Text: Mark 6:45-56
Facebook live: Christ is our Rock, our Refuge, and our Rest!
50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
“The waters have risen and severe storms are upon us, but we do not fear drowning, for we stand firmly upon a rock.”
No these aren’t the the floods and rains of 2021 that is being spoken of.
These are the words of St. John Chrysostom, patriarch of Constantinople, from a sermon preached around 400 AD. He was sent into exile for his faith … which led ultimately to his death.
He continues:
“Let the sea rage, it cannot break the rock. Let the waves rise; they cannot sink the boat … of Jesus.
50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
“The waters have risen and severe storms are upon us, but we do not fear drowning, for we stand firmly upon a rock.”
No these aren’t the the floods and rains of 2021 that is being spoken of.
These are the words of St. John Chrysostom, patriarch of Constantinople, from a sermon preached around 400 AD. He was sent into exile for his faith … which led ultimately to his death.
He continues:
“Let the sea rage, it cannot break the rock. Let the waves rise; they cannot sink the boat … of Jesus.
What are we to fear … Death? Life to me means Christ, and death is gain. Exile … ‘The earth and its fullness belong to the Lord.
The confiscation of goods … We brought nothing into this world, and we shall surely take nothing from it.
I have only contempt for the world’s threats;
I find its blessings laughable.
I have no fear of poverty, no desire for wealth.
I am not afraid of death or do I long to live, except for your good.
I concentrate therefore on the present situation, and I urge you, my friends, to have confidence.”
https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/233/whom_shall_i_fear___john_chrysostom.html
The trials of life can consume us all whether it is financial, personal, or medical.
The Rock upon which our faith is built is Christ.
He is the rock of refuge.
He is the place of comfort.
He is the pavilion of rest.
He is the gift of mercy.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell[b] shall not prevail against it. Matt 16:18
Christ is our Rock, our Refuge, and our Rest!
45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat [Luther sees the boat as a metaphor for the church] and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
Jesus compels the disciples to leave. Maybe there was unwillingness on their part but Jesus made them get into the boat. He dismisses the crowds and then as is consistent with Jesus, no matter the crowds or the work or the distractions … Jesus prays.
47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, [also seen as a metaphor for the chaos of the world broken in sin, death and the devil]
and [Jesus] was alone on the land.
By this time … the boat was a far way off.
The wind and waves were against the boat and the disciples … as life at times can be.
[This is also reminiscent of the storm and the boat from last month where Jesus was sleeping in the boat.]
The storms can come, and at times it is with wind, rain, and hail. Tree limbs can break, homes and cars can be damaged, and power for some … can be lost.
We’ve had our share or storms, rain and flooding this year. Evening driving out of our sub a few weeks ago Monica noticed a large limb down on a tree we just passed a short while before that we didn’t see was down.
Storms can come without warning and fear can be greatest … when we least expect it.
Jesus spent almost the entire night, after the disciples departed, in prayer.
The fourth watch would be late, between 3 AM and 6 AM. It can be the darkest part of the night or just before the grayness of dawn gives way to morning, and the disciples were fighting against the waves of the sea and the wind which were against them.
[Jesus] came to them, walking on the sea. Mark 6:48b
If you’ve ever been up most of the night you might understand the disciple’s distress. The wind, the waves … 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified.
Christ is our Rock, our Refuge, and our Rest!
For it is Jesus who says: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
I’ve told many of you that it is such a privilege to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I get to bring the Lord’s word and gifts to those in need who can’t get to church.
This past year God connected me to many members in need of prayer in our church. Some for healing, and some for peaceful release from their afflictions. Some for comfort at loss and some for wisdom and strength.
Apart from God’s word of forgiveness and the power of the Holy Spirit we all would be consumed with fear and despair during the trials of life and weight of our sinful condition in this life.
Take heart. Christ is our Rock, our Refuge, and our Rest!
The trials of life and the storms that attack us can’t diminish the Love of God for you his beloved redeemed children.
51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,
Jesus is the peace in the midst and beyond the storm.
54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard [Jesus] was.
The needs of body and soul are always at peace in Christ because he loves you and has given his life so that you might live.
56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
Take heart, in Christ your sickness is healed!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
The confiscation of goods … We brought nothing into this world, and we shall surely take nothing from it.
I have only contempt for the world’s threats;
I find its blessings laughable.
I have no fear of poverty, no desire for wealth.
I am not afraid of death or do I long to live, except for your good.
I concentrate therefore on the present situation, and I urge you, my friends, to have confidence.”
https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/233/whom_shall_i_fear___john_chrysostom.html
The trials of life can consume us all whether it is financial, personal, or medical.
The Rock upon which our faith is built is Christ.
He is the rock of refuge.
He is the place of comfort.
He is the pavilion of rest.
He is the gift of mercy.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell[b] shall not prevail against it. Matt 16:18
Christ is our Rock, our Refuge, and our Rest!
45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat [Luther sees the boat as a metaphor for the church] and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
Jesus compels the disciples to leave. Maybe there was unwillingness on their part but Jesus made them get into the boat. He dismisses the crowds and then as is consistent with Jesus, no matter the crowds or the work or the distractions … Jesus prays.
47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, [also seen as a metaphor for the chaos of the world broken in sin, death and the devil]
and [Jesus] was alone on the land.
By this time … the boat was a far way off.
The wind and waves were against the boat and the disciples … as life at times can be.
[This is also reminiscent of the storm and the boat from last month where Jesus was sleeping in the boat.]
The storms can come, and at times it is with wind, rain, and hail. Tree limbs can break, homes and cars can be damaged, and power for some … can be lost.
We’ve had our share or storms, rain and flooding this year. Evening driving out of our sub a few weeks ago Monica noticed a large limb down on a tree we just passed a short while before that we didn’t see was down.
Storms can come without warning and fear can be greatest … when we least expect it.
Jesus spent almost the entire night, after the disciples departed, in prayer.
The fourth watch would be late, between 3 AM and 6 AM. It can be the darkest part of the night or just before the grayness of dawn gives way to morning, and the disciples were fighting against the waves of the sea and the wind which were against them.
[Jesus] came to them, walking on the sea. Mark 6:48b
If you’ve ever been up most of the night you might understand the disciple’s distress. The wind, the waves … 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified.
Christ is our Rock, our Refuge, and our Rest!
For it is Jesus who says: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
I’ve told many of you that it is such a privilege to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I get to bring the Lord’s word and gifts to those in need who can’t get to church.
This past year God connected me to many members in need of prayer in our church. Some for healing, and some for peaceful release from their afflictions. Some for comfort at loss and some for wisdom and strength.
Apart from God’s word of forgiveness and the power of the Holy Spirit we all would be consumed with fear and despair during the trials of life and weight of our sinful condition in this life.
Take heart. Christ is our Rock, our Refuge, and our Rest!
The trials of life and the storms that attack us can’t diminish the Love of God for you his beloved redeemed children.
51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,
Jesus is the peace in the midst and beyond the storm.
54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard [Jesus] was.
The needs of body and soul are always at peace in Christ because he loves you and has given his life so that you might live.
56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
Take heart, in Christ your sickness is healed!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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