Why are you so afraid?
This entry is based on some thoughts I shared before our church council meeting. We are facing serious challenges at Salem with budget and staffing. Where do we turn? What do we do? How can we stay positive? One of our members, after a conversation about these issues, brought up this story from Mark 4. It provided a great reminder for all of us. This will also be published in our February Parish Notes.
Mark 4:35-41Jesus Calms the Storm
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Can you imagine being on that boat? The night is pitch black, vicious waves slam into the boat, and howling wind tears through the rigging. I wonder if one of the disciples sat there calculating the size of the waves and the amount of water sloshing into the boat, then shouting out the results: "We've got about 15 minutes left until we go down!" At least one of them was probably yelling at the others: "You're not bailing fast enough! Go faster!" I can see Judas tightening up the strings on the money bag and putting it safely in his belt so it wouldn't get dumped over the side. I can hear another one muttering to himself, "I knew it! I told them this would happen! Why didn't they listen to me?" They all look at Jesus and start arguing: "You wake him up! No, you wake him up! Hurry, before it's too late!"
They couldn't wait any longer. Their lives were at stake! They woke him up with an accusation. "Don't you care if we drown?" Implicit in their question was doubt—"is he really the Son of God?" Notice that Jesus didn't answer the question. Instead, he turned to the winds he harnessed to push clouds across the sky, blowing warm in the summer and cool in the winter, and said, "Quiet!" He looked at the waters he had created with a word from his mouth. He shouted, "Be still!" The shrieking wind and churning sea heeded their master's voice. In an instant…nothing. Not a puff of breeze, not a ripple on the lake. Dead calm. Jesus turned his attention to his traumatized crew. "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
I see myself in the mirror of this story. Can you? We're in a boat, riding the seas together as members of this congregation. The storm rages around us. I feel the doubts burbling up from the depths of my soul. I turn to the Savior almost as an afterthought. He's here in the boat with us, but he's not sleeping. He's wide awake, and expecting me. My doubts burst forth in a question: "Don't you care?" Don't you care about this congregation? Don't you care about our school? Don't you care about the pastors and teachers who serve here? Don't you care about our fellow believers who are losing jobs and retirement savings? Implicit in my question is that same doubt the disciples fought—"is he really the Son of God?" Can he help us?
Jesus' question is like a slap in the face, bringing us back to our senses: "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" In the hysteria of the storm, we have forgotten that the one in the boat with us controls the wind and the waves. He is here with us. He has power over governments and stock markets and economies and big corporations and private businesses and schools and churches. He controls everything and promises that he is always working for the benefit of the people in his boat. We don't have to be afraid. We have faith—given to us by the Holy Spirit when he brought us on board through our baptism. We have confidence—the same Savior who did this miracle can help us. We have hope—that even when the storms of this life are slamming at the side of the boat, the glory of heaven waits for us at the far shore. We don't have to be afraid. Salem's ministry isn't foundering at sea. The captain is aboard and steering the boat. Trust him and keep sailing forward.
To God alone the glory! Pastor Jon Brohn
