1. [Lost Patrol
Among their many tasks, the Royal Northwest Mounted Police (aka: NWMP or Mounties) in Fort MacPherson, North West Territories, was also in charge of delivering mail to Dawson City, Yukon, a trek of 475 miles by dogsled. The trail was quite hazardous. The sleds often broke through the ice over the lakes and rivers, and the temperatures were often extreme.
In December 1910, Inspector F.J. Fitzgerald, along with three of his comrades, was in charge of the next mail delivery to Dawson City. They left the fort to never return.
On February 28th a search party with dogs was send out from Dawson City. (Note that three months had already gone by! Bureaucracy?) Three weeks later they discovered the bodies of the Fitzgerald patrol 35 miles from Fort MacPherson.
It seems that Fitzgerald had lost his way in the Oglivie Mountains and decided to head back to Fort MacPherson. Because of lack of supplies, bad weather, sparse game and inexperience, however, they never made it.
Shortly after this disaster, rest cabins and supply caches were set up along the route to Dawson City, and experienced First Nations guides and hunters were arranged to accompany every patrol. As a result, the Mounties learned to depend on the knowledge and generosity of the First Nations people for survival in this harsh climate. They soon realized that their issue uniforms were not the most efficient for the Yukon's weather (red is nice, but how useful is it in a snow storm?) And a decision was made to adopt the clothing of the First Nations people: fur-trimmed coats, hide mitts and mukluks. Many of these were given to the police as gifts.
Soon the First Nations people became indispensable to the Mounties as dog drivers, guides, hunters, interpreters and tailors. The designation of "Special Constable" was given to these men, and with their help, the fatal consequences suffered by the Lost Patrol were avoided by future NWMP constables.
Having a reliable guide, one who knows the way and knows how to avoid danger, is a very important thing, especially in this world of chaos and confusion! We often wonder what to do, which way to turn, what decisions to make, etc., and the advice of our fellow human beings often leave us wanting.
There is a Guide who is infallible. Not only this, but He's also available at all times! You can entrust your very life to His hands, with the assurance that you couldn't be in better hands (not even your own!)!
Jesus is our Guide in the midst of chaos
2. We are generally a bundle of chaos and confusion
a. Disease
b. Addictions
c. Job Stress
d. Families in turmoil
e. Fears
3. In spite of this, God invites us to be part of his mission
a. That is, to bring Shalom (peace; wholeness) to people -- John 14.27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
b. Motivated by a deep love and concern even for those out of our comfort zones
4. Mark 4.35-41
I. Jesus on Mission -- To Bring Shalom (Peace and Harmony) to the Other Side
A. A Center for Pagans: The Decapolis
1. Galilee -- devotion to God; Bible belt
2. Avoided Uncleanness at all costs (Matthew and Luke -- unclean stories precede this one)
16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6.16-18 (CF Isaiah 52.11-12)
3. The Other side had people in need as the Legion demoniac
B. Chaos Demonstrated -- an Interference to Jesus' Mission to the Other Side
1. The beginning -- The earth was without form [tohu] and void [v'vohu], and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1.2
2. Sea represents chaos (no Sea in Heaven -- Revelation 21.1)
3. Storm on the sea is HIGH chaos -- note it was at night as well -- Psalm 107.23-32
[Have you had those highly chaotic times when all seems distorted? A woman was in the checkout line in a grocery store. When it was her turn to pay she had trouble finding her wallet in her enormous purse. She finally began dumping things out onto the counter. One of the things she dropped was a TV remote. The man behind her could not contain himself and approached her. The woman thought he was angry for the delay, but he calmed her and asked about the remote. She replied that she and her husband had a giant fight just before she left to come to the store. She took the remote because that was the worst thing she could think of to do to him. CHAOS!
4. God settled the initial chaos with speaking -- Let there be. Light and creates stars, land, plants, animals, people, "tov and tov meod" Jesus settle the chaos here
C. Concern Displayed in Jesus' Mission
1. House of Israel and Other sheep
2. Confrontation of Evil
3. Mission to fix the broken -- even an unclean, demon-possessed man on the other side
II. Resistance to Jesus' Mission
A. It Appears that the Disciples Hesitated to Go on this Mission
1. Every time on the sea with Jesus, there is a storm
2. Feared the Sea -- "Abyss"
3. We realize that there are always storms -- whether or not we obey God
4. They are so hesitant that they do not get out of the boat when the reach the other side
B. The Devil Hampered This Mission
1. The King of Tohu -- Isaiah 5.20 (evil good; good, evil)
2. Jesus challenges the Evil One on the sea and with the Legion of demons
3. The storm was to disrupt Jesus' Mission
* [Qs: Does Satan ever disrupt congregations on mission from God? Greek widows; persecution that caused dispersion; issue of circumcision; US? Would you say our congregation is at peace or in turmoil? Why? The Adversary even misuses scripture on occasion to disrupt believers.
* Since God is not the author of confusion but shalom (1 Corinthians 14.33), would it be safe to say that if we are living in chaos and turmoil, God is not reigning?
4. Jesus rebukes Satan -- "SHUT UP!" (Literally)
And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Zechariah 3.2
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts// "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46.6, 10
5. The Sea and winds calmed
A teacher named Phyllis I. Martin told the true story of Tornado threat in her school.
Storm clouds and strong gusts of wind had come up suddenly and the Alpine Elementary School radio blared tornado warnings. It was too dangerous to send the children home. Instead, they were taken to the basement, where the children huddled together in fear.
We teachers were worried too.
To help ease the tension, the principal suggested a sing-along. But the voices were weak and unenthusiastic. Child after child began to cry -- we could not calm them.
Then a teacher, whispered to the child closest to her, "Aren't you forgetting something Kathie? There is a power greater than the storm that will protect us. Just say to yourself, 'God is with us.' Then pass the words on to the child next to you."
As the words were whispered from child to child, a sense of peace settled over the group. I could hear the wind outside still blowing with the same ferocity of the moment before, but it didn't seem to matter now. Inside, fear subsided and tears faded away.
What made the difference? The storm still raged outside. But knowing God was with them calmed their fears.
III. Results of Jesus's Mission -- 5.1-20
A. Attempting the Unimaginable -- Approached the epitome of unclean
1. In the Gerusim -- place of the casting out -- steep cliff; across the Sea of Galilee; 10th Legion base -- wore the emblem of the Boar on uniform and banner -- PAGANS
2. The man -- tombs (pagan rituals to the dead?); pigs; bloody; naked; living in filth; loss of sanity; legion of demons
B. Accomplishing the Incredible
1. Already calmed the storm, now heals the man -- cleansed, clothed in right mind
2. People cast Jesus out
3. Matthew's account -- 2 men -- Hebrew literary technique to include us in the story
C. An Amazing Inclusion for the Conclusion (5.18-20)
1. Jesus gives the man a specific task
2. He did his job -- crowds came as Jesus did miracles in the Decapolis (Mark 7.31-8.10)
1. See this story as a fulfillment of Isaiah 65.1-7
2. What do we learn?
a. God is on a mission to find and fix broken people -- each is valuable to God -- Isaiah 65.8
b. God invites us on His Mission
c. That Mission takes us into uncomfortable places -- for the sake of broken people
US Coast Guard -- We have to go; we don't have to come back
d. Jesus's Mission to the other side was considered sinful by people who would not cross the sea for broken people
e. Jesus set the example for our commission -- Acts 1.8
f. The Mission is challenged by the Adversary and ignored by the Disciples -- along for the ride
g. To be on mission with Jesus we have to get out of the boat and "get our hands dirty"
h. Our Mission is greater than a few minutes in a worship service -- it is making a daily impact so that people can know God and His Son and be healed of brokenness.
3. What will we do?
a. Put God on HIS Throne in our lives and the life of the congregation
b. Enlist or re-enlist as partners in His Mission
c. Go with God -- PERIOD -- good times and uncomfortable times
d. Realize the adversary will challenge but Jesus is greater than the Adversary -- Mark 4.41
e. Let the peace that passes understanding rule our hearts and lives.
4. The Lion
Two explorers were on a jungle safari when suddenly a ferocious lion jumped in front of them. "Keep calm," the first explorer whispered. "Remember what we read in that book on wild animals? If you stand perfectly still and look the lion in the eye, he will turn and run."
"Sure," replied his companion. "You've read the book, and I've read the book. But has the lion read the book?"
Fear is something that is common to all of us. We're generally afraid when we're not sure how things are going to turn out. Through the events in this passage, we see how we can better face our fears and overcome through Jesus, the Messiah..
RP 7.11.15
