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The Gospel of Matthew Bible Studies
The Gospel of Mark Bible Studies
The Book of Acts Bible Studies
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
September 2009
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November 2009
December 2009
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Time after Pentecost - Lectionary 12 (B) Text: Mark 4:35-41 June 21, 2009 In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May his grace and peace be with you. Amen. Jesus was tired. He was exhausted both physically and emotionally. After a long day of teaching the crowd of people who had gathered to hear his parables there on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he knew that he needed some “down time”. And so Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was.” And soon, Jesus was sound asleep on a cushion in the stern of the boat. At peace with himself and with his mission, Jesus falls asleep at the drop of an oar. There is much for us to contemplate about this image of Jesus. It wasn’t just that he was tired, but also that he felt secure. He felt secure in knowing that he had done everything that he could possibly do for the moment. He did not lie awake wondering if could have said or done something more during his day of parable telling. He did not beat himself up in thinking that “Maybe if I had said this – or not said that – the people would have responded better.” No, Jesus knew – as Mark stated in last week’s gospel – that he had spoken the word to the crowds “as they were able to hear it.” He knew that he had done the best he could. And secure in that knowledge, he was able to relax and go to sleep with a clear conscience. What about us? How many times have we found ourselves staring at the clock at 2 a.m – even though we may be exhausted physically, because we are not able to simply “let go” and relax? I certainly have! I have had nights during which I have mentally replayed a situation that happened during the day – wondering if I really should have said or done what I did, or whether I could have done something different. This really doesn’t solve anything – I can’t undo the past – but sometimes I keep obsessing about it anyway. But not Jesus. He felt secure in knowing that whatever might result from what he had said and done – or had failed to say or do – was now in God’s hands. What he had done right, God would bless it. What he might have done wrong, God would forgive. But for now, it was simply time to sleep so that he could be ready for another day. Jesus also felt secure because he trusted others. He trusted his disciples to sail the boat. He did not feel a need to stay awake to watch them do their job. He knew that they would do their best, and he was willing to put his life into their hands. And on a deeper level, Jesus felt secure because he trusted in God to care for him. He did not know what the night or the next day might bring, but he knew that his Heavenly Father would always be with him, come what may. Again, what are we like? As I said before, so often we tend to lie awake at night, tormented with all kinds of worries. If we are not rehashing the past, we are worrying about things beyond our control. We worry about the future – about our health or the health of others – about the economy and how that may affect our job and income – about whether the swine flu is going to spread – or about global warming – or about the latest international situation. We also worry about what the next day might bring on a more personal level, especially if we are going through a crisis. Brian Stoffregen, an ELCA pastor, in his commentary on this gospel text shared an article from a business resource titled “Why Worry?” According to the article, stress management experts say that only two percent of our “worrying time” is spent on things that might actually be helped by worrying. The other 98% of our “worrying time” is spent in the following ways: § 40% on things that never happen § 35% on things that can’t be changed § 15% on things that turn out better than expected § 8% on useless, petty worries Interesting, isn’t it? At least 98% of our “worrying time” does us no good at all. Jesus knew that. Instead, he put all of his stresses and fears into the hands of his Heavenly Father – because he trusted that God would take care of him and the world. Jesus knew that he would have to face problems in the future (perhaps the next day would be a real “bear”!), but for now, it was time to sleep. So may it be for us. I love Martin Luther’s Evening Prayer, especially the part in which he prays to God: “By your great mercy defend us from all the perils and dangers of this night. Into your hands we commend our bodies and souls and all that is ours. Let your holy angels have charge of us, that the wicked one have no power over us. Amen.” May that be our prayer each night as well – and then with cheerful confidence put our concerns into God’s hands and go to sleep. Now comes the next part of our gospel story. As we heard: “A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped…and [the disciples] woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” “Do you not care that we are perishing?” The disciples are terrified about the storm, but most of all they are upset that Jesus doesn’t seem to care. How could he possibly be sleeping in the midst of all this? They take his slumber to mean that he is not concerned for them. Maybe we often feel that way about God. When we are going through “storms” in our lives, we pray for God to help us – and when God does not immediately seem to answer, we may feel that he doesn’t care about us. Our gospel tells us that Jesus woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” We often focus upon the fact that this shows Jesus’ divine authority over the chaotic forces of nature, and that is certainly true. But I think that it is at least equally important that Jesus was speaking to his disciples as well as to the wind and the sea. He was being what some would call a “non-anxious presence”. Instead of joining in the disciples’ panic, he spoke to calm their fears saying “Peace! Be still!” “Peace! Be still!” Those surely are words that we need to hear in our lives. Even if the situations in our lives that may be causing us worry do not cease, those words can still give us comfort in the midst of our storms. We can be reminded that God still cares for us, even if our prayers for his help don’t seem to be immediately answered. “Peace! Be still!” It is like a little child in the midst of a terrible thunderstorm, seeking comfort in a parent’s protective arms. It may not stop the storm, but the child will still feel peace in knowing that he or she is not alone – but is well cared for. “Peace! Be still!” We can commend whatever has happened in the past to our Heavenly Father. We can trust that he will take care of us in the present – even in the midst of our storms, and will be with us through whatever the future might bring. And so, people of God – may we enjoy this day and sleep well tonight, knowing that our Father in heaven loves us, forgives us, and will always care for us. “Peace! Be still!” In Jesus’ name. Amen! -------------------- Pastor George Karres 418 W. Main St. Sidney, MT 59270
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