Last Sunday as we shuffled Mark and Barnabas, Peter, Paul & Mary around on this stage, we learned that the book of Mark is not only an account of Jesus’ life and activity, but it is also a blueprint for the church to follow, a model for carrying out the work of the church.
In Mark, you will find lots of interesting short accounts of Jesus’ activity, most of which you may have heard about before. Today we are going to start with one of those stories, then step back and take a look at what’s going on in the first half of the book of Mark. And while we are doing it, let’s put ourselves in the place of the disciples. So fasten your seatbelts, or better yet, better, your life preservers. You may have to row hard.
Three quick points from today’s text:
1. Jesus. The story says Jesus was asleep, but it was really the disciples who were sleeping. They had not been paying attention to Jesus. I think their eyes blinked open when Jesus calmed the storm. Jesus is really the pilot of the boat. He is the one who said “Let’s go” in the first place. He has authority not just over the boat, but also over storms that could sink the boat. He has the last word even in the storm. He is Lord. He is in control.
2. Disciples. The story says the disciples panicked. Why was that? They had their eyes on the storm instead of on Jesus. Just remember, you’ll be ok as long as you’ve got Jesus in your boat. He can handle any storm. God promised in Isa. 43, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you. When you pass through the waters I will be with you. I love you. I am the Lord and besides me there is no savior.”
3. Boat. Remember that Mark wrote this some 35 or 40 years after Jesus left. Some scholars say that Mark intended the boat to represent the church. Think about the symbolism. In Jesus’ day, the sea was often understood as the realm of evil, under the control of the Devil. The storm represented adversity and violence. Christians were being imprisoned, tortured, and killed for their faith. When Mark was writing, Christians were asking, “Lord, don’t you care that we perish?” And the church sometimes worried more about its own survival than about doing the work of Jesus.
The story of this storm is just one small part of the big story in Mark. Let me see if I can paint some strokes on the big picture. This will work best if you follow me as we page through this section of Mark.
In the first two chapters, just after Jesus called his first disciples, Jesus started to train them by taking them on a tour. They probably had no idea of what to expect. They only knew they had committed themselves to follow him. Along the way, he added Levi, which caused some consternation. After all, look what kind of a guy he was. Have you ever heard people say things like that? “What kind of a church is that if a guy like that goes there?” And we are reminded again that the church is like a hospital. It is not where we show off how good we are. It is where we get healed. Then Jesus appointed all 12 of his disciples.
Interspersed between comments about the call and training of the disciples are several astonishing activities of Jesus. First, he went to Capernaum and worshiped with the Jews in the synagogue. And just as we will find throughout Mark, the people were astounded at his teaching. But the big event here was that he not only taught with authority, he demonstrated authority over demons. He cast them out of a man. He silenced these unclean spirits just as he had silenced the storm.
What else does he have authority over?
• Illnesses 1:29
• Leprosy 1: 40
• Paralysis & sin 2:1
• Sabbath 2:23
• Withered hand 3:1
• Storm 4:35.
And all the while the people and the disciples are going around with their jaws hanging down.
• They ask “What is this?”
• They say, “We have never seen anything like this.”
• They ask, “Who then is this?”
It’s a question everyone has to answer. Who is Jesus? Do you recognize who he is? Is he just another man or is he the Son of Man? Is he just a miracle worker or is he the king of your life? Is he a great teacher or is he your guide and mentor? Is he a victim of circumstances or victor over death? Have you handed the authority for your life over to him or are you still fighting battles with your own strength? Who is this man? The disciples had to deal with that question. You do, too.
But let’s go on. The disciples have rowed the boat across the Sea of Galilee. When they get out they are in Gentile territory. What does Jesus do first? He casts out an unclean spirit just as he did when he started his ministry in Jewish territory. He opened his ministry in Capernaum with an exorcism. He opens his ministry in Gentile land the same way. And this time it doesn’t just involve the man. By the time it is all over with, 2000 pigs are dead. Jesus cleaned up the territory. He has opened up a new frontier. Both Jews and Gentiles belong to God. And now the people on that side of the lake are amazed, too.
Then in 5:21 we read that Jesus goes back to Jewish territory. (Are you tired of rowing yet?) Here he healed a woman who has not only hemorrhaged for 12 years and spent all her money on doctors, but because of her disease she was alienated from her family, her community, and her church. She couldn’t even go to worship. It was worse than SARS. But Jesus healed her.
In addition, a leader from the synagogue came to him because his daughter was sick. In fact, she died while Jesus was helping the woman. But Jesus brought her back to life. And everyone was amazed.
Remember, Jesus was training his disciples. In chapter 6 Jesus sent them out. They have been with Jesus. They saw how he worked. They could now put into practice what they had learned as they continued the work he began.
Then we get to the story of the big picnic on the hillside. Jesus saw all these people and to him they looked like sheep without a shepherd. Is that the way the disciples saw them? The disciples wanted to send them home. I’ve often wondered how often we really see people the way Jesus sees them. What would Jesus have done last Thursday night at 10:00 when a man called and said he needed a motel for his wife, his 6-year-old, and himself? I didn’t go.
You know the story of the 5000. The disciples found only five loaves and two fish and, as any good leader would do, Jesus tried to get his disciples to take some responsibility because someday he would no longer be with them. He wanted to help them understand what it means to be a shepherd of the flock. He asked them to feed the people. He had them look for food. He asked them to settle the crowd. He asked them to distribute the food. In the end, after Jesus blessed that food they had a bunch left over. But it isn’t clear they understood what he was trying to do.
Then 6:45 says Jesus “Made his disciples get into the boat.” (Get out the oars.) And they went to the Gentile side again. Jesus didn’t go in the boat with them. He went up on a mountain to pray. He was teaching them to live by faith. It was a rough trip. This time there was a stiff wind. But Jesus calmed it again. And they were utterly astonished. But they did not understand about the loaves. It even says their hearts were hardened.
There in Gentile territory, Jesus healed lots of people. In particular, in 7:24 we see that he healed the daughter of a Gentile woman. Then he healed a deaf man, a lesson for the disciples, because they did not listen well. And people were astounded.
Then in Gentile territory, Jesus feeds 4000 people. He had compassion for them. The disciples couldn’t figure out how to help them, even though this time they found seven loaves and some small fish. And Jesus asked the disciples to help him distribute them. And this time they had seven baskets left over.
Then they got into the boat and went back to Jewish territory. While they were in the boat they realized they had forgotten to bring bread. And they have this interesting discussion about what has just happened. (8:14) Why worry about bread when they have Jesus with them? How often do we forget what God has done for us when adversity strikes? It is obvious they don’t understand yet what Jesus is up to.
In 8:17-18 he asks them about what they see, hear, and remember. Occasionally, Bible stories use numbers with special meanings. This may be one of them. What in Jewish experience might the 5 refer to? The 5 books of Moses were the bread of the Israelites. What does 12 refer to? The tribes/territories of Israel. Jesus appointed 12 new leaders.
What about the four in 4000? Four represented each corner of the earth. The Gospel is for everyone. The seven might refer to the creation in 7 days; again the whole earth. What was Jesus getting at?
He was trying to help the disciples understand that the Gospel is for both Jews and Gentiles. The Sea of Galilee had always been a barrier between Jews and Gentiles. Jesus made it a bridge. The disciples were to have compassion not only for Jews, but for non-Jews. The power of Jesus was just as effective over there as it was at home. In the Kingdom of God, Gentiles are as important as Jews. Women are just as important as men. The Kingdom of God is not limited to Jews or Gentiles, men or women, black or white, rich or poor, righteous or unrighteous, slave or free.
What can we learn from these wild rides on the boat with Jesus? Who is this man?
• Jesus is the equipper for his work. Look at the ways Jesus helped his disciples understand who he was and what he wanted them to do. These men came with all kinds of imperfections. Jesus doesn’t choose us because we are perfect or well-equipped. He chooses us because he wants to make us usable. We come with our biases, our fears, quirks, and imperfections, but Jesus wants to equip us. Are we teachable? Are we willing to learn? We get the idea that the disciples were blind, deaf, and spiritually challenged. How well do we understand?
• Jesus is the bridge over troubled waters. He wants us to minister to everyone. The barriers must come down and be replaced by bridges. Unfortunately, in the U.S., 11:00 Sunday morning is still the most segregated hour of the week. In many cases blacks and whites don’t worship together. Rich and poor are often separated. Women are sometimes kept from using their gifts. And handicapped people are unable to enter buildings. Are there people you think God can’t save? Are there people you won’t talk to because they are not your kind? Are you putting limits on what Jesus can do?
• Jesus is more than able. Jesus is the Son of God. He has the power and authority of heaven. Having just five or seven loaves in a crowd is not a limitation; it is an opportunity. Having even just one loaf in the boat is not a limitation when that loaf is Jesus. He, after all, is the bread of life. He can calm the seas, heal our hearts, and revive the dead.
Who is Jesus to you? Who is this man?
Resources: Werner H. Kelber, Mark’s Story of Jesus. 1975.
Willard M. Swartley, Mark: The way for all nations. 1979
