Sermon June 19-20, 2021

Title: Christ cares and brings Peace!
Text: Mark 4:35-41

Facebook live: Christ cares and brings Peace!

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

There is an old saying ... a very old saying from 42 B.C. that says:

“Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.”

Publius Syrus (42 B.C.)

[Monica and the kids and I boating]

35 On that day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.

A bit of a caravan of boats began crossing the Sea of Galilee, the one with Jesus and a few others. There was no preparation or additional provisions just Jesus as he was and those with him going to the other side as evening was upon them.

The crowd that had heard Jesus speak the parables he shared were left behind and Jesus was tired – probably from the day and all the speaking but also true man born of woman … sharing our humanity. We know this because as the storm arose and the waves were breaking over the boat …

38 [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

The storm was upon them, it was evening, the boat is filling and Christ is sleeping. Were those with him fearful or did they think that Jesus just didn’t care? Or, was it both …

Ill.

I remember when my children were little during thunder storms they wanted to be with Monica and me. If it was night time. They wanted to sleep with us for comfort or to have us with them. Now that they are older when the storms come it our dogs that need comfort. A few weeks ago when the storm came on a Friday night they wouldn’t leave me and Abby climbed into my lap – all 115 pounds of her – shaking like a leaf while Chloe sat by my side getting petted.

Why worry … when you can trust. It is like a rocking chair … it gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere.

Source Unknown.

We all fall victim to the thought that Jesus doesn’t care about our troubles. And in the storms of life, we all fear that God is silent, uninterested and unaware.

We worry because we don’t know what God intends and even assume that we are set adrift during the storms of life to fend for ourselves.

At times, as a pastor, I am called upon to bring peace and stillness to a raging heart and a life looking for answers … in the midst of the storm … or called to bring comfort as life’s trials rage and the answer is always Jesus.

Our lives are divided into the temporal and the eternal; the here and now, in contrast to that heavenly home that waits in the future.

For some the eternal comes all too soon, for we who are left behind to grieve. But the eternal is as real as our life now though it is yet to come. We walk by faith and not by sight.

Jesus as both true God and true man, while sleeping in the boat, was in control. In the midst of the storm, he had all things under control and as with you and me … we are held in the palm of his hand, and he promises to never leave us nor forsake us.

Ill.
Some years ago while making a shut-in visit, I visited a member that had a care giver who was a Christian from another denominational background. Every time I visited, the caregiver always seemed to be burdened with the signs of the end times and she worried about when Christ would return. She always had some radio show on or prophet she was listening to, following the signs that pointed to when Jesus would definitely return.

I am so thankful that the Lord by his Holy Spirit always would give me a word of calming comfort to those I visit during the storms of life.

A scripture or word of peace that came from the Lord to calm the heart.

The lady I was visiting had some dementia and though her care giver was a relative she always seemed very concerned about Jesus and his return. My visits brought a word of comfort and the Lord’s Supper to our member, and are wonderful gifts and blessings for those who are shut in, confused, scared or simply need the calming of a troubled heart.

I told the care giver that God’s return is not terrifying to a believer because his word says:

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Heb 13:5

Not in the boat of our lesson or in the room I was visiting.

And, that Jesus says he will go and prepare a place for us, and will come again and will take us to himself, that where he is we may be also. John 14:3

And all the while the lady I’m visiting is saying:

“That’s right pastor, that’s right.” “That’s right pastor, that’s right.”

And I concluded as gently as I could:

Who knows, we may be called to our eternal rest even today … so the trials of life or Christ’s return for the Christian is not something to fear but to be joy in.

Because in the storms of life Christ cares and brings Peace!

39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Not just calm … but the word says a great calm!

40 [Jesus] said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Friends, there is no fear of Jesus or his return for we who know him and have been brought to faith. Christ Jesus has made us his own and has promised to be with us now and forever more. Comfort and peace follow us in the midst of the storm and we know that the peace of God passes all human understanding.

Have no fear.

[The takeaway]

Christ cares and brings Peace!

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen