Pentecost 5 2 Corinthians 5:14-21  “Christ’s Love Compels Us”

Job 38:1-11     2 Corinthians 5:14-21   Mark 4:35-41

This has been quite a week.  From what I have been told, Pagosa had its biggest fireworks display ever. All across our land, fireworks were set off to celebrate Independence Day.  Thousands, perhaps millions of fireworks were set off on the fourth of July to the joy and delight of people throughout the United States.  But all of the power of those fireworks did not equal the power unleashed from just one of the bolts of lightning from the thunderstorms we had this week. And we have had several storms and many bolts of lightning.  If you were inside, you probably felt very comfortable and safe.  However, if you were camping in a tent up on top of a mountain, you may have been worried and concerned about the awesome power of the lightning.  

Our Old Testament lesson starts out saying, “Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm.” Imagine standing before God as He questions your abilities and knowledge. Imagine God who has control over all of the thunderstorms speaking to you as lightning and thunder flashes and crashes all around you. Imagine how unprotected, powerless, uncovered, and absolutely helpless you would feel.

Surely the disciples felt the same way in our Gospel lesson. Our Lord told them to go across the Sea of Galilee that night. The fishermen among the twelve wouldn't have done it if not for His bidding. Jesus was tired, from preaching and healing. The crowds followed Him everywhere. They even followed Him in other boats. But at least in a boat, Jesus would have a chance to lie down and rest, perhaps even to sleep. 

The Sea of Galilee however was known for its nasty storms. That night a strong wind howled down the mountainside and stirred up whitecaps on the water. It tossed the little boat around and threatened to wash the disciples overboard. Each wave built on the last one and each wave got larger and more deadly. 

The disciples looked worriedly at one another. They knew the sea and its storms; they knew how much a boat could take. They were doing everything they could, but it all looked hopeless.  And meanwhile Jesus was sound asleep in the back of the boat. The wind and the waves posed no threat. In fact He allowed this nasty squall to occur. Without a doubt, out of all the boats out on the sea that night, the one with Jesus on board was the safest of them all. But all of the disciples had their doubts.

Jesus was teaching them a lesson that they needed to learn, not by words but also through experience.  That night they experienced first hand that Jesus is Lord even when He is asleep. His disciples needed to learn that in order to become Apostles. And so Jesus sends His disciples out into a storm in a little boat with no protection.  Their boat can't save them. Their strength can't save them. Their knowledge and ingenuity can't save them. Their swimming ability can't save them. Sure Jesus is with them, but He is exhausted.  He appears weak and weary, asleep. But He can save them.

“Don't you care if we drown,” the disciples ask him.”  Surely you have asked Jesus that when troubles come into your life. We are afraid when the storms in this life threaten us.  When our health fails or disasters befall us and our life looks like it is going to end, we wonder where God is and why isn’t He doing something to help. During those times, we don't trust Jesus, at least not fully, not with our whole heart. We become frightened by the dangerous events in this world and we cry out to God, “Don’t you Care?”

But you know the answer--of course Jesus cares. He cares that the disciple were in danger of drowning and He cares when earthly problems threaten your life. Jesus entered our world precisely because He cares so much. He became a human being because He cares. He preached the good news of God's reign because He cares. He healed the sick and cast out demons and forgave sinners because He cares. And He cares enough to teach you lessons that are sometimes very hard and very frightening just as this lesson was terrifying to his disciples.

So Jesus stood up in the boat, and rebuked the wind and the waves. "Be quiet! Be still!" He did not say those words timidly or weakly.  He spoke those words with great power and authority. Those are the very same words He used to silence the demons. “Be quiet! Be still!” And like the demons, the wind and the waves obeyed Him. All it took were words from Jesus' mouth. Be quiet! Be still! Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. God speaks His Word and it becomes a reality!  One can only imagine the still calm and quietness.

"Why are you so afraid," Jesus asks his disciples. “Do you still have no faith?" In the silence after the storm, Jesus words echoed in their hearts. The disciples were still afraid. Even though the wind was quiet and the waves were calm, Mark says, “They were terrified." "Who is this, even the wind and the waves obey him?"

Now they feared the one who was asleep in the back of the boat. They now had the same fear that Job had as he stood before Almighty God.  Better to fear the Lord than the wind or the waves. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Psalm 111:10) The fear of the Lord is also the beginning of faith. Jesus said, "Do not fear those who can harm the body but cannot harm the soul. Fear the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell." Fear God, and you have nothing left to fear in this world.

Because there is a better world to come to those who know who Jesus Christ really is. Yes, Jesus cares for you in this life but He also cares for your soul.  All of His healing, teaching and preaching certainly can help you have a better life in this world, but there is another world where you can have eternal life.

  Christ’s love for you goes way beyond anything that life here on earth can give you. Surely you realize how powerless we can be against the thunderstorms tornadoes and other disasters in this life, you begin to realize that we have a God powerful enough to control the entire universe. And surely when you realize the awesome power of God seen in the heavens and the earth, you realize that your feeble attempts to get to heaven by your good works are nothing to compared to the power of God Almighty.  Perhaps you also see that you cannot stand before such a powerful God and justify your sinful lives before One so mighty.     But you need not be afraid. 

Out of His love for you, Jesus takes your fears, your deepest dreads, whatever troubles you and keeps you up at night, causes you pain. He takes all of your fears, your regrets, and all of your sins and nails them to His cross.  Upon that cross, He suffered the powerful wrath of His Father as He paid for the sins of all mankind. As Saint Paul tells you, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”  The disciples learned Christ’s lessons well and became Apostles willing to preach, teach and proclaim the Gospel without regard to their life in this world.  They felt compelled to share the Gospel or Our Lord despite the hatred, derision and condemnation they would receive.  They knew the storms of this life had no permanent power over them. 

The next time you go outside after a thunderstorm, notice how after the clouds clear and night begins, how everything seems to be so peaceful and quiet. Look up through the freshly washed air at the stars in the sky and see just how huge the universe is and how small in the scheme of things you appear to be.

And yet along all of that awesome display of God’s power and infiniteness, also know in your heart that the God who has all of that power to create the universe in all of its vastness also knows your name.  You can have that same quietness and stillness that only comes from knowing that Jesus is watching over your soul. The heavens declare the Glory of His creation.  You can declare the glory of His love for you through Jesus Christ. 

And so like Saint Paul, I say to you that Christ’s love compels me and other pastors to preach and teach the love of Christ to anyone who is willing to listen.

So I leave you with these words of God spoken through David,  “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”  (Psalm 46:10-11)

In Jesus Name, Amen.