Pentecost 4, 2021 (Father’s Day)
Calming the storms of life
[Redeemer Lutheran Church worship service with Sermon may be viewed by clicking here]
Mark 4:35-41
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ships nearing a dangerous shore in a violent storm throw out an anchor. This has a twofold effect. It keeps the vessel from being driven toward the rocks that line the shore and from being dashed to pieces on them, and it holds the nose (or bow) of the vessel straight into the wind, so that the onrushing waves are cut in two and do not strike the ship sideways and swamp it.
“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 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?” (Mark 4:35-38)
Our text doesn’t give us the most details about how far from shore the boats were when the storm took place in our text. This sea (really a lake) is 13 miles long and 8 miles wide. It’s nearly half as long as Lake McConaughy but twice its width. Truthfully its not all that large. But what I do know from visiting the Sea of Galilee is that while it isn’t large the weather can change quickly and be fierce. The Sea of Galilee is nestled 700 feet below sea level next to the Golan Heights which stand 2500 feet above sea level. The sea's location makes it subject to sudden and violent storms as the wind comes over the mountains and drops suddenly onto the sea.
Certainly some of the disciples would be prepared for such a situation. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fisherman from the area. Yet even with their expertise the disciples feared for their life, the waves were crashing upon them, and woke up Jesus. It certainly seems that the Disciples feared the storm and did not set an anchor to keep their boat straight into the wind to cut the waves in two.
The storm they faced right then and there caused them to fear and panic. They lost faith and doubted.
You and I…everyone…faces many storms in this life. We face storm in our marriages as two people who love each other sometimes can’t seem to exist near each other. We have the storms of health problems to ourselves, our friends, and those we love. Those storms rock us as we watch young and old alike suffer from diseases and trauma, suffering and pain. The storms of life attack us as they attack our relationships and cause division and the destruction of friendships and family ties. The storms of life gather as we reflect on our own short comings and failings in life. What do the storms of this life do to us? They cause us to fear and doubt; they cause us to panic…to give up or give in…they cause us to lose faith.
Today we celebrate Father’s Day and we certainly give thanks to our Heavenly Father for all the faithful fathers He has blessed us with. Fatherhood, as all of parenting, isn’t easy but is under attack by Satan. The storms of life surround us as 25% of children in the United States live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home. The heart of the problem of all the storms of life is sin.
Sin causes us to question God and His love. Sin causes us to question where God is when we need him. Sin has clouded our hearts and minds as to God’s perfect love for us. Sin has caused our relationships, our knowledge, trust, hope, and faith to be clouded from seeing what is to come. Sin hurts us and those around us. Sin attacks our faith. Sin brings hopelessness and despair. Much like the storm scared the Disciples...the storms of this life caused by sin scare us!
But there is wonderful news. While the storms of life gather and strike upon us, we by faith are anchored to Christ and hold fast to Him. While there are many things that happen in our lives that make us question God we must always look to the plan God has for creation from before the beginning of the world: Jesus. God’s plan has always been about us. As Jeremiah records our Heavenly Father “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) God's plan for us was and is Jesus.
Our Heavenly Father loves us. He has shown His perfect love in sending His Son to die for us. Our sins have been forgiven. We have been restored. Dear Fathers. Thank you for your faithfulness. Fatherhood isn’t easy and God Your Father knows that. He forgives and restores you; He gives you everything you need to be a faithful and loving father…so that you may reflect His love to your children, raise them in the knowledge of Christ, and learn to anchor to Jesus by faith no matter the storm that arises: seeking His Word, repenting of sin, and being restored.
Certainly we have an “Eternal Father, Strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bidd'st the mighty Ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; O hear us when we cry to thee, for those in peril on the sea.” (LSB 717) Amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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