Lord Don't You Care?

In Jesus Holy Name June 24, 2018

Text: Mark 4:35-41 Pentecost V Redeemer

“Lord Don’t You Care?”

(read the text)

Our story takes place on the Sea of Galilee. The story begins with Jesus having put in a long day of speaking from a boat to a large crowd of listeners gathered along the hillside and seashore of the Sea of Galilee. After He had finished, He told His closest friends that He needed to recharge His batteries. He asked his disciples, many of whom were experienced sailors to set a course which would take them to the other side of the lake. It would be a short trip of a few land miles. Jesus left the sailing to His friends and He settled down for a nap in the back of the boat. Mark tells us that other boats followed them.

While they were on the lake a “furious squall” descended upon the small fishing boats. To the north, you can see Mt. Hermon in the distance. Mt. Hermon is capped with snow, and sometimes the cold air from the top of the Mountain rushes down the mountain and blows across the lake. This storm was not that unusual on the Sea of Galilee, for it is in a deep bowl surrounded by high hills and mountains.

The force of the cold air colliding with the hot moist air around Galilee can be explosive. Waves can be 6 to 8 feet in height. It is a terrifying experience, especially when you are in a boat that is 26 feet long, 7 feet wide with very low sides. First century fishing boats were made for throwing nets over the side and drawing them in.

The storm quickly reached an intensity where even the experienced fishermen were afraid they might go down. Using every skill, every trick of a lifetime of seamanship had taught them, the disciples fought against the storm. The winds were wild. The waves were high. The swells kept breaking over the low sides of the boats. It didn’t take too long before the disciples realized they could not bail enough water. In spite of their knowledge and skill, they were in a nasty situation. Their lives might soon come to an abrupt and unexpected end.

They cry out: “Lord don’t you care….We are about to drown.”

Life Lessons:

Storms will come. If you choose to live in Florida or News Orleans you know that storms will come. If you live in the Midwest you know tornados will come. When a storm hits no amount of human intervention will stop the storm. Man made levees don’t always work.

Storms will come into our lives. Sometimes it’s a financial storm. For others it might be a serious health issue. Others might find they are being swamped by painful relationships. Winds of adversity blow into our lives.

You have tried to do the right thing. You have tried to be a good person, yet you may feel like you are sinking.

Mark tells us the disciples were afraid. Life jackets were not yet invented. Listen to their words: “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” When storms come we might find ourselves saying the same thing….wondering if God really cares about our plight. We’ve all been there. We are in the middle of a crisis and it seems like God is off somewhere….and we forget that He is all knowing.

Jesus don’t you care? Do the words sound familiar? They probably do if you have ever found yourself in a spiritual storm, a health crisis. “Jesus, don’t you care?” Have you ever asked any of these questions?

“God you are a gracious God, how can you allow this to happen?”

Lord Jesus, don’t you care that my child is sick?

Lord, don’t you care that my marriage is falling apart?

Jesus, don’t you care that my friends have deserted me?

Lord, don’t you care that I have no money?

Jesus, don’t you care that I feel so alone? Depressed?

Lord, don’t you care that I want to give up?

Jesus, don’t you care that my husband has died?

Lord Jesus, don’t you care that I lost my job?

If you have ever asked any of those questions you should know that God does care.

It was a caring God which had Him raise a young man from the dead and return him to his mother. It was a caring God that called a young girl back to life so she could be restored to her family. Because Jesus cared, He made sure His entire life was obedient. His walk to the cross was His destiny. He did not run from it. Because God cares Jesus willingly accepted all our broken commandments which alienate you and me from our Creator.

The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians: “…you were alienated from God. You were enemies in your minds and by your evil behavior…but a” caring God has brought you back into friendship through the death of Jesus on the cross.