. If they had realized that when Jesus says, let’s go to the other side he means I’m inviting you on an adventure. Anything could happen. Unexpected things will happen. Resistance is likely. But I’m inviting you to be all in. I’m inviting you to trust me. I need you to understand that I’m not asking you to be clever or skilled. I’m inviting you to go to the other side with me. So do you sort of begrudgingly take Jesus along for the ride, too?

Asleep on the Cushion

How annoying that Jesus just takes a nap in the most comfortable place on the boat. Jesus, look, we said you could come with us, but hey wow, that’s a little forward isn’t it?

Jesus and the disciples are already having 2 very different experiences here. The fact that Jesus is physically present with them and doing things they don’t expect is not making anything easier on this night.

You can almost feel the tension rising a little inside this little boat. So we agreed to take you with us Jesus. We would even make you the guest of honor. Now you’re taking up a lot of room and you’re taking a nap. I’m not sure this is what we signed up for.

It’s almost as if the sea was mirroring what was happening in the minds and hearts of those disciples that day. Storms were brewing inside and out.

Mark 4:37 NRSV

37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.

This limits of this little boat were being tested. The limits of these little men against the sea were being tested. And the limits of everyone’s patience were being tested by the sounds of Jesus snoring. On the cushion, mind you!

Teacher do you not care?

Mark 4:38 NRSV

38 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?”

Oh ouch they said it out loud. Now it went from unresolved thoughts bouncing around in their wave-tossed minds to a direct challenge to Jesus and his intentions.

This is why it’s good to sometimes write down your prayers. This is why it’s good to pray out loud when you can. This is why it’s good to talk to others when you need to be reminded or encouraged. Because your thoughts can run away on you. They can very quickly take you to unnecessary places. If you see it written on the page you can go, wait a minute that’s probably going too far. That’s not remembering things I know to be true. When the storm is raging always go back to the things you know to be true. God is real. God is present. God is able to help.

They were wrong. This wasn’t just a task or duty. Jesus wasn’t just riding along with them. Jesus had given them a mission. Let’s go to the other side. He was taking them along with him. Amen? See the difference? He didn’t even need to be awake to lead this mission. He was confident and getting the rest he needed. He was still the one in charge. He was still the one who would not lead them astray. He might lead them into challenging waters, but he would not leave them there alone to perish. Perish is even a stronger word than to die. It suggests being wiped out and destroyed, annihilated by dark forces. Do you not care that we are perishing in this worst storm that ever happened that’s keeping anything good from happening Jesus? Yeah you could say they were freaking out.

But here’s the one thing they did get right. They went to Jesus with their questions and concerns. They went to scold him, but they did at least say it in the form of a question. Even on Jeopardy they would be doing something right here.

Is God in charge of making everything in your life smooth and comfortable? That’s just not the nature of this universe. It’s always a bumpy ride whether it’s the laws of physics, human nature or the law of sin and death.

If Jesus is a passenger in your boat you might be looking at everything wrong. And it might be costing you your peace of mind. But whatever you do, don’t lose your nerve. Don’t decide Jesus doesn’t exist. Don’t decide that he doesn’t care. Just realize you are on a mission, Jesus is the captain of this mission, and if he is calling the shots you’re going to make it through one way or another.

Rebuking the Wind

What Jesus does next stood outside of every experience they had in their previous life. This was one of those moments where you see the world one way before and another way forever after.

Mark 4:39 NRSV

39 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.

Incredible. Jesus talking to nature: rebuking the wind, telling the sea to calm down. Just like I’ve seen my daughter bring calm to her anxious and too excited puppy. Just a word and everything changes. It shows a relationship. Jesus was there at creation, was in fact the agent of creation according to Scripture. So it shouldn’t surprise us that he can bring it under control. But it’s not his usual way.

What he says next makes me wonder if this was even his plan for this little mission. His compassion overtakes other goals and plans maybe. We can’t say for sure. But we know they didn’t have to be so afraid.

Why are you afraid?

In fact Jesus asks this very question: why?

Mark 4:40–41 NRSV

40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 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?”

Yeah so they still had some things to learn about who Jesus is and what he can do. But one thing is for sure, Jesus isn’t your magician waiting on standby to make every problem go away. We all understand that, right? Sometimes he calms the storm. Sometimes we hold tight and let him lead us through the storm.

But always keep your trust in Jesus. Who is this? He’s the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, your Lord and your God as Thomas declared right on the heels of his greatest moment of doubt.

Jesus is always leading us forward. Let’s go to the other side. He’s rarely exactly where we think he should be doing exactly what we think he should be doing, but that’s a good thing. Remember, Jesus isn’t riding along with us on a dutiful arduous task. Jesus has invited us to go to the other side. He’s called us to adventure with him through the dangers, toils and snares of this life. And whether he’s asleep on the cushion, hanging bleeding on the cross for our sins, appearing after his glorious resurrection, ascending into heaven, ruling, reigning and answering prayers at the right hand of the father, or coming in the clouds to set up his kingdom forever, Jesus is right where he should be, doing exactly what he needs to be doing. And we know

Romans 8:28 NRSV

28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Jesus has called us to follow him. Let us believe in him. Let us trust in him always. Let us allow him to lead us to the other side. Amen? Let’s pray...