Mark 4:35-41
This text is used for the Lectionary Year B on June 21, 2015.
Water. Chaos. Danger. Terror. Fear. Rescue. Safety. Resolution. This could be a scene out of a popular movie. The drama is palpable and the language is that of an author who was present for these events. It’s urgent and real and personal.
The details of the story leave all kinds of interesting questions to ask. Why were they leaving the crowd? Jesus says, “let’s go,” and then they “took him” “just as he was.” What’s the significance of “how he was?” Why were they leaving at night? What’s the role of the boat, which Jesus had already used as a pulpit? Why were they going to the other side of the sea? Why leave after night had fallen? And what of the “other boats who were along with them?” The story leaves open lots of questions, some of which are explored by the commentators, some not.
What is not in question is that they did, indeed, leave after dark to cross over the Sea of Galilee. Some of these disciples were experienced fishermen who would have well known that this vast lake could be roiled by huge and dangerous storms, storms that could arise quickly and without warning. There were fisherman in their midst. More than one. They had lived their lives on that lake, making their living there. Every day was spent on that lake or nearby. They knew the weather patterns like the back of their hands. Why would they ignore their experience and risk such a crossing and risk it at night? One could assume that they simply were following their master’s instructions. Jesus said, “Let’s go” and they said, “Okay.” Something about the commands of their master gave them faith that they would arrive safely on the other side. It’s easy to criticize their lack of faith in the storm, but we shouldn’t overlook the faith it took to even leave the shore at night. They knew full well the risk they were taking by being obedient to Jesus’ request. They must leave the safety of the shore and the adulation of the crowd for the risk of the ocean in the dark.
So we have this small flotilla of boats heading across the Sea of Galilee in the dark and a fierce storm comes upon them. No doubt they did their best to sail their boats in the safest way possible and to keep the water bailed out. But they were losing the battle, not just the battle with the wind and the sea, but also the battle of faith.
They cry out to Jesus for help. They also cry out in exasperation and frustration, almost an accusation: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” The story has a Jonah-esque quality about it. A journey over the sea meant embracing the danger and chaos of the ocean, a common dread of ancient peoples. Large bodies of water harkened back to primordial chaos, both physical and metaphysical. We also find the captain in the Jonah story waking Jonah with an accusation. But there the similarities end. Jonah is avoiding a mission to the Gentiles (see below), but Jesus is leading one.
In Mark, we see several crossings of the Sea of Galilee. The western shore was Jewish and the eastern shore was Gentile. It’s an important point to know where the stories take place to better understand their context and Jesus’ audience in each. It’s also instructive to see that Jesus had a mission to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews. In this instance they are heading over to the western shore, to the Decapolis, to engage Gentiles with the gospel. In this case, the mission was marked by great risk and terrifying danger.
Another symbol adopted by the church through its history is the symbol of the church as the boat. The church heads out on a risky and shared journey, carrying the gospel to a world in great need. Yet the church is not fully equipped to carry the message on its own. It must continually call out to Jesus for guidance and assistance.
So the disciples finally call out to Jesus for help. They wake him and he responds with two short imperatives: “Peace! Be still!” Even as God spoke creation into existence, Jesus speaks it into submission. His voice stills the wind and calms the waves. His breath is more powerful than the breath of nature. His authority and identity as the author of creation is established. He is the “Creation-whisperer.” His voice is all that is needed to calm the scene.
And his voice is all that is needed to calm the hearts and spirits of the disciples. He’s speaking to nature but also speaking to the disciples. He’s calling them to peace and stillness at least as much as he’s calling the wind and waves into submission. The voice and presence of Jesus stills our own anxiety as we learn to hear and see him. Even those on mission for Jesus will face hardships. There’s no guarantee of an easier life because we’ve claimed Christ. But Jesus’ presence is ever-present with us on our voyage to those we must serve, those who are outside our cultural comfort zones.
So then, is the story about the disciples? Or is it about Jesus? The answer comes at the end and it’s found in the disciples’ question. “Who then is this, that the wind and the seas obey him?” Jesus has already answered the question and, in effect, the disciples answer their own question. Jesus is the Christ, the very Son of God, the maker of heaven and earth, the one who spoke Creation into being and speaks it into stillness. But the disciples are also asking another question silently to themselves. “Who am I?” No exploration of the identity of Jesus is complete until we’ve explored our own identity as well. To know who Jesus is also to know better who we are as well.
“Who then is this, that the wind and the seas obey him?” The answer is deeper than we are, but the sermon should calm the seas and wind of our own confusion and help us continue the journey toward growing in knowing Jesus and thereby also better knowing ourselves.
Dr. Charles L. Fuller
Minister for Congregational Life
Second Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas
cfuller@2bclr.com
Tags: nature, miracles, storms, faith, identity, crossing over