Jesus
is Our Shield from All Storms! (MARK 6:45-56)
Introduction: For the past week,
we have been following the path and the devastating effects of Hurricane Dorian
over the Bahamas, Florida, and the Carolinas. The human loss that happened is
far more significant and invaluable than the property loss. While we can blame any and everyone for these
disasters which seem to be occurring at a rapid speed these days, no one can
predict and let alone prevent them from happening. Who do we turn to during
storms?
I
am touched by observing human kindness, love, and hope during such
heart-wrenching tragedies. Let’s us pray for God’s comfort for those who are
grieving the loss of their loved ones. Pray that help would reach those who are in
desperate need of help. Pray that the Churches and individual believers would
step out and show God’s love and Christian hospitality. Above all, let’s pray
that people would turn to God and put their faith in Him. Amen!
In
our passage today, we will see how a group of fishermen caught up in an
unexpected storm on the sea of Galilee and how did they respond when finally
help came on their way. How can we navigate the sudden and unforeseen storms of
life that occur from time to time?
Let’s
observe what was going on in the life of Jesus and the lives of his twelve
close disciples who were also known as the Apostles. In Chapter Six, we read
about some personal storms that Jesus had to deal with. For some time, Jesus
had been traveling in the region of Galilee, healing people, casting out demons,
and teaching them about the good news.
He
leaves that region taking his twelve disciples with him and enters his home
town. One would expect a warm welcome
for the son of the soil whose fame had been spreading beyond the region, but
instead, a cold reception awaited Jesus and his disciples. On one Sabbath as he
began to teach in a Synagogue, it is noted that “many were deeply offended and
refused to believe in him.” It was a storm of rejection that he had to endure over
and over in his ministry.
After
that humiliating experience, Jesus heard the shocking news of his beloved
cousin John’s brutal execution in prison. It was another storm of personal loss
and grief. On top of that, he had to deal with the constant pressure of people
and the perpetual unbelief of his disciples, who even after performing and seeing
many miracles remained hard-hearted.
How
did Jesus cope during the storms of his life? He often withdrew to lonely
places and prayed. After teaching a crowd of over 5,000 and feeding them by
multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus once again recognized his
need for solitude. Our story starts here.
Vs.
45-46, “Immediately after
this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across
the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. After telling everyone
good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.” Pay attention to what
Jesus is doing here.
The
disciples were excited, and the crowds wanted more miracles, but Jesus needed
to be alone with his father, so he went up into the hills by himself to pray.
If Jesus, the Son of God needed to pull away from all the external pressures
and the urgencies of life and find time to pray to God, how much more we mere
humans need to find time to be alone with God in prayer?
Jesus
insisted that the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him across the
lake to Bethsaida. A town on the west side of the Sea of Galilee and south of
Capernaum. The implication is that Jesus was going to rejoin the disciples at
some point later.
I. CAN ANYTHING GO
WRONG WHEN DOING GOD’S WILL?
Vs. 47-48, “Late that night, the
disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on
land.” Let’s look at the proximity between the disciples and Jesus. Here the disciples were sailing in the boat
as per the will of Jesus.
Usually,
in traveling across the northern end of the lake they would have been one or
two miles of the shore, but on that occasion, the wind had carried the boat
several miles south, closer to the center of the lake. Jesus remained on the
mountainside, praying. Between 3:00 A.M
and 6:00 A.M, there was a gale (John 6) hurricane-like strong winds swept down
upon the boat.
The
disciples were entirely in the will of Jesus and doing what he had insisted
them to do. Nevertheless, they faced a storm that nearly drowned them. Aren’t
things supposed to go in favor of those who are doing God’s will, we wonder?
But that is not always the case. The scriptures give us plenty of examples of
those who have suffered much and have lost their lives for doing the will of
God.
Therefore,
let’s not assume that when something goes wrong, we are out of God’s will.
There are times even more so when doing the will of God; we may face
opposition. Though the disciples in our story were in the center of God’s will,
yet had to face the brunt of the strong winds and the waves. Where was Jesus
when they needed him? Did he not care about them?
II GOD SEES YOU!
Vs.
48, “He saw that they
were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves.
About three o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them, walking on the
water. He intended to go past them,” Jesus did not have any binoculars as we
do, then how could he see that they were in deep trouble? That was in line with
God’s nature of Omni-Presence. Everything
is visible to God, and nothing escapes His eyesight. Consider these
scriptures:
2 Chron 16:9, “The eyes of the Lord
search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully
committed to him.” As God watches the whole earth, what does he see?
God
sees the nations or peoples. The prophet Isaiah explains how God views them. Isaiah
40: 15 “No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They
are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though
it were a grain of sand.” We are not to take this verse literally but to get
the essence of this verse; we need to use our imagination. Some times our
child-like imagination of who God is and His power can strengthen our faith.
Let’s
say there are 196 countries in the world, and if they are like a drop in a
bucket in God’s eyes, what would be the size of our Great United States of
America? It would be 1/196th
size of a drop. If that is how tiny the USA is, what would be the size of
Sharon or the place where you live? It would be invisible, then how about you
and me and all that we brag about?
We
are like the morning fog, and we are here for a little while, then gone quickly.
However, God knows our names, and when we open up our hearts, he will indwell
in us. I don’t understand how this tiny heart of mine could contain the uncontainable
one? That is the mystery that that may never be explained — coming back to our
passage.
Jesus
saw the struggles of His disciples and came to rescue them but intended to pass
them, perhaps waiting to hear them cry out for help. Vs. 49-50, “but when they saw him walking on water,
they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw
him.” A Jewish superstition was held that the appearance of spirits during the
night brought disaster. The disciple’s
terror was prompted by what they may have thought was a ghost.
III. JESUS
IS OUR SHIELD FROM ALL STORMS
Vs. 50-52, “But Jesus spoke to them
at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed
into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were amazed, for they still didn’t
understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too
hard to take it in.” Jesus’ calming words caused the winds to cease, and the
fearful hearts to ease.
By speaking the assuring words, “Don’t
be afraid, take courage I am here! Jesus proved to the disciples that he had the
power over nature, indeed, but the disciples did not understand. Had they realized
the feeding of the over 5,000, they would not have been amazed at Jesus’
walking on water or his calming the waves. They were no different than Jesus’
opponents. Let’s sail forward with the disciples and see what is happening on
the other side of the lake.
A vast crowd got wind of Jesus’
arrival. As soon as they got out of the boat, they recognized Jesus. They ran
throughout the region, bringing their sick wherever Jesus and his disciples
went. They placed their sick in the market place and begged Jesus to let them
touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
What a turnaround? At the beginning
of the chapter on his hometown side of the lake, most of the people rejected
Jesus, to an extent, he chose not to do any miracles due to their unbelief. In
the middle of the lake his disciples in spite of seeing all the wonders have
hardened their hearts. On the Gennesaret side of the lake Jesus received a
rousing welcome by the sick and the needy who only begged him to let them touch
his cloak.
Where do you belong? Are you like
the Pharisees and the people of Jesus’ home town out of skepticism and pride
refusing to believe in Jesus? Just like the disciples, even after seeing many
miracles, are you hardening your heart? Are you like the desperate crowds who
received their healing by faith touching Jesus’ cloak? Let me share some
applications of this story.
You may be already a follower of
Christ; if not, you can be one by accepting Jesus as your savior. In your
lives’ journey, you may be facing some fierce storms that are threatening to
drown your lifeboat. You are doing all that you can to keep it sailing. Jesus
is watching your struggle, and he is walking right to the center of your storm with
words of assurance.
Jesus would not only walk to your
situation but wants to sail along with you to safety. By faith, no matter how
difficult your circumstance may be, when you reach out to him and touch His
garment as the crowds did, you will be healed. Remember, next time when you
face another fierce storm, you have a friend, and his name is Jesus. When you
call upon his name, he will come and save you and calm your storms: Don’t be
afraid! Take courage! Jesus is Our Shield from All Storms. Amen!
