6-23-24 “Don’t You Care?”

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“Don’t You Care?”

 

I want to start with something funny I found on an internet site: Jesus decides to come back to earth. He gets his friend Moses to come with him, and Moses tells him he should warm up doing miracles before he shows anyone. They rent a cabin on a lake out in the middle of nowhere. The first day, Jesus takes a wine glass, fills it with water and turns it into wine! Moses is suitably impressed. The second day, they go out on the lake and catch two fish, and Jesus multiplies them so they’ll have plenty. Moses is, again, impressed. The third day, Jesus decides to walk across the lake. He walks out, but pretty soon the water is up to his knees and he heads back.
“Why can’t I walk on water, Moses?” he asked.
“I have no idea. Let’s take a break and try again tomorrow.”
The next day, Jesus wades out, and again he sinks. “I just can’t understand it!” he cried.
“I still can’t figure it out,” said Moses. “We’ll give it one more try tomorrow.”
The next day, Jesus walked out into the lake again. “Why can’t I walk on water anymore?”
Moses thinks for a moment, then asks, “Well…did you have the holes in your feet last time?”

Good morning, everyone! Today, we read a powerful passage from the Gospel of Mark that reveals not only the authority of Jesus over nature, but also speaks directly to our hearts about faith and fear. In today’s scripture, we witness Jesus calming the storm, a miraculous event that holds profound spiritual lessons for us. When you read or heard this passage, what first came to mind? You may have thought that Jesus performed another miraculous event. Or you may have wondered, “Why were the disciples always lacking in faith?” Whatever came to your mind it might be Jesus wanting to speak to us through this passage.

Let’s imagine what happened with Jesus and his disciples. After teaching the people, Jesus asked his disciples to go over to the other side of the Lake. I sometimes wonder how Jesus spoke to the large groups of people who gathered, sometimes more than five thousand, without a microphone. Can you imagine that? According to the Gospels, Jesus mostly taught the crowds on a mount (Matthew 5:1), or from a boat (Luke 5:3). In the case of teaching from a boat, Jesus got on the boat and pushed out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. Yes, on that day, Jesus taught the people from the boat and asked his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.” The disciples took him with them in the boat just as he was, and other boats followed them. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. However, Jesus was sleeping on a cushion in the stern. Can you envision everyone else shouting in fear of the windstorm while Jesus was still sleeping in the corner of the boat?

Some people interpreted that Jesus slept because he was tired from teaching the people while others believe that he slept because he has the authority and power to control everything. He has nothing to be afraid of, so he could sleep anywhere. What do you think? Above all, we have a question here: even though both interpretations might be right, how could Jesus sleep while his disciples were struggling through the storms? Can you picture that? The disciples, who were raised and worked at the lake as fishermen, were in fear of the storm, but he fell into a deep sleep. So, the disciples woke him up, saying, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” “Don’t you care whether we are dying?”

Psalms 44:23 also say that “Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!” This is not only Psalmist or the disciples’ prayers, but also ours. When we faced the storms of the life, we also cry to God, “O Lord, are you there? Why do you hide your face from me? Don’t you care that I am struggling or dying?” Psalm 121:3 says, “He will not let your foot slip; he who watches over you will not slumber.”

However, Jesus was sleeping while his disciples were struggling.  God didn’t answer to me when I faced many challenges. We often misstep and fall, but it is not the end of the world! The disciples woke him up to get help. They woke up the king of kings; the Creator who has most control when they faced danger. This is the power of prayers. Prayers can wake God up. Jeremiah 33:2-3 says, “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

Yes, then, the disciples woke him up, and Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Be silent! Be Still!” The wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. Wow, that is so cool, right? Psalmist also confessed, “They cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed” (Psalms 107:28-29).

We also experience what the disciples and the Psalmist did. We sometimes face the storms of life. We often set out with good intentions, navigating through our daily routines when suddenly, without warning, storms arise. These storms can be in the form of financial crisis, health issues, relationship problems, or emotional turmoil. The disciples’ boat was nearly swamped, and they were filled with fear. How often do we find ourselves in similar situations, overwhelmed by the storms of life?

In the midst of the chaos, where was Jesus? He was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. This image of Jesus sleeping during the storm can be confusing. It might seem like he is indifferent to the plight of his disciples. But his sleep symbolizes something profound: the perfect peace and trust he had in God the Father. Don’t forget that while you are struggling in the storm of life, he is there nearby. The famous passage we know says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalms 46:10). Don’t be afraid of life’s storms when you face them; just reach out to God and cry out to him. He is there for you!

After scolding the wind and sea, Jesus said to his disciples, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” This question cuts to the heart of the matter. Fear and faith are often at odds. In other words, the opposite of faith is fear. The lack of faith brings us to fear. Jesus challenges us to trust him fully, even when the storms of life rage around us. Trust in God, who is the Creator, and has everything under control. Faith does not eliminate the storms, but it allows us to find peace with them. It is a trust that goes beyond our understanding, a trust that Jesus is in control and that he cares deeply for us.

I would like to challenge you: Why don’t you care that Jesus is sleeping while we face the storm of life? Do you want to die without asking for God’s help? Why don’t you care that many people are dying without knowing Jesus? Why don’t you care that our church is downsizing? Don’t forget, Jesus is there nearby. Trust his power and caring love! He is always ready for us. I would like to conclude with the passage from Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Thanks be to God. Amen!