"JESUS, DON’T YOU CARE?"
INTRODUCTION
The Sea Of Galilee, sometimes called The Lake of Gennesaret, is located in Israel. It is surrounded by hills and mountains. It is much, much smaller than Lake Erie: But like Erie it is subject to quick developing, violent storms. Several years ago our newspapers were filled with stories of three teenagers who set out in a small Boston Whaler for a trip between Falmouth and Martha’s Vineyard. A sudden storm swamped their small boat. Two boys died. A girl was found alive 10 hours later. This winter has proved that the weather forecasters do not always know when a storm is going to hit.
Nearby Gloucester received nationwide attention because of the "Perfect Storm," which spawned a best selling book and movie by the same name. (By the way, a member of this church filled the fuel tanks of that boat just before its final, deadly trip to sea.) Living near to the coast, we can understand the danger of storms.
In a children’s Sunday School class, most of us learned the story that I just read from the Book of Mark. Jesus and some of his disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had a heavy teaching/preaching schedule that day. He was tired and he fell asleep on some type of a cushion in the stern of the boat.(Certainly not a USCG approved life cushion.) While he was sleeping, "A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped."(v.17) Verse 36 informs us that there were other boats in Jesus’ fleet that day. Other lives were also in danger. Living near the water has taught me that not all fisherman can swim.
(Illustration: An 87 year old lady, Adeline, who spent much of her early life between New Bedford and Cuttyhunk Island, used to tell me of her brother who would fish and take her for boat rides 80 years ago, even though he could not swim. Younger Adeline learned to dive and to swim at age three Their mother was always worried when her children were on the water.) Surly the disciples could tell stories of friends who drowned in the Sea of Galilee.
The New Testament story of Peter walking on the water implies to me that the fisherman Peter could not swim. He took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink. He was saved when Jesus reached out his hand to help. Without Jesus we are sunk. The longer we live the Christian life, the more we realize that we need him involved in every area of our lives, every moment of every day.(24/7)
We know who Jesus is. We know that he loves us. We know how he has helped us in the past. We read his Word, listen to sermons, listen to Christian radio broadcasts, and even have Christian CD’s in our cars--And yet at times our faith is not quite strong enough and we, like the disciples, ask, "Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?"(v.38) May I point out five acts of Jesus which are added proof that he cares. Moffett’s translation of Mark reads, "Teacher, are we to drown for all you care?" JESUS CARES.
I. HE CARED ENOUGH TO LEAVE HEAVEN FOR THIRTY THREE HARD YEARS AS A MAN ON EARTH.
"Jesus Christ is not only Lord over his church but also Lord of all creation. ‘For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: all things were created by him and for him.’(Colossians 1:16) The Creator—Lord also controls what he created. ‘He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.’(Colossians 1:17)"(Expositors Bible Commentary)
The one who created the universe and man, knows what it is to walk in a human’s body. To feel a human’s desires, hungers, fears… He shows us that no matter how dark and deep the trial, faith in and obedience to God can save every soul. He was made a little lower than the angels. (We had a president who often said, "I feel your pain." I was always suspect…) Jesus was very much acquainted with our sorrows and pains. God lived as a man.
II. HE CARED ENOUGH TO TEACH US OF GOD.
He reminded us that to see him was to see God. He reminded us to be about our Father’s business. He showed us how to love our God with our all and also to love our neighbors as ourselves. Has he taught you to love yourself? There is a fine line between pride and a healthy self-image. The disciples must have been a bit proud to think that they were in the Messiah’s boat. They had high hopes for their Leader to become the Leader of the world. They also had high hopes that they would rule in his kingdom. They were thinking their hopes and plans were going to be drowned in a freak storm. He taught us that God expects humility, faith, trust, servanthood, hope, and love. He taught us that what we do in Jesus’ name gets noticed by the Father. Remember that Mark tells us that "There were also other boats with him." (V. 36) Others are affected by our lack of faith, by our terror and bewilderment. We are surrounded by people who need to see faith work.
The storm showed the disciples that Jesus was more than a healer, a political figure, a wise teacher—He could control nature. When he told the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" and a complete calm covered the water, they caught another glimpse of a God who was and is active in the affairs of man.
III. HE CARED ENOUGH TO DIE FOR US.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."(John 15:13) While we were very much ungodly, Christ died for us. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."(John 3:16-18)
If he loved us enough to suffer, bear our sins, die, and then rise again—How can we even think for a moment that he has forgotten us or that he no longer cares? Why would Jesus choose to suffer and to die, if his death could not save humans who believe?
Do you ask does Jesus care??? Does he really care???
When your heart is breaking with loneliness?
When you lose your best friend, boyfriend, girlfriend…?
When you lose a husband or wife to divorce or to death?
When you become alienated from your children or parents?
When someone whom you love messes up? Maybe your child or parent…
When you help your child with their homework and they get a "D?"
When you are too ill to work? When you think "cancer?"
When you lose your job and the bills begin to pile up?
(Illustration: As a young Christian, college student, and newly married; I needed money to pay rent, buy food, and pay for college. I had to work two jobs. On Saturdays and after class on week days I worked in a supermarket. From 3 o’clock to 11 o’clock, Mondays through Fridays, I worked the afternoon shift in a shoe plant/warehouse. One day, before we could start work, my newly married, college student coworker and I were called to the superintendent’s office. He told us that night was to be our last night of work. What a shock! My fellow worker was also a Christian and we spent the evening working and wondering and discussing how God would provide food, gas, insurance, tuition, etc. At 11:00 PM, when my wife came to pick me up at work, I told her the news. On the way home, just before midnight, I told her to stop at a newly constructed grocery store, "Giant K," that was to open the next day. Inside people were hurriedly getting ready for the grand opening. I asked the manager for a job. At 3:00 PM the next afternoon I started work. At around 2:00 PM that same day, the superintendent’s office phoned my friend and told him that more work had come in, and since he had a few days more seniority than me, he was to return to work at the shoe warehouse at 3:00 PM the same day. You had better believe that our faith was strengthened and we and our new wives praised the Lord.--Just like Paul and Silas praised the Lord at midnight in a prison cell. Now I had jobs in two grocery stores. It was fun to see people look at me and ask, "Didn’t you check out my groceries at Cooper and Martin Grocery Store just a few hours ago." You may have to wait longer than a half an hour for a job—BUT OUR JESUS IS ALWAYS THE SAME! He has promised to supply all our needs.) I have a motto that I hang by my office door. It simply says, "I do my best and leave the rest up to God."
When you are in danger of failing school?(And you were trying to learn…)
When your/my baseball team, the Boston Red Sox, fail again to win the World Series?(Now does he really care about a game…A deep theological question…One I hope we Red Sox fans will not need answered this Fall.)
When others get the fame, promotion, raise, new car, solo part in the musical, a vacation to a warm climate in the Winter…?
When your child is born with a birth defect?
When your car is broken down or fails to pass the state inspection, and you have no savings to purchase another?
When a fire, or hurricane, or tornado destroys all of your life’s posessions?
When Satan keeps the pressure of the same temptation boiling in your life? (You may have thought you had conquered the temptation and it returned.)
When you have to live by faith and not by an emotional feeling? The just must live by faith! We can not please God without faith.
The miracle of the calm sea did a lot for the apostle’s faith. The storms in our lives are used by God to strengthen our faith. We either grow bitter or we grow better. The choice is ours. We can panic or we can pray. We can bail water or we can bail out. Psalm 103 reminds us that our loving Father knows our frame. He made us and knows just what we can take/endure.
IV. HE CARED ENOUGH TO SEND US THE COMFORTER.
Jesus often tried to tell his disciples that he would suffer for their sins, rise again and go away. In the Old Testament Joel wrote of the promise of the Holy Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost Jesus sent his Spirit to cleanse, empower, fill with love, sanctify, give peace and courage to his disciples. The Holy Spirit is available to help us to live a life of holiness in a world filled with the storms of sin and despair. When the disciples were filled with the Spirit they became witnesses of the love of God. When non-believers look at our lives, do they see a steady faith? A faith that holds and trusts God in all of the storms of life. "To voyage with Jesus was to voyage in peace even in a storm. Now that is universally true. It is not something which happened once; it’s something which still happens and which can happen for us. In the presence of Jesus we can have peace even in the wildest storms of life."(William Barclay)
Be glad Jesus is in your boat/heart. The Comforter is here, always.
V. HE CARES ENOUGH TO BE PREPARING US AN ETERNAL HOME WERE WE CAN ENJOY ETERNAL LIFE.
One day Jesus will finally rebuke sin, punish sinners and Satan, purify the earth with fire, and take the Christian to a home he is now preparing for all who serve him in faith. This earth is not fair to saint and sinner alike. We are taught by Jesus, "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."(Matthew 5:44-45)
The trials of life teach us patience and that Jesus is Master of any situation.
This last week I read of an incident in Mark Twain’s life. During a rainstorm a friend asked him, "Do you think it will stop?" Twain replied, "It always does." It may seem like the trials of life will never stop—But God can carry you through—Heaven will put a stop to the results of sin.
CONCLUSION
Does Jesus care? Of course he does. We just have to be reminded of it from time to time. Sometimes through our trials and tribulations. At times by watching another Christian struggle with tragedy. Sometimes through sermons or music. Sometimes through immediate answers to our prayers.("Jesus! I feel that I am about to drown! Help!") The same Jesus who slept in the disciple’s boat, lives in our hearts through his Holy Spirit. Trust him and enjoy his power and love. The same Jesus who brought peace to the raging Sea of Galilee can bring peace to your troubled heart and life. Trust him and receive eternal life. When you do, God will take care of you.
(Bible quotations from NIV.)
( Background from "Expositors Bible Commentary "and William Barclay’s "Daily Bible Study")
(Ron Keller 3/16/2003)
