Mark 4: 35-41

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christus, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.  

Mark 4: 35-41

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 

36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 

37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 

38 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?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (NIV)

Dear Congregation,

It is one of the worst and most difficult experiences in people's lives when they have the impression: No one notices what is happening to us.

The disciples here are disappointed. They have the impression that Jesus does not care about them perishing.

It shocks me how many people in the world live with this impression: Nobody cares that they perish.

Two weeks ago, 51 buses were set alight about 60 kilometres from here; part of the war with the taxi operators. Hundreds of domestic workers, gardeners, and cashiers could not show up for work in Pretoria. This caused fear in some of them: “Will they believe me?” “Will I lose my job?”

Even worse: it brought back memories of the late 80s when people were burned to death in the townships. “Are you not bothered that we perish?”

Last week I was in Nairobi - it was the annual Regional Africa EKD-Conference. The topic of discussion was: “Where is God?” “Where is He?” --- and following that: “Where is He not?”

We visited very different places: fascinating landscapes. At sunrise on Thursday, we stood at the Great Rift Valley, which stretches from Israel to Mozambique. The day before, we were in Kibera: one of the largest “slums”, according to the Kenyans themselves. Our visit brought joy: people are interested in us; they are not indifferent.

How often have I not experienced this in my life: the sigh of relief and the joy of people who are visited and recognized in their suffering. It could be people in a township. It could be a seriously ill person in hospital in intensive care. It could be an elderly couple in a nursing home. It could be babies and children who are severely disabled. It could be villagers in remote regions of the world who are cut off from the development of the big cities.

It could be researchers whose findings hardly anyone wants to take seriously.

It could be young people who are afraid of climate change and who live without hope.

Yes, there are so many different people who want to be recognized in their various forms of suffering. It means something to them when someone asks how they are doing. It means something when they are noticed and gain the impression: Our plight does mean something to the world.

 “Don't you care that we perish?!”

The doubt could not be greater. The disciples, who have been travelling with Jesus for a while now, are at their wits end.   A storm arises.…..doubt hits hard.

A storm in which they do not know whether their sails are strong enough; whether the boat will hold out; whether their abilities will be sufficient, whether they will make it through the storm. And the one they have trusted so far and believed he would protect them in the storm is asleep. He obviously doesn't care what's going on in their lives.

For Mark, what is at stake here is whether Jesus lives up to expectations. Is he the Messiah or is he not? Is Jesus able to support us through storms or not. Is he the Jewish saviour that Israel has been waiting for?

From Psalm 121, every Jew knows that the guardian of Israel does not sleep or slumber. And now Jesus lies asleep in the boat. Were they mistaken?

Who among you has never doubted whether Jesus has the power to redeem and deliver? Who among you has never had the impression of being alone and thrown out into darkness? No one around who asks whether you will make it through or not.

Mark describes the greatest forlornness a person can feel. Mark knows the loneliness that an approaching storm can cause. Mark knows how great and overwhelming the fear can become.

The disciples summon up all their courage. In their distress, they do not make a desperate attempt to save themselves. They wake Jesus up. They ask questions. They don't want to remain in the dark. 

“Do you not care that we perish?”

But Jesus does care. He sees their fear of the storm and calms it. That is the first thing he does. Only then does he ask: “Why are you so afraid?”

First, he calms the storm - that's important to me. He doesn't take the opportunity to show his disciples up and ask them in the middle of the storm: “Why are you so afraid?

The disciples experience what they had doubted: in the midst of their fear, something turns out to be good.

When they see themselves drowning, when they no longer have any idea how the boat will land safely on the other shore, they experience Jesus in a new way. Jesus develops and unfolds a power that they did not expect.

The sleeping man wakes up. He comes to life. And so soon after sleep, he is as effective, as strong, as comforting as they knew him to be.

Now they know that Jesus sleeps and does not slumber when it counts. Jesus is fully human - with the human need for sleep and he is fully God: wide awake in times of need.

And as the disciples learn: Jesus asks about them. Jesus has compassion for their fear. He not only calms the storm but also awakens new faith. They are blessed with a new fearlessness. This is a trust that arises when people in need are not left alone.

Last week in Kibera: residents from the slum proudly showed us a project: German funding and individuals who cared that people were perishing and changed that. A project had been created: In the middle of the slum: a place full of hope.

Recently at the Baby Therapy Centre: I was there with a guest from the Netherlands. Staff proudly showed us what they do, and it became clear how much they care for the children. “It's not a job - it's a calling!”

For me, this is one of the most important and greatest callings in following Jesus: that we as congregations create places where people know that they are being noticed: I am cared for in my need.
That is our calling and task in the world, to go to the places where storms rage and arise: and to bear witness to our faith there. Faith in a God who neither sleeps nor slumbers, but is wide awake, resurrected and alive with those who are in need.

There, where the impression could arise that no one cares that people are perishing: God is there. There he is, sometimes appearing far too silent - as if God himself were tired and powerless. But there he is at work. People wake God up. People remind God of his promise: People cling to God's promises. People ask questions: God, are you still concerned, or don't you care that we are perishing?

Let us be courageous and fearless together with God where storms arise. Let us experience how God silences these and increases and grows our trust.

Let us believe in such a way that we trust that when a storm arises - there will also be new life! In the midst of the storm, the turning point to fearlessness and new faith.

Today I wish you a peaceful Sunday - safe in the peace of God. The God who neither sleeps nor slumbers.

May the peace of God, which is higher than our understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.