Jesus Calles Us Into the Tumult
“When they got into the boat, the
wind ceased.”
I like that image. Safe aboard the boat with Jesus. The wind calmed – either by command of our
Savior or by some realization its own that it has nothing with which to
challenge the effect Jesus has on this vessel.
“When they got into the boat, the
wind ceased.” I like that
image. I like it a lot; particularly given
the week that has just passed.
I’ll start with my household. Caleb (my youngest) left yesterday for a year
of intentional Christian community and service.
He will live in a Lutheran Volunteer Corp house and work with a homeless
ministry in Omaha. Kat (my oldest) has a
job – “Yeah”! With Lutheran Family
Services – “Double Yeah”! But she doesn’t have an apartment and this Friday her
significant other graduated from Clemson and turned 30 years old. We ended up helping her put on a picnic party
at the lake for him, his family, and his friends. Smith also graduated from Clemson on Friday. He already has a job. But his roommate moved out. So the extra bedroom needed to be filled with
furniture at my house. Two pick-up
loads.
“When they got into the boat, the
wind ceased.” I like that image. I like it a lot.
I can see the desirability of
such a boat ride with Jesus it even more clearly when I break out of my little
shell and think of the storms battering our extended faith family. I made two pastoral visits this week with
folks facing TAVR replacements of their aortic valves. You probably have already looked over long
list of hospitalized and ill. We pray
today for those battling cancers – fully aware that the chemo treatments are no
longer having any effect. The aging
process brings wisdom, but it also brings sever limitations with mobility and
the simplest of household chores becomes more than one can accomplish. How do you help an aging parent put away
their things and abandon the house that for decades has been their home?
“When they got into the boat, the
wind ceased.”
Like me, you probably come here
week after week looking for the boat that Jesus climbed into. Like me, you may have come this morning in
search of that vessel where Jesus and his followers experience the calming of
the wind and a respite from their battle against the waves. And that respite does come; that calm is found. It was only a few short weeks ago that we
spent the entire sermon time re-memorizing the 23rd Psalm, a song
which speaks of God’s care.
Twice, in Matthew’s Gospel, there
is talk of ragging seas and persons fearful for their ability to survive. In both instances, Jesus calms the
storm. But in both instances it isn’t
all that clear that calming the storm is what concerned Jesus the most.
Today’s reading is the second story
about a storm at sea. Mark Matthew 14 in
your bible, then flip back to Matthew 8:23ff.
Matthew 8 is the story of Jesus
and the disciples attempting to cross the sea of Galilee. During the trip, a strong wind begins to blow
and the boat is tossed about in the rough seas.
In this story, Jesus is asleep while the disciples and the seamen fight
the ragging storm.
Jesus being asleep is the
clearest of indications that this story is not merely about Jesus’ ability to
calm the storm. Of course he could do
it. The question in this story is what
would the disciples do? How would they
respond to adversity and threats?
They wake him. “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” In the Gospel of Mark, they are accusative of
Jesus. There they say “Teacher, do
you not care that we are perishing?”
(Mark 4:38)
Jesus calms that storm. But only after he asks them, “Why are you
afraid, you of little faith.”
Does that line sound
familiar? Turn back to today’s
lesson. Matthew 14:31. Jesus says, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Ragging storms, high winds,
threatening situations – these seem to be the times and places where depth of
faith and understanding of intentions is discovered.
I want to be in that boat with
Jesus – AFTER he calms the sea and we all climb aboard. Jesus seems to be primarily interested in how
I react in the moments before he imposes his divine protection and makes
everything okay. It at least causes me
to wonder whether we miss the point when we speak of following Jesus as a calm
ride in a glassy sea. That ride comes
after the disappointed Jesus asks why their faith is so unsure. The old hymn says, “Jesus calls us, O’er the
tumult.” It may be more biblically accurate
to say that Jesus calls us into
the tumult.
In the e-news I sent a note about
the action word in Matthew 14:22. The English
translation says Jesus “made the disciples get into the boat and to on
ahead.” A more accurate translation
is that he commanded them. He ordered them
to get in that boat and go out into the threatening weather. If you still have a finger holding the place
of the earlier story, you will see that in Matthew 8:18 Jesus also “orders”
them to get in the boat and shove off. It
is almost as if Jesus wants us to leave the security of the shoreline and
navigate ourselves to the very place where high winds push us from every side
and threatening waves crash our boat.
I want you to leave this morning
comforted by the songs we sing and the prayers we offer and the meal we
share. Jesus wants this, too. I know he does.
But the lessons we read also
insist that you leave here this morning questioning whether you have made your
own safety and security and prosperity so important that you have jumped into
the boat and made your concerns the center of your prayers. Jesus invites Peter to come to him, on the
rough waters, and in the blowing wind. It
is only after Peter reveals a lack of faith that Jesus hauls him back into the
boat and the storm is calmed.
The boat is always there – for you,
for me, for all of us. And, Jesus will
take care of us.
But Jesus also wants us to
reflect on something more than saving ourselves, or our way of life, or our
notion of what is best for the world.
Don’t climb into the boat too
soon. Stay in the wind and rough
seas. But look to Jesus. And looking to Jesus, do not be afraid. Faith will come. And it will make amazing things
possible. Above all, it will introduce
us to the blessedness of living for something larger and better and more worthy
than preserving our own individual life.
Amen.
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