Luke 8.22-25

STORMY WATERS

(Mark 4.35-41)

(Matthew 8.23-27)

(Luke 8.22-25)

Every day and a half, one ship of 500 gross ton or more is lost at sea, with the consequent loss of life, despite our modern navigational aids, advances in ship construction and improved training in seamanship.

Yes, the sea can be a dangerous place once one has left the safe secure waters of the shore, as that old Breton seafarers prayer reminds us:

'The sea is big

And my boat so small

Have mercy.'

And the Sea of Galilee was no exception, even though it was inland and some 600 feet below sea level. It was famous for its sudden and unexpected squalls which occurred as the wind funnelled down the great ravines through the tablelands into the sea.

Little wonder that the disciples found themselves afraid as their little boat was tossed up and down like a cork upon the stormy waters.

But whilst they were afraid, Jesus was not. In fact he appeared to be quite indifferent to the storm as he lay sound asleep.

So in their panic they woke Jesus up, and we are told that he 'rebuked the raging waves; they ceased and there was a calm. Then he said to them, "Where is your faith?”

And we are told that the disciples were now further afraid. This time, not of the storm but of Jesus. 'Who is this?' they asked, 'that he commands even the wind and the water and they obey him'.

Doubtless the disciples would have recalled the words of the psalmist when he says,

'You still the roaming of the seas,

the roaring of the waves,

and the clamour of the people' (Psalm 65.7)

Or again,

“O Lord of hosts,

who is as mighty as you, O Lord?

Your faithfulness surrounds you

You rule the raging of the sea;

When its waves rise, you still them' (Psalm 89.8-9)

And again,

'God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear

though the earth should change,

though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble in tumult,

The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.' (Psalm 46.1-7)

Thus the disciples would have been aware that they were in the presence of no one other than God himself, who can control the hostile forces of the sea and bring calm to troubled minds.

Why, we may ask, have the gospels writers selected and recorded this particular story. What was its relevance to the early church, and what is its relevance to us today?

Let us go back a little bit into history. Christianity originally developed under the gaze of the Roman Empire. The Romans were quite happy to recognise all foreign religions which did not threaten the unity of the empire, and whose gods could provide further assurance of divine protection to the state.

Thus, it tolerated Judaism as the historic faith of a well-defined racial group, together with its discouragement to seek converts.

During the first four decades of its history, Christianity was regarded as a Jewish sect by the Roman officials. They failed to distinguish the church from the synagogue. The early Christians therefore enjoyed freedom from interference, and this in turn helped the Christian church to grow unhindered.

However, it began to grow so rapidly that the Christian communities soon began to attract the attention of the Roman authorities who began to see it as a threat to the unity of the empire.

Also, at the same time, Judaism began to defend its protective position by repudiating Christianity and disowning any responsibility for it.

The result of this collusion was sporadic and local persecution of the Christian Church, such as that of the Emperor Nero in Rome in about 64AD.

In short, the fragile Christian community in the Ark of the Church, found themselves frightened like those disciples in the boat upon the Sea of Galilee, as they began to experience wave upon wave of persecution beating down upon them.

And so the Gospel writers selected this story and recorded it with a view to bringing hope, encouragement and comfort to the new disciples. They assured them that God was not asleep or indifferent to their situation. He was in fact in control as he was once upon the Sea of Galilee.

But what is its relevance to us today, who do not suffer organised persecution as did those early Christians?

Let us not forget that persecution is not just a thing of the past. In fact, it is claimed that there were more Christian martyrs in the twentieth century, than in any other century in Christian history.

For instance, it is estimated that in the eleven years between 1968 and 1979, approximately 1,500 priests, nuns and active lay persons were arrested, kidnapped, interrogated, tortured, defamed, exiled or assassinated in El Salvador.

On Christmas Eve 2003, 74 people were killed and 118 wounded, some critically, in a tide of anti-Christian violence in Indonesia. 18 churches and presbyteries were bombed.

One has only to read the autobiography of George Carey, the former archbishop of Canterbury, entitled Know the Truth, to become aware of the extent of persecution of Christians in Muslim countries, where in his overseas visits, he was always seeking for the same freedom for Christians to practice their faith as they receive in UK.

However, the persecution of the Christian Church may not be so obvious in the United Kingdom, or so visibly organised, but no mistake it is under attack in a very subtle sort of way.

For instance, it is continually being marginalised, in other words, pushed to the periphery of everyday life, under the twin umbrella of multiculturalism and human rights.

Or take again our current debate about what it is to be British. We are being constantly told that this consists of such virtues as tolerance, freedom and justice, as though such qualities are not to be found in other societies, What seems to be always missing from such discussion, is the contribution which the Christian faith has made in moulding and shaping the legislation and culture of our country for over two thousand years. Here Christianity is simply being ignored.

Yes, I would suggest that the Ark of the Christian Church continues to be buffeted by stormy waters. But God is still in ultimate control of hostile forces and can bring calm to bear upon those who are afraid and experiencing discomfort today, as he did to those frightened disciples in that boat tossed about in the stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee, some two thousand years ago.

And this is true for individual Christians, who often appear to be tossed to and fro in the stormy waters of everyday life and often, in their anxiety, do not know where to turn to for help.

Let me finish with a personal story.

Some years ago, when I worked for the Mission to Seafarers, I met an old Irish sea captain on board his ship in the port of Liverpool. His opening words, as I climbed on board his ship, were that he had no time for 'God botherers'.

However after a few bottles of Guinness he said to me, 'Many a time going across the Atlantic in the depth of winter and facing a storm, I've said my prayers. I've never been given the calm sea of Galilee, but I've been given the strength to see the storm through'.

'I've been given the strength to see the storm through'.

That I would suggest has been the experience of many. It was the experience of the early Christians as they endured organised persecution. And it can be your experience and mine, as we experience stormy seas of life's journey, if we turn to Him in simple faith.