St. Mark 4:35-41
Divine Service
Pentecost 3 (Proper 7)  

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

How often has someone come up to you and made the statement: “Could you do me just a little favor?”  Sometimes it turns out to be exactly that – just something little.  But – at least from my experience – all too often it winds up being much more trouble than I had originally anticipated…whether it is in time, money or just in aggravation because EVERYTHING just went wrong!  If you know Murphy’s Law – “if anything can go wrong it will” – then you will understand when I say that whoever this Murphy was – I am convinced that he was an optimist!

Our Gospel lesson today picks up where last weeks ended.  Jesus has spent the day teaching the crowd by using parables.  Evening has come, and he said to the disciples: “Let us go across to the other side.”  This seems like such a simple request – just hop in the boat and scoot over to the other side of the lake.  Not a large trip by today’s standards – the Sea of Galilee is only about 8 miles wide.

There are several important points to note about this request.  First, this is going to be a night journey.  There are no lights – none on the boat, and probably very few on either shore.  Starlight, possibly moonlight, would be all the light that would be available.  So, this trip will have to be done by dead reckoning – pick a star and keep aiming at it, and you will get to the other side safely. 

Note that the disciples “took [Jesus] with them in the boat, just as he was.”  This implies that they changed for this trip – they put on their working clothes – they were again dressed as fishermen.  Jesus remained dressed as he was – not in fisherman working clothes, but in the clothes of a teacher.  Jesus probably remained in His long robes, while the others changed into short tunics – allowing more freedom of their legs to handle the lines of the boat.

Secondly, several of the disciples are experienced sailors.  Peter, James and John were fisherman prior to Jesus calling them to be “fishers of men.”  A fair amount of fishing – laying and pulling nets – is done at night, so these men would not be uncomfortable on the Sea of Galilee at night.  They knew the signs of trouble and also knew how to avoid most of it.

Finally, the Sea of Galilee is known for its violent storms.  The terrain around the lake, and the temperature change between the land and Sea of Galilee are a breeding ground for violent storms.  The Greek word used in this lesson is the word typically used to indicate a windstorm as opposed to a rainstorm.  With a violent windstorm, the disciples who were piloting the boat may not have had any warning that trouble was brewing before they set out to cross the lake. There may not have been a cloud in the sky!  For such a small body of water, the Sea of Galilee had, and still has, a very nasty reputation!

In verse 37 we see that one of those furious squalls came up.  All were caught unaware.  The disciples were very concerned and very frightened – to the point that they feared for their lives.  If they were at the mid-point of their journey, they could have been as much as four miles from shore!  This would not have been a distance that they could have swum back to shore in order to save their lives.

The boat was nearly swamped.  And these were not small boats.  We often see artists depictions of the fishing boats used at this time on the Sea of Galilee as small, one- or two-man fishing boats.  Archeological studies of ancient ships on the Sea of Galilee suggest that these boats may have had a crew of five (four rowers and a helmsman); the ancient Jewish historian Josephus referred to such ships holding 15 people.  Jesus and all of the disciples were probably on the same ship, and had room to spare!

While the storm raged, Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat.  He was confident of his Father’s divine care.   The disciples woke Jesus asking: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” The disciples were scared.  Jesus’ disciples felt swamped by the storm.  They didn’t know what to do! 

God’s law could easily swamp us, just as the sea could have swamped that boat.  Sin can easily have the very same effect on each and every one of us.  When we honestly look at our thoughts, words and deeds we see countless sins against our Lord.  They continue to add up day after day after day, every day.  There is no escaping sin.  The world may try to explain it away.  The world may even deny sin.  Sometimes the world even changes sin into a sickness or disease.  Sin is still sin.  God’s Law reminds us of that fact: “for every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me.  The soul who sins is the one who will die” (EZEKIEL 18:4).  People cannot and do not escape death because sin is alive and well in this world.

God’s Law shows us our sin.  It is not pleasant to look at.  Sin is simply a slap in the face of God.  The truth it, no one really wants to slap God in the face.  But every terrible thought, wicked word and evil action is just that—slapping God in the face with our wickedness and rebellion.  It is the law of God that reminds mankind there is no escape.  “Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed” (GALATIANS 3:23).  God’s law holds us prisoners to our sinful nature.

We dare never think that we have sinned just a little.  We dare not think that there is such a thing as a small sin or big sin.  Sin is sin!  Worst of all, we are reminded that our sins are numerous.  Every waking moment our lives are completely tainted by the effects of sin in this world.  Reread the first few chapters of Genesis to see the devastating consequence of sin.  “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away" (ISAIAH 64:6).  God’s law is very, very clear.  ALL of us are unclean.  ALL our righteous acts are like filthy rags.  Our sins sweep us away like a powerful wind blowing a dried up leaf every which way.

Jesus’ words still our storms.  It is all too true that God’s Law could easily overcome us just like a furious squall can easily swamp a boat.  It is also true that God’s Gospel preserves.

It is very interesting to notice how quickly the attitudes of the disciples changed.  Verse 39 details just how much Jesus cares. Jesus wakes up from his slumber.  Quiet! Be still! Once again everything changes. The storm stops, the sea is completely calm.  Verse 40. There is no reason to be afraid. They have faith and they are to use it—trust!  In verse 41 the disciples were amazed. They ask in wonder, just: Who is this?  The disciples knew Jesus was from Nazareth. They knew he was Joseph and Mary’s son.  To control nature meant Jesus was far more than another mere mortal. Jesus is God’s son.

This is the simple Gospel message: Jesus is the Son of God.  God’s Law shows us our sins.  God’s Gospel shows us our Savior.  There is no other place to discover this precious truth than in the word of God itself.  God’s saving message is just as miraculous as Jesus stilling the storm.  Condemned by our sinful thoughts, words and deeds God provides us forgiveness, freely.  “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” (EPHESIANS 1:7,8). 

Our gracious God saves us the precious blood of Christ.  Our works or good deeds don’t – cannot – save us.  We are not saved by our wealth, honor or glory.  God’s Gospel preserves us by the precious work of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (COLOSSIANS 1:13,14).  Yes, we were lost but now are saved.  Yes, we were drowning in a sea of sinfulness but now we are rescued by the life preserver of God’s Gospel.

God’s free forgiveness is part of God’s most amazing grace.  We who do not deserve to be saved are saved.  God’s Gospel message is a miracle of God’s power like no other.  When Jesus performed a miracle of healing on the Sabbath he was challenged by the religious leaders of the day.  Jesus asked them which was easier—to heal or to forgive sin.  The leaders did not answer because they did not want to betray their own unfaithfulness.  God’s forgiveness as expressed in God’s Gospel is truly miraculous.  “If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; there-fore you are feared” (PSALM 130:4,5).  When our loving Lord forgives he forgets – completely and forever.  Jesus’ blood makes our scarlet sins as white as snow.  Thank you, Jesus

No matter how many time we think we see Murphy’s Law in action, we have to understand that that is all due to sin.  In the perfect world, the perfect life that God intended for man to have, there would be no Murphy’s Law.  We wouldn’t have to worry about things going wrong – seemingly constantly.  We wouldn’t have to worry about the turbulent times that we live in.  We wouldn’t have to worry about WHICH problem was going to crop up first.

There are many storms that you and I and every believer face in this life.  Sometime these squalls are physical tribulations.  The Lord also wants us to remember that the spiritual storms we face are not to overcome us.  At times we misplace our confidence and trust in others or ourselves in order to succeed.  Self-trust and self-confidence simply do not always work.  We honestly look at ourselves and see only wickedness, rebellion, and sin.  God’s Law condemns our sinfulness and could easily overwhelm us.  In spite of our sinful nature, God’s Gospel forgives and constantly preserves our souls.  “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 CORINTHIANS 1:18).  Jesus’ words still our storms.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.   Amen

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