Aug 6 2023 Mark - Walking on Water

John Ference:

Mark 4:35 And on that day, when it* was evening, he said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him along, as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great storm of wind developed, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already being filled with water.* 38 And he was in the stern sleeping on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, is it not a concern to you that we are perishing?”

39 And he woke up and* rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Be quiet! Be silent!” And the wind abated and there was a great calm. 40 And he said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you not yet have faith?” 41 And ⌊they were terribly frightened⌋ and began to say to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

The story you’re about to hear is fictional, although true. A name has been changed to conceal the forgiven until the proper time.
Little Jake is being raised as a faith-filled Jewish boy surrounded by faith-filled family and friends. He and his father, Alphaeus, and his mother, Mary, go to the temple every Sabbath and hear the teachers read from the scriptures. He hears all the stories, and he forms his view of the world from the stories he hears.
Don’t we all form our views of the world that way?
Little Jake believes the world is flat and exists in three layers. The heavens, where Yahweh has His throne, the underworld, where the rebellious angels are imprisoned, and the part in between, the middle earth, where men live. The underworld, which is also called “the deep,” or sometimes “Sheol” is also connected somehow with the sea. But the connection is fuzzy.
He is aware that OTHER cultures around them believed in multiple gods. Those other cultures believe in a god of the sun, another god of the moon, yet another god of war, a god of the harvest, a god of storms… and the list goes on. He and his family know that those other gods are out there and have some limited power, but they put their loyal allegiance in a single God who has set their people apart for His plan. Little Jake believes, that is, he WANTS to believe that this God, the One they call Yahweh, is all-powerful and has complete control over the elements, sun, rain, wind, earth, the stars, the sea… all of it – INCLUDING the other gods.
Little Jake hears the stories from the Law, Prophets, and Writings that Yahweh revealed Himself to his forefathers is in control of ALL of that. But sometimes, it’s easy to forget. Sometimes, it doesn’t seem like Yahweh is there at all. If He IS there, why doesn’t He do something about these Romans who walk all over his friends and family?
The most prominent god of the Canaanites, one of those nearby cultures, is Baal. Baal is called “the God of the Storm.” Jake knows from the stories that Israel was scolded by the prophets on many occasions for turning their allegiance from Yahweh to Baal. The very people that Yahweh chose for Himself had learned to fear the storms more than they feared Yahweh and had decided to put their loyalty in the one THEY thought controlled the storms, Baal.
Even though his God, Yahweh, was in control of all the elements, Little Jake also knew that the scriptures told him that wind and storms are things to be feared.
In the first book, the one about the beginning, Jake listens carefully as the one of the Rabbi’s reads,
“11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.
22 Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark.

This is terrifying to little Jake. It keeps him up at night worrying about whether a storm would “blot out” everything again.

Sometimes it’s easy to remember things like this that King David says in the writings,
“5 For the breaker waves of death engulfed me;
the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.
6 The ropes of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.”

… and sometimes it’s difficult to remember the “rest of the story” like this,
“7 In my distress I called upon Yahweh, and to my God I called.
He heard my voice from his temple,
and my cry for help was to his ears.”

… and sometimes, it’s nearly impossible to remember how God responds to that call,
“8 The earth heaved and shook,
the foundations of heaven trembled and heaved
because ⌊he was angry⌋.
9 Smoke went up from his nostrils and fire from his mouth.
Burning coals devoured, they burned from him.
10 He bowed the heavens and came down;
a very thick cloud was under his feet.
11 He rode upon a cherub and flew;
he was seen on the wings of the wind.
12 He put darkness as a canopy all around him,
a collection of ⌊thick rain clouds⌋.
13 From the brightness before him
flamed burning coals of fire.
14 Yahweh thundered from heaven,
and the Most High ⌊uttered his voice⌋. “

… and even if by some small chance that DOES come to mind, then the finale of that passage makes it seem as though there is as much to be feared from Yahweh as there is from Baal when it comes to storms.
“15 He sent arrows and he scattered them,
lightning, and he directed them.
16 Then the channels of water of the sea were exposed,
the foundations of the world,
at the rebuke of Yahweh,
from the blast of the breath of his nostrils.”


When another Scribe reads the story of Job, it does not bring peace to poor little Jake when he’s trying to get to sleep at night.
“20 Terrors overtake him like the water;
a storm wind carries him off in the night.
21 The east wind lifts him up, and he is gone,
and it sweeps him away from his place.
22 And it hurls at him, and it has no compassion;
he will quickly flee from its power.
23 It claps its hands over him,
and it hisses at him from its place.”

Yahweh even seems to CONFIRM Job’s fear… and AMPLIFY poor little Jake’s.
“22 Have you entered into the storehouses of the snow,
or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
for the day of battle and war?
24 Where then is the way where the light is distributed,
where he scatters the east wind upon the earth?
25 “Who has cut open a channel for the torrents
and a way for the ⌊thunder bolts⌋,
26 to bring rain on a land ⌊where no one lives⌋,
a desert ⌊where no humans live⌋,”

The writings of the prophets aren’t much better. Jake’s parent’s don’t have a copy of the scrolls, but when they go to the synagogue again, he hears these things from the scroll of Isaiah.
“Isaiah 28:13 The nations roar like the roar of many waters,
but he will rebuke him, and he will flee far away.
And they are chased like chaff of the mountains before the wind
and like tumbleweed before the storm. “

“Isaiah 29:5b And it will happen in an instant, suddenly.
6 You will be punished by Yahweh of hosts
with thunder and earthquake and great sound,
storm wind and tempest and the flame of a devouring fire. “

As Jake grows up, they stop calling him little Jake and start calling him “Little Jacob.” He learns, maybe from his brother, about a Rabbi whose followers call him Messiah. So, when he is asked to follow along to learn from Him, he agrees…
HOWEVER, when he’s packing to go follow this man, he throws his whole collection of hangups into the suitcase. His fears, inhibitions, superstitions, and false beliefs all get shoved in there and takes them with him on his journey. Little Jacob has a terror of storms, and he can tell that even the experienced fishermen that he hangs out with agree that storms are dangerous. Not to mention that it seems likely that drowning in the sea is the most direct route to the underworld, the deep. Even though he wants to believe that Yahweh is in control of the storms, he secretly wants to ask Baal to “Baal him out” if darkness and trouble are on the horizon.
But this teacher seems to know something different. Something NEW. So Little Jacob follows, but cautiously.
After an exceptionally busy day of hearing the Teacher preach, listening to the interpretations of the parables that He told, watching Him heal all sorts of diseases, and standing with his mouth open after watching Him take authority over the rebellious spirits who had invaded a man’s body. Little Jacob is ready to crash – after all, it IS already night time. But the Teacher wants to go to the other side of the lake. Really? Is His watch broken? Didn’t He get that weather alert on his smart phone? Maybe He didn’t see the storm coming up on the horizon. Maybe He thought they could beat the storm.
Maybe he didn’t care.
After all, once they are on the boat, the Teacher doesn’t help row, He goes to the back of the boat, takes the cushion, and goes to sleep. THEN, sure enough,
“37 … a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he 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. 40 He 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?”’

At that moment, Little Jacob recognizes Who he is following. This is the one who controls the storm. This was the Man who puts Baal in his place. This is the Yahweh who reveals Himself in the storm. This is Jesus, whom the Father has given authority over all creation.
Little Jacob, aka James the Less, recognizes the One whom he has learned about since he was a child,
“Psalms 135:6 All that Yahweh desires, he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all the depths.
7 He causes clouds to rise from the edge of the earth;
he makes lightnings for the rain;
he brings out the wind from his storehouses.”

And if I may be so bold as to insert my thoughts here, Jesus shows that He also puts the wind back into His storehouses.
I mentioned that the name was changed to protect the forgiven. This story was never about Little Jake, or James the Less. It was about John Ference, the one whose worst nightmares were about tornados (and spiders). It was about not having control of the circumstances that seem to be coming on the horizon.
When I was a kid, a teenager, we lived about a half a mile from a route running across Ohio called “tornado alley.” Every year, tornado warnings sound near our home. One neighbor’s barn was thrown into the road one year, then the roof of their house was torn off and put where their barn used to be in the following year. Another neighbor’s silos were ripped from the middle of their barn yard without damaging the barns. Our house had some damage occasionally. In a later year and an eighteen inch diameter healthy pine tree that stood three feet from our house was twisted off at the base and thrown … away from the house.
After those years, when things would get stressful for me… Things like moving away from home, starting college, getting a job, having projects go wrong during the job, getting another job, moving again, You know, the little things… During those times, the tornado dreams would come. Life is out of control. Things are flying toward me, past me, around me. Places that I know are getting destroyed. People that I care for are being taken away to who knows what fate... And I’m sure that I’m next.
Then I met this man, this Teacher. And He is telling me something different, something NEW. So I follow Him cautiously.
The storms are still coming. Jobs change, life changes, places are taken away from me, people I care about are taken away from me. Sometimes it feels like He doesn’t see the storm on the horizon. Sometimes I think His smart phone alert doesn’t tell him about the tornado warning in the area. Sometimes it feels like He doesn’t care. Sometimes it feels as though He is in the back of the boat sleeping.
But time after time, He has always been the one to put the wind back into the warehouse. When He’s ready, He stands up and the heavens bow. He comes down on His thick cloud. He climbs up on His cherup and He flies down on the wings of the wind. He thunders from heaven. Then from the breath of his nostrils, He extinguishes… not the storm… but my fear. And sometimes as an afterthought, He’ll calm the storm too. After all, He doesn’t need it anymore. It has done its job.

Mike Marette:

Part 2 – there are 2 sea stories in Mark – and they make bookends – the final one is at the end of Chapter 6

To put this in context – the story of the feeding of the 5000

Mark 6:35 When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, "This place is desolate and it is already quite late; 36 send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."

The disciples see a need – they have a concern for the people. It is a limited concern, but still a concern.

37 But He answered them, "You give them something to eat!" And they said to Him, "Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?"

(that’s about a year’s salary)

Jesus wants to expand their concern and care – He wants to give them a full concern for the people.

He is trying to teach the disciples what it is going to take to care and shepherd people.

We know the rest of the story – Jesus takes the few fish and blesses and it multiplies and everyone is satisfied.

Jesus and God (the same) care about people – in real and practical ways.

I was talking to someone once – I know God loves me, but I’m not sure He likes me. The crux being – Jesus died for my sins – so He loves me – but I’m not convinced He is concerned about the things that matter most to me.

When Jesus was asleep – the disciples came in – “Do you not care?”

Monday we watched our granddaughters – the older is learning to drink milk cold out of the refrigerator. And that is a problem, because she is not allowed to have it warm. After lunch – she wanted warm milk – and grandma said no – and the floodgates of tears opened. She knows grandma loves her…

There are times where we think God has not answered our biggest prayers. We think – if He liked me, He would not allow certain things to happen. Sometimes small things, sometimes big. Like the disciples in the boat – sometimes His response is not as quick as we would want it to be. Those kind of things cause us to doubt that Jesus cares about the things that I care about and mean a lot to me…

45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. 46 After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.

Jesus has these concerns for the practical needs in our lives – but He is also the perfect host – the last one there… It is evident there is this deep concern that He has – and it goes in every direction.

47 When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48 Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them.

Why? What is He thinking? Is He just enjoying the walk? Did He want more time alone? Is He thinking – eh, let them figure out this one themselves. For sure, it is a test of faith – but there is something else going on here. This little phrase serves a theological purpose of Mark – one of His primary purposes of the gospel is to show that Jesus is God – and the way it is done – Jesus does the things that only God can do. Only God can calm a storm. He forgave sins – Only God… He defeated Satan – He walks on water – only God.

Pass by them – found only in 3 critical places – 2 in the Old Testament. Each time, God is revealing Himself in a new way. The first time – Exodus 33 – Moses is on the mountain – and God says, I’ll stick you in the rock – and put my hands over your eyes – and then I will Pass by you…

The first is Moses. Jesus is the new Moses – the greater Moses.

Second – 1 Kings 19 – the prophet Elijah is having some issues – God, I am done… And God places him on the mountain – and I will pass by you – and then the storm comes – and the other things – and finally – the still, small voice – and Go dis in that.

God reveals Himself – first, in Jesus – as the greater Moses. Elijah represents the prophets.

This is your God.

49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, "Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid."

In the feeding of the 5000 – we see the practical concern – food – and now, we see his concern for their emotional needs. He immediately jumps in – take courage, It is I!

At the same time, we have a constant struggle believing that He really does care. I just want to give us a few things that will help – to help ujndersatnd that He likes us. It is a constant struggle when our circumstances don’t match what has already been done on the cross.

God cares and loves us is true – but we live in a world that does not like us – is not kind – is not on our side.

Yes, It is a beautiful world, but the world itself is not for us.

It is important in understanding God’s love – to understand that the world is antagonistic toward us. Our bodies are attacked by disease, age, the environment.

Our souls are attacked by loss, grief, shame, Satan.

Our minds are attacked by fear, anxiety, mental illness, depression

But God’s love and care does not necessarily prevent all these things. He rains on the good and the evil. Sickness and death and troubles come to all. In some ways, this has NOTHING to do with God’s love and care for you.

I was listening to a podcast on sovereignty – “I think our problem with it – we have made it equal with our English word, Control. These are completely different.

Here are some practical things I’ll close with that will help us see, connect, and understand God’’s love.

51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52 for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened

James:

James 1: Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. (Jam 1:17 NAS)

Every good thing – every gift, comes from God. We need to develop practices that help us see and connect every good thing that we get as coming from God.

You may know more – but we need to be aware (and look for) God’s activity and presence daily in our lives. We often don’t recognize it – we need to learn to pause. Learn to push the paus bo=utton – we just keep going - trying to crank it out – and sometimes momentary pauses – where is God in this? Is there something I’m missing here – He is present all the time – where is that?

Next – when God answers prauyers – return to Him! The 10 lepers – only 1 returned. I’m sure they were all grateful. But sometimes, when God answers, we fail to go back – and really sit before Him in appreciation and worship.

Third – we need to see all blessings as gifts from God. It was a weird spring – there were few bees out pollinating… - I saw a neighbor out staring – “Looking at your garden?” – No bees! I ordered 200 on Amazon! How do you do that.

And now they are showing up in our yard – and we were looking at flowers with the grandkids – “Bees are good” – the natural cycle is a good gift from God.

When people do things to help – Thank God! Thank them too!

God is for me with those who help me.

Finally – we need to create and develop a ‘stopping practice’

Just that – when we run into stressful, scary difficult situations, news, emails, people – and there is this… churning – we need to learn to stop. Find a way to not let that roll without having stopped.

I use Phil 4:6 –

That is one way

Psalm 46 – Cease striving.

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me – Your comfort delights my soul.

Whatever way – each of us needs a way when the anxious thoughts multiply… STOP! Let’s pray!