By the Rev’d Jim Lam

Season: Sea Sunday

Readings: Job 38:1, 4-11 | Acts 27:27-32, 39-44 | Mark 4:35-41

Jesus calms the storm. Perhaps, that’s a biblical story particularly comforting amidst alarm and concern about worsening weather across the planet and skepticism that the world could effectively respond to curb it. Many Aucklanders call still recall the Auckland Anniversary floods two years ago. And on the fourth of this month, a devastating flood claimed the life of over 100 in Texas in the US. When natural and human-induced disasters strike, it feels so safe to know and trust in a God who has
full command of the natural elements.

Yes, this is what today’s gospel story is about. For many of us, this Jesus story is one that we know very well. So, what happened on that day?

If we go back a bit on today’s gospel reading, Jesus was beside the sea of Galilee. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea to preach to them, while the multitude stayed on the shore. When evening fell, Jesus decided to cross to the other side, leaving the crowd behind.

The sea of Galilee was well known for sudden storms. As many of the disciples were experienced fishermen, they knew the temperament of their home waters. But this time, things got out of hand. The gale was so severe and the waves so high that their boat was swamped. The disciples were deeply frightened. In the face of mortal danger, they turned to Jesus, who was calmly sleeping in the stern. Jesus woke up, rebuked the storm, and saved the day. Moral of the story? Turn to God when you are in trouble. Don’t be afraid. Have faith. God’s there with you. He’ll help you out and give you peace. End of story.

Or is it?

Yes and no. It is good to have faith and trust wholeheartedly in God. However, this might not necessarily help us solve all the ups and downs of life as straightforward as that. Sometimes, there may be moments of doubt, when things doesn’t work
out the way we want them to.

Indeed, what caught my attention when I reflected on this passage was the disciples’ words when they woke Jesus up. They cried out: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” In turning to their teacher, the disciples’ action showed their trust in Jesus. But still, there was, perhaps, a grain of doubt in their words whether their Lord was concerned for them. They said: “Do you not care?”

Have we ever called out to God when we were struggling in dire straits, saying, “Lord, do you not care?”

Talking about doubting in times of struggles and suffering, even Job, who represented patience and faith in the face of adversity eventually came to question why God punished him. It is indeed devastating when someone you had trusted all
your life seemingly turned against you. I wonder whether Job had ever nurtured similar thoughts like the disciples in the storm and uttered: “Lord, do you not care?”

Scripture tells us that upon waking up, Jesus rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be Still!” Immediately, the wind ceased and there was a dead calm.

It’s indeed miraculous! And given our human nature, it’s easy to imagine what Jesus would tell his disciples afterwards. Something like: There’s no need to fear ever after. There’ll always be me. Just have faith. If you are still fearful, that means you need to practice more in spiritual discipline to achieve peace of mind.

Well, if that was what Jesus said, he would have been more or less like an instructor or writer of chicken soup for the soul! And it would be like he was encouraging his disciples to believe in themselves rather than to trust in him!

Fortunately for the disciples and for us, Jesus said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And in response, the disciples were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

The disciples were so overwhelmed. By now, perhaps what engrossed the disciples’ minds was not that they nearly lost their lives in the tumultuous sea, but rather, they were in the presence of a being far greater than themselves.

Why would they be so greatly amazed, we may ask. It was because they came to realise who their teacher really was. Raised in the Jewish tradition, the disciples knew too well that prophets and men of God could perform miracles, but only God himself could command the forces of nature with just a couple of words. And it is exactly because of this knowledge that they appeared to be so awestruck.

If we take into account that this is the Creator God, who is all knowing and omnipotent, and who has sovereignty over all of existence, we shall understand why people are in awesome wonder in the presence of him.

And when Jesus said those words to his disciples, he was not reproaching them. But rather, he was calling them to repent and believe in him. Jesus was, and is, looking for “faith” in those who follow him. Not faith in the mind based on logical reasoning and rational thoughts, but rather in the heart that acknowledges him as the Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier of our whole being.

To the disciples’ question, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus’ answer was clear and without ambiguity. For them, he calmed the wind and the sea. For them, he cared.

There are many things in this world that could hurt us. There are many in despair that this knowlege could pull us down. Sometimes, our prayers may seem unanswered. But when our God has made it clear that he cares so much for us that he would even rebuke the storms for our sake, what is there to distress us? After all, the Lord our God has ultimate dominance and authority over all creation. And most importantly, he cares for us.

Are you in the midst of a turmoil and turbulence so great that you find it hard to bear? Are you frightened by what would happen to you? As C. S. Lewis put it, God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. And so, let us be strong and bold…because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). Let us keep in our mind that Christ is always there with us and for us. Therefore, we can face
whatever challenges ahead with courage, because he is the Lord that even the wind and the sea obey.

Amen.