Third Sunday in Advent – December 14, 2024
“Jesus In the Storm” Mark 6:45-52
Curt Engle, Ascension Lutheran Church, Littleton
Nebraska is famous for its unpredictable storms. I didn’t know that until twelve years ago. That is why the storm I am about to tell you about took me and my family totally off guard. It happened when my family visited my dad and his wife at their lake house on Lake McConaughy in Nebraska on Independence Day.
My wife and son and I decided to do the touristy thing and go to boot hill in Ogallala to see where some infamous cowboys were buried and watch the fireworks there.
After the fireworks show we headed back to my dad’s house on Lake McConaughy. My wife was driving, I heard some weather warnings on the radio but thought nothing of it. It was beautiful out during the entire fireworks show!
Just then my wife said, “Look what we are about to drive into.” I lifted my head up just in time to see us drive into a wall of rain. It was a rain like I have never seen before. My wife put on her windshield wipers full blast, and we still couldn’t see anything. “What should I do,” she said. “Pull over,” I said. Then the hail started. It sounded like people were dropping baseballs from a four-story building on the roof, first, one at a time, then it grew at a rapid pace. If that wasn’t enough, a violent wind shook the car. My son and my wife both let out a gasp.
We all felt that we were in real danger. I thought about driving back to Ogallala. And as if my wife could read my mind she said, “I know you can’t out drive a storm.” She also said, “If this is a tornado you are not supposed to stay in the car, you are supposed to lie in a ditch.” To me that sounded like leaning into a punch. I never felt so afraid and so helpless. We were all alone in the dark with nowhere to turn. “I have brought my family terror with no way to protect them,” I thought. It felt like everything was out of control. What a night!
We just read about a storm in our text. I think what the disciples were experiencing on the Sea of Galilee was ten times worse.
As they were making their way for Bethsaida in the dark, they fought a strong wind that lasted for hours. Our text says that they were making their way painfully in the wind until about the fourth watch of the night, which is about 3 a.m.! This means that they were fighting at the oars for almost the whole night!
What about the storms or challenges of body and soul that you face? I bet you all have some fears. If I had a giant blackboard with the word FEARS on top, and I went around the sanctuary asking each of you personally to name your fears, I bet we could fill it up. Do you fear the present economy? Do you fear having enough money to last throughout your retirement? Do you fear medical test results? Do you fear for the well-being of your children?
Our Lord would have us turn to Him even in the midst of these storms.
I mentioned earlier that the disciples struggled at the oars until 3 a. m. What happened next corresponds with our advent message for today, Jesus revealed Himself as Lord to not only to the hardened hearts of the disciples, but to us too. Jesus walked on water. He wanted His disciples and us to recognize His divine power. Throughout the Book of Mark Jesus was getting on the disciples for not recognizing His divine power. But now, He walked on water in the middle of a storm in the middle of the night, and right smack in the middle of their faith shortage. Just so, He saves us.
Jesus came to us for a reason. He is Immanuel – God with us.
He came to us so we wouldn’t fear death. He came to the disciples that night and He came to the world on Christmas Day. He could have stayed in heaven on the throne on the right side of our heavenly Father, but He mercifully came to us to calm our fears. Mainly, our fear of experiencing the curse or consequence of our sin, which is being separated from God.
In other words, Jesus came to calm our fear of facing our worse moments alone. He was born to suffer and die and experience the curse for us, so we wouldn’t have to be slaves to this fear.The Hebrews author tells us in chapter two, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham, therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered, when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Without a Savior, we would live in slavery to the fear of death. But Jesus has taken the consequences of our sin and removes our fear. Knowing our weaknesses He will always help us when we are tempted to succumb to our fears and not call out for Him to save us.
We can, you know, call out for Jesus to save us, As a matter of fact, God desires nothing more from us than that we ask Him for great things. In fact, He is disappointed when we don’t ask and pray with confidence.
Our Hebrew author goes on in chapter 4, “Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Look at what happened with the disciples. When the disciples saw Jesus walking on water they thought he was a ghost, but He said, “Take heart; It is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got in the boat with them and the wind ceased. The disciples saw His divinity and were amazed, Mark tells us, “They were utterly astounded.”
When my family was scared for their lives, Jesus also revealed himself to us. When I think back on it now the storm seemed to strengthen our faith in Him. After the wind shook the car and my wife and son let out a gasp, my wife started to pray, “Jesus protect us from this storm.” Then again, “Jesus protect us from this storm”.
Then my son, who was 13 years old at time, started to pray, not in unison, but the same prayer, “God save us from this storm. God save us from this storm.”
I then realized that Jesus was in the car with us, and it was if he said to me personally, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” I immediately prayed my own prayer, “God I have no way to protect my family. My wife and son already understand that, so I am going to be like them and totally put everything in Your hands.” There was instantly a rushing calm that came over me. I put my trust in my Savior like never before. Jesus was revealed to me through the prayers of my family. Our faith in Christ was changed that faithful night.
When the rain stopped and the winds ceased, we were able to drive back to my dad’s lake house. When we walked into the door my son said, “Grandpa, we just had a death-defying experience.” He was right. Jesus revealed Himself to us and defied our deaths that night, just as He revealed Himself to all creation on that Christmas night years ago, to deliver us from the fear of death and death itself.
Will you pray with me? Lord save us when we are overcome by life’s storms and our hearts are darkened by unbelief. Calm the tempest, open our eyes, and create within us the faith to recognize You. Amen.
