Sermon On The Great Seas Of Life

William James, an American philosopher and psychologist once remarked: “We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected on the deep.” Psalm 95:5 confirms: “The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.”

The sea is defined as a great body of salt water that covers much of the earth. It divides small or large areas of terrain and large continents from one another, as well as providing life for its inhabitants. Unlike land, the great seas which can include the principal oceans of the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, or Pacific, are all connected to one another and remain consistent. They are never broken in continuity. The waters contained in these vast pelagic realms, contain a plethora of aquatic life that dwell within them. They are home to many species of fish and other living creatures. The measure of salinity for each area is dependent on several factors and an exact ascertainment is often difficult to officially establish.

The sea is considered as an individual and powerful source. Its offspring can include rivers and lakes and is considered largely uncontrollable by mankind, except for added small defined areas usually close to, or adjacent to land, such as harbor walls etc. Its velocity, depth or calmness is usually dictated solely by weather conditions, the moon, or currents. Other factors may also affect its tempest. However, the Bible records two specific incidents when Jesus revealed His true power and maintained control over the sea. Both incidents occur on the Sea of Galilee which is situated in northeastern Israel. It is located between the Golan Heights and the Galilee region, in the Jordan Rift Valley, which is reputed to have be formed by the separation of the African and Arabian plates.

Matthew 8:23-27 reminds us: “And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

In another story, Jesus reveals, not only His power, but the flexibility to walk on water: Matthew 14:22-33 reveals: “Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

The great seas or oceans of the world are renowned for their vastness and depth. The limitlessness of each can be tinged with danger, but also pleasure. It has been stated that more than eighty percent of the global oceans have never been explored, mapped, or even seen by man. They are predominantly tidal, but wholly indeterminate. Their intimate understanding is complex and often considered unfeasible. They are impossible to view in their entirety with just the naked eye. If we are connected on the deep, the love, beauty, size and impact are considered so vast, and mysterious, that they, in fact, become enigmatic.

Similarly, they could be considered comparable to the mysteries of God. God is surrounded in mystery and like the oceans has remained largely unexplored. In truth, not that much is really known about Him. However, the one thing that we can be sure of is the enormity and depth of God’s love for us, which is considered so great, that it exceeds the volume of the oceans in their entirety. Clive Staples Lewis, a British writer and literary scholar once remarked: “When I lay these questions before God I get no answer. But a rather special sort of 'No answer.' It is not the locked door. It is more like a silent, certainly not uncompassionate, gaze. As though He shook His head not in refusal but waiving the question. Like, ”Peace, child; you don't understand.” Romans 8:35-39 reminds us: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”