Hello,
There is a story in the Bible about Jesus venturing out into the Sea of Galilee with his disciples. It is in the 4thChapter of Mark, and here it is:
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ 36And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ 39He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’
I thought of this story as we find ourselves suddenly hit by this worldwide virus storm. The spread of the virus is sweeping across the world with gale force winds. The news of people infected and people dying is like wave after wave crashing onto our boat, filling the hull with frightening numbers. The calls (appropriate as they are) for lock-downs make us feel like we are in this boat alone. And you and I might find ourselves joining the disciples in asking, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
I have seen one of these boats from Jesus’ day. It is in a museum in Israel, having been buried for centuries under the silt of the Sea of Galilee. These boats were not very big, maybe 30 feet in length. Not built with terribly deep hulls. Constructed of wood. Propelled by a sail that stood in the middle. No keel to keep them steady and going straight, just a rudder to try and guide them. No wonder the disciples were afraid of sinking!
It seems to me that the boat of our lives is not unlike those Galilean fishing boats. Not too big, not terribly stable, not indestructibly built, not easily steered, propelled by the changing direction of the wind. No wonder in the midst of this storm we can be afraid of sinking!
“Jesus, teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?!?!”
Here’s something to remember when we find ourselves, like the disciples, asking this question: Jesus is in the boat with us. If the boat goes down, he goes down, too. Jesus is not on shore tanning himself, sitting under a shade umbrella, drinking a glass of ice tea, laughing at the predicament that we, like the disciples, find ourselves in. He is in the boat with us. Of course he cares!
So much did Jesus care that Jesus “rebuked” the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And with the power of God, power which empowered him to rest in the storm, Jesus calmed the storm. The disciples were alarmed to find Jesus sleeping in that sea-jilted boat, but their alarm turned to awe when they discovered the power of Jesus, power greater than the storm, and power that he used for their care.
I am not a counselor. I am pastor who knows a bit about counselling. When I am with people who find themselves suddenly swirling in a storm of health, finding out from the doctor that they are dealing with some illness or disease, the first thing that I try to do with them is discern the turbulence of the storm. “What does the doctor say?” Sometimes the storm is mighty, “She gives me a 15% chance.” Other times the storm, although ominous looking, is not so powerful, “80% chance.” Discerning the power of the storm helps us get a rational look at what we are facing, and that can help us measure our reaction.
Of course, I am not a doctor, either, but as I try and listen to the best doctors give a determination of the power of this storm as it hits you and me, I understand that the likelihood that you and I will not succumb to this storm to be 90% or better (actually for most, 98%). That helps me put things into perspective.
That doesn’t mean that as this storm rages and tosses around our Galilean fishing boat lives, that we won’t find ourselves holding on for dear life when the waves crash. And it doesn’t mean that we can walk around in this boat as if nothing is shaking it. It behooves us to keep low (social distancing) while the waters rage. But it does mean this: until this storm settles, and settle it will by the power of Jesus which is greater than the power of the storm, we can, as Jesus does, ride out this storm with calm and peace knowing that the storm’s power is no match to God’s power, especially given the power that the doctors tell us this storm holds.
That is not to say that some will not find themselves caught in this storm, pulled into the sea by the wind and the waves. The storm is not powerless. But when we see this happening to ones we love, or if we feel ourselves being swept into the waters, there is another Biblical story that is worth remembering. Remember, another time that the disciples were in the boat with waves tossing them about, a time that Jesus was not in the boat with them. Instead he was on the ocean with the waves. And Peter, who ventured out into the waves, started to sink, like a rock (that is what Peter means). He cried out to Jesus, “Lord! Save me!” And Jesus did! Jesus reached out his arm, took hold of Peter and pulled him out of the sea. I believe with the certainty of the power of the cross and resurrection, that for those who find themselves sinking in this storm, that Jesus will do the same for them…for you…for me.
“Jesus, teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
“Peace! Be still!”
Have a great week.
God’s grace and peace, (ggap)
Pastor Jerry Nuernberger
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