Mark 4: 35-41
Jesus Storms the Sea

Scripture Reading 

Prayer 

Intro: In June I had the chance to swim in the surf off of Tybee island – near Savannah.  The wind was high that day and the currents were accordingly strong.  I had been warned by our local host not to swim beyond where my feet could touch because the tides on that stretch of beach were notoriously unruly.  Still, the big waves were fun and I like floating out where you can feel the currents.  At one point the currents had pushed me some distance to the north of our group.  So I started to swim back south against the current.  Now, I’m no champion swimmer (Michael Phelps), but earlier that afternoon I swam strong against the current and made reasonable progress.  This time I swam harder than ever and I found I was still moving in the opposite direction – from the corner of my eye I could see that I was being pushed toward a large warning post protruding from the surf.  I tried to touch because I wasn’t that far out – but the bottom was unreachable.  Realizing my peril I gave up my stubborn battle against the current – I turned and started swimming with the current and toward the shore instead.  As I came out on the beach I found a life guard waiting for me with flotation device in hand.  He said I was in a rip tide and he pointed out the churning clouds of sand beneath the surface – he was coming to get me out if I didn’t make it on my own.  I had floated into a situation that was out of my control, the swell of the waves and the pulling undercurrent would have soon overwhelmed me had I not cooperated with the flow of the tide.  The sea is an awesome power – chaotic in movement, tremendous in strength, deadly in depth – the waters are mysterious and frightening – a frontier which man enters only as visitor. 

***Mankind is limited by the sea – dwarfed in proportion we are easily overcome by great waters – engulfed and destroyed by storms.  Even our great modern cargo vessels may be overcome in hurricane force winds.  Man may brave the sea, but he has not tamed it.  Simply floating in the surf should remind us of our smallness, our weakness, our creaturely limitations – the changing of tides offers a chance to glory in how little we control, worldly cares shrink next to the vastness of the sea and rip tides (as I discovered) can restore a healthy fear of the waves.  Despite our best training and most careful preparations – man is still easily overcome by nature.  In fact, men may be so quickly and easily overwhelmed by nature’s storms that it seems to us that our God is also overcome, or – what is worse – he does not care. 

Jesus awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace!  Be still!”  And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  He said to them, “Why are you afraid?  Have you still no faith?” 

Even wind and sea obey Jesus,

And so we must set our faith upon him. 

We must set our faith upon him even in the midst of storms. 

Illus:  In John Wesley’s journal from 1735 written during his storm-filled trip across the Atlantic ocean (from London to Savannah), Wesley marvels at the courage of sailors, shipmen “who are every moment on the brink of eternity”.  At the time Wesley was an ordained Anglican clergyman on mission to the New World, he was preaching and teaching the Bble there on the boat, but Wesley had little depth of faith – and was deeply shaken by storms at sea.  His faith was challenged by a group of German-Moravian Brethren.  (Sunday Jan 25th, 1736) 

At noon our third storm began.  At four it was more violent than before. 

At seven I went to the Germans. I had long before observed the great seriousness of their behavior. Of their humility they had given a continual proof by performing those servile offices for the other passengers, which none of the English would undertake; for which they desired and would   receive no pay, saying, “it was good for their proud hearts,” and “their   loving Saviour had done more for them.”  And every day had given them an occasion of showing a meekness which no injury could move. If they were pushed, struck, or thrown down, they rose again and went away; but no   complaint was found in their mouth. There was now an opportunity of trying whether they were delivered from the spirit of fear, as well as from that of pride, anger and revenge. In the midst of the psalm wherewith their service began, the sea broke over, split the mainsail in pieces, covered the ship, and poured in between the decks, as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English. The Germans calmly sang on. I asked one of them afterward, “Was you not afraid?” He answered, “I thank God, no.” I asked, “But were not your women and children afraid?” He replied, mildly, “No; our women and children are not afraid to die.”

From then I went to their crying, trembling neighbors, and pointed out to them the difference in the hour of trial, between him that feareth God, and him that feareth him not.  At twelve the wind fell.  This was the most glorious day which I have hitherto seen. 

App:  These Moravian Brethren (and their families) feared God more than they feared the storm.  That’s the faith that Jesus is looking for in his disciples – the sort of faith he gives freely to those with ears to hear.  He calls for a faith which perseveres amid earthly perils.  Like the Moravians, we can trust Jesus in the midst of storms.  (But unlike those first disciples in the boat with Jesus, we have greater reason to trust Jesus because we know him as the Risen Lord – we know the rest of the story.) 

But if we are to keep such an abiding faith in a God who controls wind and sea, (then…)

MP2: We must even set our faith on Jesus when it seems he does not care. 

I have tried to make it clear already that Jesus does care for his disciples in this moment on the sea, but that he shows more concern for their lack of faith than for any threat to their lives.  Jesus’ rest upon the cushion implies indifference, but his calming of the storm shows otherwise – it shows his care.  Still, the Lord Jesus appears frustrated that his disciples did not trust him even when it seemed that he did not care.  And this frustration is warranted because Jesus knows it is at the core of faith to trust in the unseen.  The very nature of faith calls us to believe in what we do not see, and that entails trusting God even when it appears to us that he does not care for our lives or for our welfare.  (Jesus intends to leave – resurrection/ ascension/ send Spirit – and at that time they will know him as a God(-man) unseen, even as we know him today. 

Illus/ App:  Nearly 2000 (1836) people were killed three years ago in the immediate destruction and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  At least 120 deaths were attributed to Hurricane Gustav this past week.  Surely some among these were faithful Christians. 

There is no promise here in Mark that God will calm every storm – or that your life will be spared from storms.  Nor is the message of the text that we should claim the power of God to calm storms ourselves.  Nor is this text telling us that we should stop calling upon God in storms.  No.  Christians die in storms.  And if your find yourself in a terrible storm you should call upon God in your peril.  But the message here is that however grave the danger to your person and however perilous appearances may seem -- genuine faith can call upon God in trust on the brink of destruction and not simply clamor to him in terror.  It means believing that God cares for us even when it seems that he does not.  The mature disciple fears God more than he fears storms. 

And…

MP3:  Because even wind and sea obey Jesus,

We must fear him more than we fear storms. 

Jesus speaks to the lake, then turns and speaks to his disciples.  The very same verb form is used for speaking, but the results are different.  He speaks to the lake and there is a great calm; he speaks to the disciples and there is great fear - evfobh,qhsan fo,bon me,gan – literally, they feared a great fear.  The great storm gives way to a great calm which provokes a great fear among the disciples.  The first - deilos - (v. 40) entails a cowardly lack of confidence. Why are you so afraid?  Have you still no faith?”  The second – phobos - (v. 41) entails a trembling and anxious awe.  It’s the sort of fear that marks the beginning of wisdom.  It’s a step forward for the disciples – a new recognition of who Jesus might be.  Their fear is now lodged in the right direction.  Dread of creation has become awe in the Creator – though apparently his identity still remains veiled to them. 

"Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?" 

The word used here for obey is - u`pakou,w -.  At risk of committing a root fallacy I’ll point out that this word for obedience derives from the root – akou,w – “to hear” – TO HEAR – there are several words for obedience but Mark chooses one that’s directly related to hearing – obedience that submits to what is heard.  Throughout chapter 4 Jesus has been calling us to hear.  The parable of the Sower was about preaching and hearing.  The Sower sows the Word.  “He who has ears to hear let him hear.” “Pay attention to what you hear.”  And here upon the sea, the dullness of the disciples’ (ears) stands in stark contrast the submission of the sea.  The disciples still have no faith, but the wind and the waves hear and obey their Lord.  It’s time for the disciples to get in tune. 

Illus:  This past weekend Nicole and I were at a worship conference at New City Fellowship in Chattanooga.  Since I’m no great musician I was mostly tagging along and taking the time to read, but I did join the choir a few times.  And as we shared different songs from different churches I noticed that even the best singers with the best voices and the best ears would stumble over new songs – they would have to stop singing and listen closely again and again in order to attune to the new sound before they could genuinely join the chorus.  I wonder if that’s not something of what’s happening with the disciples here? Unlike the broader creation, unlike the wind and waves, mankind has become accustomed to living out of tune with the voice of our Lord.  Though they see the signs of Jesus power and though they receive special interpretations of Jesus’ teaching, yet they struggle and stumble to get in tune with his music and to recognize his new song – a song of redemption for creatures long dull to the sound of their Creator. 

App:/ Conclusion: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.  As a creature of God don’t presume that wisdom entails personal autonomy and freedom to make you own choices according to your own whims and opinions, according to your own doubts and fears, hopes and dreams.  Instead, wisdom entails the fear of God – reverence for the Holy Son of God who calls you to new life in his name.  The fear of God is not cowardly shrinking, but reverent and trembling awe. It’s the fear of him who calms the storms.  It’s a fear that when properly lodged in your heart displaces the dread of other, lesser things.  Fear of God means freedom to submit to his Word, and stop living according to your own devices.  You need not shake heaven awake; God knows your need and he invites you into the freedom of fearing and trusting him. 

This is a critical moment for the disciples.  In the boat with Jesus they begin to recognize they may be, after all, in the boat with God.

The flash of fear which overcomes them at the calming of the sea should mark a transition point.  They reside with a man whom they are at peril to stand against.  Jesus rules over wind and sea.  Rather than rail against him, it’s time to turn around and start swimming with the current.