sermon excerpts: Strong Silent Type

... In today’s reading, Jesus and his disciples were heading to the other side of the lake. Jesus is ready for a vacation, he’s put in a flurry of teachings and healings and travelling, meeting with crowds who only wanted something from him. So he’s ready for a little vacation, trying to get away from the pressing crowds and the demands.

On the boat Jesus is peacefully asleep, secure in the knowledge that he was in safe hands. After all, these men were experienced fishers on the Sea of Galilee, having spent most of their lives on that water. They knew its temperament, quirks and danger spots. They’re use to life on the water, they can handle themselves and their boats. So when this storm came up, why didn’t they handle it themselves like they used to do?

Instead they run to Jesus, wake him up, accuse him of not caring about their welfare. They forgot that they had the knowledge and experience to weather the storm and find safe passage. Jesus knew they could do it, that’s why he slept so soundly. He trusted their abilities.

They, however, didn’t trust themselves. They want to be rescued. I can understand that. We all wish sometimes that someone or something would come along and fix up the messes that we get into. But here, I want to ask, What about rescuing ourselves?

Jesus is our Saviour. True. Indisputable. But he saves us from what? The despair of death, evil in the world, selfish greed, yes; and, he also saves us from ourselves, from our doubts and insecurities.

What if the question from Christ “Have you still no faith?” speaks to their self-confidence? Because certainly they have faith in him – they woke him up because they knew he could do something. They did have faith in Jesus’ abilities.

And he didn’t disappoint, clearing his sleep-blurred eyes, he mumbles something to the wind, just so he can go back to bed. He bails them out. He demonstrates power and might unrivalled on the seas or on land, that leaves the disciples astounded and amazed.

But I don’t know that he did us any favours then. Do we get so reliant on a Saviour that we forget that we have talents and gifts too? Do we sit back and let someone else do our job? Too often in our churches, people are uncomfortable to pray, struggle with the Bible, to live a life of faith because someone else has more knowledge, experience or credentials?

Trusting in one’s own abilities can be hard to do. Knowing that God does care and that we have not been abandoned, to perish or suffer alone, is sometimes hard to remember. The disciples were learning.

Do we mistake our perception of inaction as God for not caring? Or is God waiting for us to do something about it? Trust in the Lord, and trust in ourselves. We, ourselves, whom the Lord has given us talents, strengths and free will, our independent thoughts, ideas and loyalties make a difference in the world. We are called and equipped to be the best person that we can be and to contribute to the world. ...