Message: On the Boat / Mark 4:35-41

It was evening when Jesus finished teaching about the kingdom of God by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus and his disciples got into a boat to go to another village. Although it was getting dark, the disciples weren't worried because some of them were experienced fishermen from the Galilee region. They were experts at handling boats and knew the area well. 

As they were sailing on the lake, a big windstorm arose all of a sudden. The boat was rocked by large waves, and water began to flood in. The disciples tried to steady it, but they couldn't. Their boat was so small compared to the Sea of Galilee. They started to feel afraid. They had been sure about their sailing abilities, but now they were scared. The windstorm was making them feel weak. Before their boat could break, their spirits were in danger of breaking first.

In the midst of all this chaos, Jesus was sleeping peacefully, like a baby in his mother's arms. At first, the disciples didn't wake him. Because he was originally a carpenter, they assumed he wouldn't be able to help keep the boat safe in the storm. However, as they realized the storm was stronger than they thought, they went to him and woke him up. Then they said, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

Jesus woke up and scolded the wind, saying to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind stopped blowing, and everything became calm. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”

This story is mentioned not only in Mark but also in Matthew and Luke. One of the interesting points is that none of these Gospels record that Jesus rebuked his disciples; he scolded the windstorm but didn't get angry at the disciples.

The word "πίστις (pistis)" that Jesus used in today's text means reliability or dependability as well as faith. This noun is connected to "πιστεύω (pisteou)," which means "to believe," "to trust," or "to rely on." In this sense, Jesus' words to his disciples can be understood as "Why are you afraid? Why don't you still rely on me?"

Jesus rebuked the storm for scaring his disciples, but he did not rebuke those who were afraid. Instead, in a gentle voice, he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Why don't you still rely on me?" Jesus reminded them that they were in the same boat as him. With Jesus, they didn't need to fear anything. When they leaned on Jesus, nothing could overwhelm them and no situation could make them feel hopeless.

For us Christians, faith is essential. When we believe in Jesus Christ, we become courageous because faith gives us confidence that we are made in God's image and are God’s beloved children. When we believe in Jesus Christ, we love others fully, even our enemies, because faith connects our hearts to God's compassionate heart for all people. When we believe in Jesus Christ, we have ultimate hope because faith allows us to dream of God's Kingdom, where a tiny seed grows into a large tree that offers shelter for weary birds. When we believe in Jesus Christ, we become strong because faith leads us to experience God's power, caring for us when we are weak. When we believe in Jesus Christ, we are justified because faith directs us to God, who welcomes us with immeasurable love despite our faults, limitations, and shortcomings.

But this is also very important: just because faith has not yet grown in you, it doesn't mean Christ gives up on you. Just because you are not fully relying on Christ, it doesn't mean Christ abandons you. Just because your mind is so distracted by a challenge or hardship, it doesn't mean Christ is not with you. No matter how strong your faith is, Christ is in the boat with you.

When faced with a crisis or overwhelming difficulty, don't try to handle it all by yourself. Even Jesus' disciples, who were fishermen, were powerless against the unexpected storm. What you need to do is wake up Jesus, who is in your boat. It's okay to show your frustration or worries honestly, like the disciples did. You can say to Jesus, "Don't you care that I'm perishing?" What's important is to remember that Jesus is in the boat with you. Please don’t forget that Jesus' silence doesn't mean he is absent.

Japanese author Shusaku Endo (1923-1996) wrote a novel entitled “Silence" about the persecution of Christians in Japan during the 16th and 17th centuries. Rodrigues, a Portuguese Jesuit priest, goes to Japan on a mission with his companion Garpe. There, he witnesses horrific situations: Japanese authorities force Christians to trample and spit on a portrait of Jesus. Those who refuse are brutally executed. After Garpe is martyred, Rodrigues is imprisoned and tortured. Amidst this suffering, he begins to question God's silence, saying "Lord, why are you silent? Why are you always silent?" 

Then one day, officials make Rodrigues stand in front of the portrait of Jesus. Beside him are Christians who have been tortured by hanging upside down for days, barely clinging to life. Seeing their suffering, Rodrigues is deeply troubled. One of the officials tells him that if he steps on the portrait of Jesus, it will stop their torture. It's rather easy for him to die alone.

He hesitates for a while but eventually places his foot on the portrait. It is a moment when Christ breaks the silence and speaks to him: "Trample! I more than anyone know of the pain in your foot. Trample! It was to be trampled on by people that I was born into this world. It was to share people's pain that I carried my cross."

Afterwards, Rodrigues has to live in shame for the rest of his life, but he comes to understand the way Jesus Christ loves people. For Rodrigues, the cross is no longer a symbol of God's silence but a sign of Christ's presence with those who suffer.

There will be times when a fierce storm arises before us. There will be times when large waves threaten our boat. There will be times when our boat rocks from side to side, being swamped. There will be times when a powerful wind paralyzes our minds and souls. When that happens, remember this short prayer from a fisherman in the Breton region: "Dear God, be good to me; the sea is so wide, and my boat is so small."

Our boat may be small and weak, but Jesus Christ is with us in the boat. Even if our faith is not yet strong, Christ will never forsake us. Christ's silence never means His absence. Wake up Christ in the boat. Then He will calm the sea, the wind, our souls, and our hearts.

Thanks be to God. Amen.



Rev. Min Hwang

South Stormont Pastoral Charge

(Ingleside-Newington United Church & St. Andrew's-St. Mark's United Church)

Pentecost 5, 2024

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