Calm in the Midst of the Storm

CALM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM
MATTHEW 8:23-27

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
In the name of Jesus:

One of the Pastors who trained me on my vicarage was Pastor Bob Holstein. Pastor Holstein was reared in Kansas and he loved a good thunderstorm. Thunderstorms in Southern Illinois can be quite violent, with the storms spawning many a tornado. I remember talking to him about Southern Illinois weather and how violent the storms seemed to be in that part of the country. He confided in me that he loved a good thunderstorm, in fact, Pastor Holstein recollected that while growing up in Kansas, he would stay with his grandparents from time to time. His grandpa was a pastor and Pastor Holstein remembered that, when he was a young boy, whenever a thunderstorm would approach the farmland in Kansas he would scurry up to the belfry of the church. He would get in the highest point he could get in that bell tower so that he could be close to the storm and see the lightening flash through the sky and hear the cracking boom of the thunder.
You laugh, thinking that man is nuts! I thought so too, but seeing as I wanted to pass vicarage, I nodded my head in approval, but upon further reflection, who in their right mind wants to do that? Pastor Holstein got a kick out of it, he loved it, he looked forward to being right in the middle of the thunderstorm, right in the smack dab middle where it would be the most dangerous. Now we know not to do that, it IS dangerous. Who wants to be in the middle of a storm, where you can see your life pass right before your eyes?
In our text for today, the disciples found themselves right in the middle of the storm, in a boat, all alone on the lake, with nowhere to run, and only One to turn to. They had gotten into the boat with Jesus and were sailing to the other side of the Sea of Tiberius. The Scripture says that there arose a great storm on the sea. Now mind you, this was before the weather channel and the Internet. There was no weather radio and no technological equipment. It was dark out, seeing that it WAS nighttime, and it was difficult to look at the sky and predict the weather. If you have ever been out in a boat in the middle of the night, you understand. The whole surroundings were pitch black. Storms in this area would come upon travelers suddenly. Starting in the Mediterranean Sea area, the storms would pick up strength and gather steam until the full fury of the storm would be unleashed upon the Sea of Galilee, just where Jesus and the disciples were traveling.
The winds were strong, the rains heavy, and weather violent. Hurricane force winds whipped the boat, so much so that the disciples saw their lives pass before their eyes. Water began to pour into the boat faster than the 12 could bail the water out of the boat. The waves were swamping the boat. And Jesus? He was asleep below, seemingly unaware of what was transpiring.
Frantically the disciples cried out to the Lord. It wasn’t a case of them gently trying to rouse Jesus from His slumber, “oh Jesus, time to get up…Get up you sleepy head.” No, it was a cry of desperation: ““Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
So, what are the storms in your life? What is causing you pain and anxiety in your life now? What is causing you pain, worry, and concern? What causes you to cry out to the Lord in desperation: “Save me Lord, for I am perishing? “ What causes you to look to the Lord, to cry out to Him when you feel like you are drowning in your fears? We can all relate to the Psalmist who laments: “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.” (Psalm 69:1).
Know this, dear child of God, that your Heavenly Father has heard your cry and He continues to hear your cry for help in time of need. For our God is a very present Help in times of trouble. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. Your help, my Help. Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
That is who was asleep in the bow of the boat. It was the Lord God, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who made heaven and earth. Why was He asleep? In part, because He was tired. But also because He was not afraid. And why wasn’t He afraid? Because He made heaven and earth. His creation was the work of His hands, He was in charge and He was in control.
That is why Jesus states: Don’t be afraid. These words aren’t just words without meaning, these are words which speak power and are power, for God’s Word is powerful, killing and giving life. And the same Jesus who spoke to His disciples in the midst of the storm speaks to you, today, in the middle of the storms of your life.
What does Jesus say? The very same thing that He said to His disciples, “Don’t be afraid.” Why shouldn’t we be afraid, after all, we are each and every one of us up to our neck in problems, in trials, and tribulations. Jesus tells us not to be afraid, because of who He is and because of what He has done.
He reminds you and me that He is the very Son of God in human flesh. He came from heaven to earth to cast out our fears, by taking on our flesh, by being our Substitute in His Life and death. Christ came to take on our flesh to keep the Law on our behalf, to fear, love, and trust in God above all things. And so, it should not surprise us when we hear the words: Don’t be afraid, for those words are Good News for sinners.
On the night when Jesus was born, the Scriptures state that shepherds were minding their own business, when heavenly guests surprised them. Angels announced the birth of Jesus and the Scriptures record that these shepherds trembled with fear. So what did the angels say to them to cast out their fear? “Do not be afraid, for there is Good News for to you is born in the city of David a Savior, He is Christ the Lord.” Christ was given the name Jesus because He would save His people from their sins.
And this is what Jesus has done, for in His death on the cross and His rising to life again, Jesus has defeated sin, Satan, and death for you and for al who believe. Even in death, Christ gives victory and hope. Mary Magdalene wept as she first saw the tomb where Jesus was laid. And yet God’s Good News to her through His angel was to not be afraid! “Don’t be afraid, for you look for Jesus, but He is not here, He has risen, just as He said!”
This same Jesus, who was born, who died and rose again, this same Jesus is the One in the boat, asleep, while the disciples let their fears get the best of them. Jesus said, do not be afraid, and then took action, calming the storm and quieting their fears.
Jesus does the same for you this day. For the Son of God in human flesh lives for you. As the hymnist writes: He lives to silence all my fears; He lives to wipe away my tears; He lives to calm my troubled heart; He lives all blessings to impart.
And God indeed blesses you today, even as you feel as if you are right smack dab in the middle of the biggest storm of your life. He blesses in that He reminds you that you are His very own baptized child. He has staked a claim on you, He has washed away your sins, you have been marked as one redeemed by Jesus Christ. He speaks His Word of comfort and grace and strength this day. He comes in the form of bread and wine to strengthen you on your pilgrimage. At the times in your life, in your crisis when it seems as if God is not there, just remember, Jesus is there with you in your boat. Your God is there with you. He has come to save you. His promise is certain and sure. In the middle of your crisis He says to you, don’t be afraid, for the Lord is your helper, He is at your right hand. He has won an overwhelming victory for you. So call upon Him in the day of your trouble. He will hear you, He will answer. Cast your cares on Him. He cares for you. For God says in His Word that the day that you call upon Him He will answer. God will be with you, He will deliver you. He will take care of you in the present. He holds your future in His hand. And nothing will ever be able to separate you from His love, which is yours in Christ Jesus. Amen
And now may the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen