Saturday prior to Proper 7

 

Sunday’s hymn of the day, Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me (LSB 715), uses the imagery of a stormy sea to represent the trials and tribulations which are part of our lives as long as we live in this fallen, sinful world. But Jesus is able to still those seas, as He did the Sea of Galilee, and bring comfort to us. True comfort can come only through Jesus, for He is our Salvation.

Edward Hopper was born in New York City on February 17, 1818. His father was a merchant and his mother a descendant of the Huguenots, the persecuted French Protestants. In 1870, he began the most fruitful phase of his ministry when he became pastor of a church in New York harbor known as the “Church of Sea and Land.” Here he ministered most effectively for the remaining years of his life to the many sailors who made their way to and from their ships.

It was while ministering at his sailor’s mission that Edward Hopper wrote this hymn text especially for the spiritual needs of these sea-faring men. He wrote it anonymously, as he did all of his works, and for some time no one ever knew that the pastor of the sailors was also the author of the sailor’s favorite hymn. Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me has been included in nearly every evangelical hymnal published until the present time. Through the years it has been a hymn that is especially meaningful to young people sincerely concerned about knowing God’s will for their lives.

At the age of seventy-two, Edward Hopper’s prayer expressed in the third stanza of his immortal hymn had its complete fulfillment when he died in 1888. He was found sitting in his study chair, pencil in hand, writing a new poem on the subject of heaven. 1  

When at last I near the shore, and the fearful breakers roar
Twixt me and the peaceful rest —then, while leaning on Thy breast,
May I hear Thee say to me, “Fear not — I will pilot thee.”

Prayer at the close of the day: Abide with us, Lord, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent. Abide with us and with Your whole Church. Abide with us at the end of the day, at the end of our life, at the end of the world. Abide with us with Your grace and goodness, with Your holy Word ad Sacrament, with Your strength and blessing. Abide with us when the night of affliction and temptation comes upon us, the night of fear and despair, the night when death draws near. Abide with us and with all the faithful, now and forever. 2

Sources:

 -Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts “Jesus asleep in the ship” copyright © WELS for personal and congregational use

1. http://plymouthbrethren.org/article/10138 

2. Collect at the close of the day, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Friday prior to Proper 7

 

Mark 4:35–41—Terrified by a storm which came upon them quickly on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples were powerless to escape it or overcome it. Jesus, however, through whom all things were created (John 1:3), is able to calm the seas by the command of His voice. After all, He is God, who brought all things into existence by speaking, ‘Let there be…’ (Genesis 1)

How soundly Jesus must have slept! Can you imagine anyone sleeping when waves toss the boat around like a cork, with water splashing into the boat, and twelve men scampering and yelling in fear of drowning? His sleeping indicates how worn out Jesus was from his constant ministering, but it also indicates his complete relaxation resulting from his faith in the Father’s providence and protection, It was not the sleep of a Jonah who used sleep as an escape from reality. Jesus’ sleep was one of perfect trust in the Father’s care. 

Jesus asked the men in the boat “have you no faith?” Scared to death from the storm, the disciples awaken Jesus and rebuke him “Don’t you care that we perish?” Jesus not care – how could they accuse him after all the good things they already had seen him do? These hardened, seasoned men – some professional fishermen – were scared to death. Jesus asked them why they were afraid. In the light of the storm, it seemed like a foolish question. Who wouldn’t be scared except maybe Jesus only? The answer to fear is faith. If they had faith, they would not have been frightened. A storm calls for faith in the care and protection of God. 1   

Collect for Pentecost 4: Almighty God, in Your mercy guide the course of this world so that Your Church may joyfully serve You in godly peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen  2

Sources:

Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts “Jesus asleep in the ship” copyright © WELS for personal and congregational use

1. Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

2. Collect for Pentecost 4, Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House, St., Louis

Thursday prior to Proper 7

 

2 Corinthians 6:1–13—In Sunday’s epistle reading, St Paul speaks of his experiences as Christ’s Ambassador of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:20). He tells of these things not to boast, but because what people see in the messenger affects the credibility of the message. 

In verse 6, he speaks of the reason he was able to withstand these hardships and still bring forth the fruits of righteousness: it is solely the work of God, especially the Holy Spirit. God, the Creator of all things, is also able to create the New Man, who lives before God in righteousness and purity.

“Control” is not a popular word for modern people. Each wants to do his/her own thing. He/she claims freedom of thought and life.  Each one lets him/herself go and do anything he/she wants if it brings pleasure. Modern human beings despise control, restrictions, and discipline. Paul says his life is controlled by the love of Christ. He is not out to do what he wants to do but what Christ wants him to do, He does it because he love the One who loved him to the point of dying for him.

Because of his being in Christ, Paul has a new attitude and perspective on Christ and people. Before Christ he looked at them from a human point of view. He saw Jesus as another human being; people were people. Being in Christ, he now looks at Christ from a divine perspective. Christ is God’s Son, the Messiah, Lord, and Savior. People are now regarded as God’s creation and potential children of God. This high regard for Christ and people as of infinite worth makes them deserve our concern and care. 1 

Prayer for one suffering from anxiety, apprehension, or fear: O most loving Father, You want us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing except losing You, and to lay all our cares on You, knowing that You care for us. Strengthen [name] in [his/her] faith in You. Grant that the fears and anxieties of this mortal life may not separate [him/her] from Your love shown to us in Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, 2

Sources:

Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts “Jesus asleep in the ship” copyright © WELS for personal and congregational use

1. Lectionary Preaching Work Book Series B, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

2. A Prayer for those who suffer from anxiety, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis

Wednesday prior to Proper 7

 

Job 38:1–11—At the end of the book of Job, God answers Job, who has demanded the opportunity to interrogate Him for the calamities which have befallen Job. God answers with an interrogation of His own: Who is Job to question the Creator of all things? The Lord, who laid the foundation of the earth and determined its measurements, who prescribed limits for the sea, knows what He is doing. How can the creature second-guess the Creator?

The Lord says, “Gird up your loins like a man.” God is saying to Job that he should be a man. He is to stretch himself into his being. God wants him to answer some questions. They are to stretch his mind and challenge him to the very depths of his humanity. God calls us to be alert, to do our best in confronting the ultimate issues of life.

To make Job realize his humanness, finiteness and smallness, God asks, ‘Where were you at the time of creation?’ Obviously, to be there would mean to be eternal, but a human being is temporal. Where were you when the sea was put in its boundaries? If you as a human were not there, how then can you know or understand God’s power and wisdom? His ways are past finding out. God is to humans incomprehensible. Why then does God allow a good person to suffer? No one knows, but one can trust God that he knows what he is doing. 1

Collect for Peace: O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness;

Prayer for Peace: Almighty and everlasting God, King of Glory, and Lord of heaven and earth, by whose Spirit all things are governed, by whose providence all things are ordered, the God of peace and the author of all concord, grant us, we implore You, Your heavenly peace and concord that we may serve You in true fear, to the praise and glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, 2

Sources:

Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts “Jesus asleep in the ship” copyright © WELS for personal and congregational use

1.  Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH 

 2. A Collect and Prayer for Peace, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St., Louis 

Tuesday prior to Proper 7

 

Psalm 124— This psalm is titled “A Song of Ascents. Of David” Psalm 122:4 mentions that the pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem to give thanks. Here we see David leading Israel in giving thanks to God for past help and expressing confidence in His continuing help.

This Song of Ascents, that pilgrims sang on their way up to Jerusalem, praises the Lord for His deliverance of His people from catastrophes of nature. Twice, it is sung, If the Lord had not been on our side…Those who sing the psalm recognize that their only hope of salvation is in the Lord. We echo this in the daily offices, such as Matins and Vespers, and when we confess our sins in the Divine Service, when we repeat verse eight: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

“In the year 1582, this Psalm was sung on a remarkable occasion in Edinburgh. An imprisoned minister, John Durie, had been set free, and was met and welcomed on entering the town by two hundred of his friends. The number increased till he found himself in the midst of a company of two thousand, who began to sing, as they moved up the long High Street, ‘Now Israel may say,’ etc. They sang in four parts with deep solemnity, all joining in the well-known tune and Psalm. They were much moved themselves, and so were all who heard; and one of the chief persecutors is said to have been more alarmed at this sight and song than at anything he had seen in Scotland.” 1

Collect for Psalm 124: Lord surround your people with your presence. Do not let us stretch out our hands to evil deeds, nor be destroyed by the snares of the enemy, but bring us to share the land prepared for the saints in light, where you live and reign, God, now and forever. 2

Sources:

Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts “Jesus asleep in the ship” copyright © WELS for personal and congregational use

1. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-124/ 

2. For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church Vol. IV The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, © 1996 Delhi, NY 

Monday prior to Proper 7

 

Psalm 107:29–32; Antiphon, Psalm 107:28—This psalm recounts many of the things that the LORD has done for His people, and exhorts them to praise Him for them. In the section appointed for Sunday’s Introit, the LORD is given praise for manifesting His might by delivering His people from the storms of nature. This sets the theme for the day, where all the readings point to the authority of the Creator over His creation, and His continuing governance.

As we prepare for this coming Sunday we will see that The Word of Christ Bestows Peace on His Creation through His Forgiveness of Sins.

In his anguish and affliction, Job must be reminded that, as a finite creature, he is in no position to question the Maker of the heavens and the earth. Job’s “words without knowledge” are unable to penetrate the wisdom of the Lord (Job 38:1–2). For the Lord has “prescribed limits” and “set bars and doors,” so that “here shall your proud waves be stayed” (Job 38:9–11).That’s how He humbles us unto repentance. But also by His powerful Word He calms the “great windstorm” and the waves “breaking into the boat.” He does not permit the chaos of this fallen world to overwhelm us or bring us to despair. By the Word of His Gospel, He speaks “Peace” to us, which bestows the “great calm” of His New Creation (Mark 4:37–39). Therefore, do not be afraid, and do not receive this grace of God in vain. “Now is the favorable time,” and “now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1–2). 1

Collect for Psalm 107: Lord God, you fill the hungry with good things and break the sinner’s chains. Hear your people who call to you in their need and lead your Church from the shadows of death. Gather us from sunset to sunrise, that we may grow together in faith and love and may give thanks for your kindness in Jesus Christ our Lord. 2

Sources:
Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts “Jesus asleep in the ship” copyright © WELS for personal and congregational use
1. Lectionary summary from the LCMS Commission on Worship
2. Collect for Psalm 107, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, © 1996 Delhi, NY

Proper 7 Series B study notes (Pentecost 5)

 

Mark 4:35-41

Related Scripture Readings
Job 38:1-11
Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32 (29)
2 Corinthians 6:1-13

For Sunday, June 23, 2024 

Prayer of the Day

God of creation, eternal majesty, you preside over land and sea, sunshine and storm. By your strength pilot us, by your power preserve us, by your wisdom instruct us, and by your hand protect us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

See also Matthew 8:23–9:8 & Luke 8:22-25

Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

“And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:41                                                                        

Is Jesus, this fatigued man standing by the sea, really God?  As presented in the immediate context of Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus talks, walks, eats, gets tired, sleeps…and does all the things a mere man does.  He never boasts about being God. Yet His teachings, the Old Testament predictions about Him and His powerful works attest to His deity. Later, the penning of the New Testament would also confirm this.

The man, Jesus, is God. So why then does it frequently appear that He is only a man?  It is because when He walked this earth He did not always or fully use the divine powers communicated to His human nature. This is called His State of Humiliation.  One can generally say that in this State, Jesus, the man, would not use His God-powers to help or deliver himself, but only to help and deliver others.  This makes salvific sense, for how else could the Savior feel our misery, pain and fallenness, and how else could He taste death for everyone unless He determined from the beginning not use His divine powers for Himself? Strangely, those who taunted Him at His crucifixion, actually set forth a degree of truth:  He saved others; he cannot save himself [Mt 27:42].  Truly He could not save Himself, because His unfathomable love for mankind kept Him in this State of Humiliation, and it ultimately kept Him nailed to the cross. His love for us overruled the use of His divine powers, and thus he could not use His divine powers to save Himself.  Because of His love to us He had to become the “unsaved” in order to save the unsaved.  He had to drown to save those who were drowning.  He had to take the bullet in front of those who were the targets.  He had to die for those who were under the curse of death. 

Was Jesus fully God before He rose from the dead, and more importantly was He fully God when He died on the cross?  The answer to such questions is a resounding yes.  The Scriptures indicate that the Son of God did not simply possess a man named Jesus, nor did He become part human and part God in Mary’s womb. He indeed became fully human while remaining fully God. He never ceased being God, and after His incarnation He never ceases to be fully man.  Jesus leaves His State of Humiliation when He is declared to be the Son of God with power by His resurrection from the dead.  He then enters His State of Exaltation, wherein He as a man fully uses the divine powers communicated to His human nature.

This Sunday’s Gospel account magnifies the deity of Jesus in His State of Humiliation as He employed His divine powers not for Himself but for the terrified Apostles in their seemingly sinking boat.  He spoke to the wind and the waves, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm [Mk 4:39].  A strange sort of “common sense” informs us that this Jesus—as He bends the forces of nature with mere words—is indeed God in the flesh.  The Apostles queried, Who then is this?   They knew from their Scriptures that Jesus was doing that which only God does.  For example Psalm 107 describes sailors at their wits end: Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed [vs 28-29].  The Apostles realized that only God rules the wind and the waves.

Who then is the man who hung helpless upon that horrifying cross?  It is the same man who, to help His helpless Apostles, calmed the wind and the waves with a word.  Eternal thanks be given to God that this is God who hangs on the cross, that it is God’s blood paying the price for our sins, for now the wind and waves of sin, misery and death are stilled; they are muzzled.  Now, as we reside in the boat of the church, as well as when we lie in the “boat” of our casket, we do so confidently trusting the God-man who accomplished something more powerful than stilling the wind and the waves: He created forgiveness and immortality for fallen sinners.

Greek Text (NA27)

Jesus Calms a Storm

Mark 4:35

Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὀψίας γενομένης· διέλθωμεν εἰς τὸ πέραν.

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”  

Mark 4:36

καὶ ἀφέντες τὸν ὄχλον παραλαμβάνουσιν αὐτὸν ὡς ἦν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ, καὶ ἄλλα πλοῖα ἦν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ.

 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.

 "As He was" a reference to his human nature

Mark 4:37

καὶ γίνεται λαῖλαψ μεγάλη ἀνέμου καὶ τὰ κύματα ἐπέβαλλεν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον, ὥστε ἤδη γεμίζεσθαι τὸ πλοῖον. 

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

 γίνεται λαῖλαψ μεγάλη ἀνέμου (ginetai lailaps megale anemou| comes up furious/tempest large/great squall/storm/wind) – 

Situated in a basin surrounded by mountains, the Sea of Galilee is particularly susceptible to sudden, violent storms. Cool air from the Mediterranean is drawn down through the narrow mountain passes and clashes with the hot, humid air lying over the lake.

A furious squall...a bad storm...the boat suffers simply because it's there.

Mark 4:38

καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν ἐν τῇ πρύμνῃ ἐπὶ τὸ προσκεφάλαιον καθεύδων. καὶ ἐγείρουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· διδάσκαλε, οὐ μέλει σοι ὅτι ἀπολλύμεθα;

But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

 We are being destroyed NOW

HE's asleep at the wheel...we're perishing...Jesus included...it matters to you don't you...expecting a positive answer... psalm 107:23-30; Psalm 89:8-9;

Mark 4:39

καὶ διεγερθεὶς ἐπετίμησεν τῷ ἀνέμῳ καὶ εἶπεν τῇ θαλάσσῃ· σιώπα, πεφίμωσο. καὶ ἐκόπασεν ὁ ἄνεμος καὶ ἐγένετο γαλήνη μεγάλη.

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

 The disciples are made conscious of their frail humanity in the presence of this Lord of the waves. Jesus deepens His communion with the disciples by using His power in the service of compassion for them and by using the event to build up their faith.

διεγερθεὶς (diegertheis |having awakened/woke up)

ἐπετίμησεν (epetimesen |he commanded/gave reproach/rebuked) - In Psalm 106:9 (104:7) Isaiah 50:2; Nahum 1:4 the Hebrew root g'r is used of God rebuking the sea. So Jesus is said to rebuke the wind.

θαλάσσῃ (thalasse |sea) - Not that the lake had any perception, but to show that the power of his voice reached the elements, which were devoid of feeling.

Σιωπα (siopa |be silent/calm/quiet)

πεφίμωσο (pephimoso |be halted/stopped/silenced) - The perfect imperative passive (which is more rare) is more emphatic than the aorist used in 1:25: so 'be silent and remain so.'

ἐκόπασεν (ekopasen |abated/ceased/stopped)

γαλήνη (galene |calm) - The aorist tenses indicate an immediate result, and γαληνη μεγαλη (replacing the λαιλαψ μεγαλη of verse 37) emphasizes the total transformation achieved by Jesus' intervention.

Mark 4:40

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί δειλοί ἐστε; οὔπω ἔχετε πίστιν;

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

 οὔπω (oupo |so/still like this) - The force of οὐπω here is that they should by this time have learned something of the secret of the kingdom of God (4:11), which is the secret that the kingdom is come in the person and work of Jesus. There are a number of textual variants here arising either from "a desire to soften somewhat Jesus' reproach spoken to his disciples" or from a misreading of οὐπω, replacing it with the more common οὐτω(ς) with various changes of word order to accommodate to the structure of the question.

πίστιν (pistin |trust/faith/belief) - Lack of faith makes disciples δειλοι, unable to respond to a crisis with the confidence in God (or, more pertinently, in Jesus) which is the mark of the true disciple.

Jesus does not explain each wave...yet He weeps with those who weep

Why are you cowards?

They feared a great fear...who is this? See Job...fear as in the First Commandment 

There is no better place to be then next to Him asleep in His sleep over death...

Mark 4:41

καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἀλλήλους· τίς ἄρα οὗτός ἐστιν ὅτι καὶ ὁ ἄνεμος καὶ ἡ θάλασσα ὑπακούει αὐτῷ;

And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

 φόβον (phobon |fear) – One greater than their previous fear of the storm (as Jonah 1:10).

ἀλλήλους (allelous |one another)

Τίς ἄρα οὗτός ἐστιν (tis ara houtos estin |who then this is) - In view of what Jesus had just done, the only answer to this rhetorical question was: He is the very Son of God! God’s presence, as well as his power, was demonstrated (Psalm 65:7; 107:25–30; Proverbs 30:4). Mark indicates his answer to this question in the opening line of his Gospel (Mark 1:1). By such miracles Jesus sought to establish and increase the disciples’ faith in his deity.

ὑπακούει (hupakouei |obey/are subject to) - In addition to the miracle's significance as a pointer to the secret of Jesus' person Mark probably saw in it, and meant his readers to see, a symbolic significance (1:31). The parallel between the situation of the disciples on the lake and that of the Church in the midst of persecution would naturally suggest itself. (Very early a ship was a symbol of the Church in Christian art.) In the midst of persecution and all manner of perils, if Jesus be truly with his Church, then, even though his help may not at once be felt, his own must never doubt him, and need have no fear.

Shut up! Be muzzeled!  Rude language but it's the enemy...even the grave and the jaws of death are shut up for you...He speaks with authority...He Doesn't grab a bucket he goes to the source of the problem...

Faith prays...because it known nothing else...like the infant to her mother

Although miracles are hard for modern man to accept, the NT makes it clear that Jesus is Lord not only over his church but also over all creation. The story is told in simple language, and all the details of the account (other boats, boat was already filling, cushion, said to one another) leave the impression that the details come from one who experienced the event. The account indicates strongly that Mark became Peter’s interpreter. The vivid narrative suggests recollection of an eyewitness. There is a total of ten individual miracles recorded between 4:35 and 8:26, which are frequently seen as constituting two balancing groups, each of which begins with a lake miracle (4:35-41; 6:45-51) and contains a feeding miracle (6:34-44; 8:1-10). 

While Mark may have found these two 'catenae' already grouped in the tradition, some believe that the groupings are Mark's own construction. All five stories in the second 'catena' (6:45-51; 7:24-30; 7:32-37; 8:1-10; 8:22-26) take place outside of Galilee, and it has been suggested that Mark thus deliberately shows the mission of Jesus to the Jewish community of Galilee (though 5:1-20 is already set on the Gentile side of the lake) being repeated for the benefit of the surrounding Gentile population. 4:35-41 together with 6:45-52 (the other lake miracle), places Jesus in a more starkly 'supernatural' light even than the healing miracles. 

Control of the elements is even more extraordinary and inexplicable than the restoration of suffering human beings, and is in the OT a frequently noted attribute of God in distinction from human beings who find themselves helpless before the forces of nature (Job 38:8-11; Psalms 65:5-8; 89:8-9; 107:23-32, etc.; the last of these must surely have been on Mark's mind as he narrated this story). Here is divine power writ large, and it is appropriate that these two pericopes therefore conclude not only with the astonishment and fear of the disciple, but also with a note of their human inability to cope with the new dimension of understanding and faith which these events demanded (4:40-41; 6:52). 

The christological question, 'Who is this?' which has already been raised by previous miracles (1:27; 2:7-12; 3:11-12) becomes more insistent and more sharply defined in verse 41. The variation in tenses throughout this pericope makes an interesting study in Mark's narrative style. Historical presents form the main framework of the first part of the story (λεγει ... παραλαμβανουσιν ... γινεται ...ἐγειρουσιν ... λεγουσιν), but they are interspersed with imperfects to indicate the continuing features of the situation (ἠν ... ἐπεβαλλεν ... ἠν). 

But when the climax is reached, the narrative goes consistently into the aorist, to indicate Jesus' decisive action (ἐπετιμησεν ... εἰπεν ... ἐκοπασεν ... ἐγενετο ... εἰπεν), after which the disciples' immediate reaction of fear is described in the aorist (ἐθοβηθησαν), followed by an imperfect to denote their continuing discussion of what it all meant (ἐλεγον). The tenses are far from haphazard; rather, they demonstrate the natural ability of the storyteller to focus his audience's attention appropriately on the different aspects of the story as it develops.

https://sites.google.com/site/briansgreekscripture/pentecost-4---mark-4-35-41

Luther's Seal  copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Pentecost 5 - Proper 7

Pentecost 5 – Proper 7

June 24, 2018

Mark 4:35-41

“The perfect storm – a perfect peace”

Creatures in awe of Jesus' authority over the creation

When the woes of life o'ertake me,

hopes deceive, and fears annoy,

never shall the cross forsake me.

Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

“In the Cross of Christ I Glory”

 LSB #427

INTRODUCTION

Following a day. Full of teaching activity. Jesus and His disciples. Get into a boat. To sail. Across the Sea of Galilee.

A windstorm arose. Beating waves into the boat. Jesus was sleeping. But He was awakened by His disciples. Concerned for their lives. They feared a great fear.  

Jesus rebuked the wind. And calmed the seas. He then reproached His disciples. For their fear. And lack of faith. Filled with great fear. His disciples expressed their awe of Jesus to each other.

This account of Jesus calming the storm is well-known. It’s popular in many children's Bible story books. It is the setting for the hymn, "Jesus Savior Pilot Me." What might we learn from this event in the life of Jesus?

I.      WE ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM STORMS   

A.  WE FACE STORMS BECAUSE WE ARE HUMAN.

Situated in a basin. Surrounded by mountains. The Sea of Galilee was particularly susceptible to sudden, violent storms. Cool air. From the Mediterranean. Drew down through the narrow mountain passes. Clashed with the hot, humid air lying over the lake. The results. Were always terrific storms.

We live in a world where there are many storms. Both literal. And figurative.

Christians experience actual tornados. Hurricanes. Windstorms. Just like everyone else.

Christians likewise face storms such as sickness. Accidents. Disappointments. Death.

Paul certainly experienced the perils of storms and shipwrecks - “Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren.” - 2Corinthians 11:25-26  

Jesus does not promise exemption from the normal storms of life. If you think Jesus is merely a good luck charm. - Stop thinking that way.

"God should fix my problems” some might say. Believing that Christ is some sort of genie. Which I depend on. To make sure. That life goes my way. You are not exempt from storms. Storms happen. Because we are living in a broken world. Outside of Eden.

B.  WE FACE STORMS BECAUSE WE ARE CHRISTIANS.

Being Jesus' disciples did not protect them from storms.

Jesus warned that we will experience tribulation as His disciples. The Savior reminds us, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

Paul suffered for confessing the faith. And warned his fellow disciples; “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned.” - 2Corinthians 11:24-25  

In Acts 14:22 we are reminded; “Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."

Paul would remind young Timothy; “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Διωχθήσονται- 2Timothy 3:12 - Persecuted. Yes. But not forsaken. Cast down. Yup. But not destroyed. – 2 Corinthians 4:9

Peter wrote that we should not be surprised by this. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trials you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.” - 1Peter 4:12 – Jesus does not promise exemption from the storms of religious persecution.

So. If you find yourselves in the midst of storms. Whether literal or figurative. Whether it's because you are human. Or because we are Christian. Do not think it strange.  Instead. Take heart. Knowing that Jesus is present. Even in the midst of the storm. And He has overcome them all.  

II.JESUS HELPS US DEAL WITH STORMS

A.  THROUGH FAITH.

During storms. We are often afraid. We can cry out. Like the disciples. Who said, "We are perishing!"     

Jesus teaches that fear is indicative of a lack of faith. To overcome fear in storms. We need to grow in faith!

Faith that God will protect us. If it be His will. The Psalmist reminds us. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46:1-3

Faith trusts that God will deliver us. To His heavenly city. Even if we die. “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.  Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.” - Psalm 46:4-5 The psalmist reveals the role of faith. Even in the midst of storms.

B.  THROUGH HIS WORD.

Jesus' words prepare us to withstand the storms of life.  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” - Matthew 7:24-27.

Jesus teaches how to pray in order to be heard by God. “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. - Matthew 6:5-8

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” - Matthew 6:19-20

“So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” - Matthew 6:31-34 Jesus shares the secrets to standing strong against the storms of life.

C.  THROUGH PRAYER.

Jesus is always ready to give mercy and grace to help in time of need; “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” -Hebrews 4:14-16

In anxious times, God offers peace to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus through prayer. Jesus stands ready to calm our hearts and minds when facing storms.

D.  THROUGH HIS SACRIFICE.

The greatest "storm" all of us will face will be the Day of Judgment, Peter reminds us, and “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” - 2Peter 3:7

A day in which we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” - 2Corinthians 5:10

But Christ shed His blood to spare us on that Day. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” - Romans 5:6-10

By believing the gospel, we can have our names added to the Lamb's book of life and escape condemnation for our sins; “Jesus said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. - cf. Mark 16:15-16 Jesus stands ready to save us and protect us from the "perfect storm" to come.

Everyone will face one or more storms in his or her life. Whether literally or symbolically. Storms will come. Whether atheist or believer. You are not exempt.

How shall we react when the time comes?

Shall we cry out like the disciples who were weak in faith saying, "we   are perishing!"? Or shall we weather the storms with confident faith and calm repose?

And how shall we stand on when the final storm comes. The "perfect storm." That is. The Day of Judgment?

Shall we hear Jesus say, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world"? Matthew 25:34

Or will we hear Him say, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil    and his angels"? -  Matthew 25:41

When Jesus rebuked the wind and spoke to the sea, "Peace, be still", the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  The disciples, with fear and amazement, said: "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"

The wind and the sea obeyed Jesus.  Shall we not also trust Him? Who now has all authority in heaven and on earth? -  Matthew 28:18

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS for personal and congregational use.

_____________________

Words-1,880

Passive Sentences –3%

Readability – 84.7%

Reading Level – 3.8

Proper 7 Series B notes

Proper 7 - Series B

Mark 4:35-41

Related Scripture Readings

Job 38:1-11

Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32 (29)

2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Prayer of the Day

God of creation, eternal majesty, you preside over land and sea, sunshine and storm. By your strength pilot us, by your power preserve us, by your wisdom instruct us, and by your hand protect us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

See also Matthew 8:23–9:8 & Luke 8:22-25

Greek Text (NA27)

Jesus Calms a Storm

35Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὀψίας γενομένης• διέλθωμεν εἰς τὸ πέραν.

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”  

36καὶ ἀφέντες τὸν ὄχλον παραλαμβάνουσιν αὐτὸν ὡς ἦν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ, καὶ ἄλλα πλοῖα ἦν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ.

 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.

"As He was" a reference to Jesus' human nature

37καὶ γίνεται λαῖλαψ μεγάλη ἀνέμου καὶ τὰ κύματα ἐπέβαλλεν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον, ὥστε ἤδη γεμίζεσθαι τὸ πλοῖον. 

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

γίνεται λαῖλαψ μεγάλη ἀνέμου (ginetai lailaps megale anemou|comes up furious/tempest large/great squall/storm/wind) – 

Situated in a basin surrounded by mountains, the Sea of Galilee is particularly susceptible to sudden, violent storms. Cool air from the Mediterranean is drawn down through the narrow mountain passes and clashes with the hot, humid air lying over the lake.

A furious squall...a bad storm...the boat suffers simply because it's there.

38καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν ἐν τῇ πρύμνῃ ἐπὶ τὸ προσκεφάλαιον καθεύδων. καὶ ἐγείρουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ• διδάσκαλε, οὐ μέλει σοι ὅτι ἀπολλύμεθα;

But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

We are being destroyed NOW

He's asleep at the wheel...we're perishing...Jesus included...it matters to you don't you...expecting a positive answer... psalm 107:23-30; Psalm 89:8-9;

39καὶ διεγερθεὶς ἐπετίμησεν τῷ ἀνέμῳ καὶ εἶπεν τῇ θαλάσσῃ• σιώπα, πεφίμωσο. καὶ ἐκόπασεν ὁ ἄνεμος καὶ ἐγένετο γαλήνη μεγάλη.

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

The disciples are made conscious of their frail humanity in the presence of this Lord of the waves. Jesus deepens His communion with the disciples by using His power in the service of compassion for them and by using the event to build up their faith.

διεγερθεὶς (diegertheis|having awakened/woke up)

ἐπετίμησεν (epetimesen|he commanded/gave reproach/rebuked) - In Psalm 106:9 (104:7) Isaiah 50:2; Nahum 1:4 the Hebrew root g'r is used of God rebuking the sea. So Jesus is said to rebuke the wind.

θαλάσσῃ (thalasse|sea) - Not that the lake had any perception, but to show that the power of his voice reached the elements, which were devoid of feeling.

Σιωπα (siopa|be silent/calm/quiet)

πεφίμωσο (pephimoso|be halted/stopped/silenced) - The perfect imperative passive (which is more rare) is more emphatic than the aorist used in 1:25: so 'be silent and remain so.'

ἐκόπασεν (ekopasen|abated/ceased/stopped)

γαλήνη (galene|calm) - The aorist tenses indicate an immediate result, and γαληνη μεγαλη (replacing the λαιλαψ μεγαλη of verse 37) emphasizes the total transformation achieved by Jesus' intervention.

40καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς• τί δειλοί ἐστε; οὔπω ἔχετε πίστιν;

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

οὔπω (oupo|so/still like this) - The force of οὐπω here is that they should by this time have learned something of the secret of the kingdom of God (4:11), which is the secret that the kingdom is come in the person and work of Jesus. There are a number of textual variants here arising either from "a desire to soften somewhat Jesus' reproach spoken to his disciples" or from a misreading of οὐπω, replacing it with the more common οὐτω(ς) with various changes of word order to accommodate to the structure of the question.

πίστιν (pistin|trust/faith/belief) - Lack of faith makes disciples δειλοι, unable to respond to a crisis with the confidence in God (or, more pertinently, in Jesus) which is the mark of the true disciple.

Jesus does not explain each wave...yet He weeps with those who weep

Why are you cowards?

They feared a great fear...who is this? See Job...fear as in the First Commandment 

There is no better place to be then next to Him asleep in His sleep over death...

41καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἀλλήλους• τίς ἄρα οὗτός ἐστιν ὅτι καὶ ὁ ἄνεμος καὶ ἡ θάλασσα ὑπακούει αὐτῷ;

And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

φόβον (phobon|fear) – One greater than their previous fear of the storm (as Jonah 1:10).

ἀλλήλους (allelous|one another)

Τίς ἄρα οὗτός ἐστιν (tis ara houtos estin|who then this is) - In view of what Jesus had just done, the only answer to this rhetorical question was: He is the very Son of God! God’s presence, as well as his power, was demonstrated (Psalm 65:7; 107:25–30; Proverbs 30:4). Mark indicates his answer to this question in the opening line of his Gospel (Mark 1:1). By such miracles Jesus sought to establish and increase the disciples’ faith in his deity.

ὑπακούει (hupakouei|obey/are subject to) - In addition to the miracle's significance as a pointer to the secret of Jesus' person Mark probably saw in it, and meant his readers to see, a symbolic significance (1:31). The parallel between the situation of the disciples on the lake and that of the Church in the midst of persecution would naturally suggest itself. (Very early a ship was a symbol of the Church in Christian art.) In the midst of persecution and all manner of perils, if Jesus be truly with his Church, then, even though his help may not at once be felt, his own must never doubt him, and need have no fear.

Shut up! Be muzzeled!  Rude language true, but it's the enemy...even the grave and the jaws of death are shut up for you...He speaks with authority...He Doesn't grab a bucket he goes to the source of the problem...

Faith prays...because it known nothing else...like the infant to her mother

Although miracles are hard for modern man to accept, the NT makes it clear that Jesus is Lord not only over his church but also over all creation. The story is told in simple language, and all the details of the account (other boats, boat was already filling, cushion, said to one another) leave the impression that the details come from one who experienced the event. The account indicates strongly that Mark became Peter’s interpreter. The vivid narrative suggests recollection of an eyewitness. There is a total of ten individual miracles recorded between 4:35 and 8:26, which are frequently seen as constituting two balancing groups, each of which begins with a lake miracle (4:35-41; 6:45-51) and contains a feeding miracle (6:34-44; 8:1-10). 

While Mark may have found these two 'catenae' already grouped in the tradition, some believe that the groupings are Mark's own construction. All five stories in the second 'catena' (6:45-51; 7:24-30; 7:32-37; 8:1-10; 8:22-26) take place outside of Galilee, and it has been suggested that Mark thus deliberately shows the mission of Jesus to the Jewish community of Galilee (though 5:1-20 is already set on the Gentile side of the lake) being repeated for the benefit of the surrounding Gentile population. 4:35-41 together with 6:45-52 (the other lake miracle), places Jesus in a more starkly 'supernatural' light even than the healing miracles. 

Control of the elements is even more extraordinary and inexplicable than the restoration of suffering human beings, and is in the OT a frequently noted attribute of God in distinction from human beings who find themselves helpless before the forces of nature (Job 38:8-11; Psalms 65:5-8; 89:8-9; 107:23-32, etc.; the last of these must surely have been on Mark's mind as he narrated this story). Here is divine power writ large, and it is appropriate that these two pericopes therefore conclude not only with the astonishment and fear of the disciple, but also with a note of their human inability to cope with the new dimension of understanding and faith which these events demanded (4:40-41; 6:52). 

The christological question, 'Who is this?' which has already been raised by previous miracles (1:27; 2:7-12; 3:11-12) becomes more insistent and more sharply defined in verse 41. The variation in tenses throughout this pericope makes an interesting study in Mark's narrative style. Historical presents form the main framework of the first part of the story (λεγει ... παραλαμβανουσιν ... γινεται ...ἐγειρουσιν ... λεγουσιν), but they are interspersed with imperfects to indicate the continuing features of the situation (ἠν ... ἐπεβαλλεν ... ἠν). 

But when the climax is reached, the narrative goes consistently into the aorist, to indicate Jesus' decisive action (ἐπετιμησεν ... εἰπεν ... ἐκοπασεν ... ἐγενετο ... εἰπεν), after which the disciples' immediate reaction of fear is described in the aorist (ἐθοβηθησαν), followed by an imperfect to denote their continuing discussion of what it all meant (ἐλεγον). The tenses are far from haphazard; rather, they demonstrate the natural ability of the storyteller to focus his audience's attention appropriately on the different aspects of the story as it develops.

https://sites.google.com/site/briansgreekscripture/pentecost-4---mark-4-35-41
image Schnorr von Carolsfeld Woodcuts © WELS for personal and congregational use

Time in the Word - Pentecost 5 - Proper 7

The Word of Christ Bestows Peace on His Creation through His Forgiveness of Sins

  Pentecost 5 – Proper 7

Collect for Peace: O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; 

Prayer for Peace: Almighty and everlasting God, King of Glory, and Lord of heaven and earth, by whose Spirit all things are governed, by whose providence all things are ordered, the God of peace and the author of all concord, grant us, we implore You, Your heavenly peace and concord that we may serve You in true fear, to the praise and glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, 

Prayer for one suffering from anxiety, apprehension, or fear: O most loving Father, You want us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing except losing You, and to lay all our cares on You, knowing that You care for us. Strengthen [name] in [his/her] faith in You. Grant that the fears and anxieties of this mortal life may not separate [him/her] from Your love shown to us in Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, 

Prayer at the close of the day: Abide with us, Lord, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent. Abide with us and with Your whole Church. Abide with us at the end of the day, at the end of our life, at the end of the world. Abide with us with Your grace and goodness, with Your holy Word ad Sacrament, with Your strength and blessing. Abide with us when the night of affliction and temptation comes upon us, the night of fear and despair, the night when death draws near. Abide with us and with all the faithful, now and forever.

Collect for Pentecost 4: Almighty God, in Your mercy guide the course of this world so that Your Church may joyfully serve You in godly peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

  

In his anguish and affliction, Job must be reminded that, as a finite creature, he is in no position to question the Maker of the heavens and the earth. Job’s “words without knowledge” are unable to penetrate the wisdom of the Lord (Job 38:1–2). For the Lord has “prescribed limits” and “set bars and doors,” so that “here shall your proud waves be stayed” (Job 38:9–11).That’s how He humbles us unto repentance. But also by His powerful Word He calms the “great windstorm” and the waves “breaking into the boat.” He does not permit the chaos of this fallen world to overwhelm us or bring us to despair. By the Word of His Gospel, He speaks “Peace” to us, which bestows the “great calm” of His New Creation (Mark 4:37–39). Therefore, do not be afraid, and do not receive this grace of God in vain. “Now is the favorable time,” and “now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1–2).

Monday, 18 June 2018—Psalm 107:29–32; Antiphon, Psalm 107:28—This psalm recounts many of the things that the LORD has done for His people, and exhorts them to praise Him for them. In the section appointed for Sunday’s Introit, the LORD is given praise for manifesting His might by delivering His people from the storms of nature. This sets the theme for the day, where all the readings point to the authority of the Creator over His creation, and His continuing governance.

Tuesday, 19 June 2018—Psalm 124—This Song of Ascents, that pilgrims sang on their way up to Jerusalem, praises the Lord for His deliverance of His people from catastrophes of nature. Twice, it is sung, If the Lord had not been on our side…Those who sing the psalm recognize that their only hope of salvation is in the Lord. We echo this in the daily offices, such as Matins and Vespers, and when we confess our sins in the Divine Service, when we repeat verse eight: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Wednesday, 20 June 2018—Job 38:1–11—At the end of the book of Job, God answers Job, who has demanded the opportunity to interrogate Him for the calamities which have befallen Job. God answers with an interrogation of His own: Who is Job to question the Creator of all things? The Lord, who laid the foundation of the earth and determined its measurements, who prescribed limits for the sea, knows what He is doing. How can the creature second-guess the Creator?

Thursday, 21 June 2018—2 Corinthians 6:1–13—In Sunday’s epistle reading, St Paul speaks of his experiences as Christ’s Ambassador of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:20). He tells of these things not to boast, but because what people see in the messenger affects the credibility of the message.

In verse 6, he speaks of the reason he was able to withstand these hardships and still bring forth the fruits of righteousness: it is solely the work of God, especially the Holy Spirit. God, the Creator of all things, is also able to create the New Man, who lives before God in righteousness and purity,

Friday, 22 June 2018—Mark 4:35–41—Terrified by a storm which came upon them quickly on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples were powerless to escape it or overcome it. Jesus, however, through whom all things were created (John 1:3), is able to calm the seas by the command of His voice. After all, He is God, who brought all things into existence by speaking, ‘Let there be…’ (Genesis 1)

Saturday, 23 June 2018—Sunday’s hymn of the day, Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me (LSB 715), uses the imagery of a stormy sea to represent the trials and tribulations which are part of our lives as long as we live in this fallen, sinful world. But Jesus is able to still those seas, as He did the Sea of Galilee, and bring comfort to us. True comfort can come only through Jesus, for He is our Salvation.

Pr.  Jeffrey M. Keuning, wrote this week’s “Time in the Word”. He serves St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Casey, and Zion Lutheran Church, Dexter, Iowa

Sources:

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Artwork by Ed Riojas © WELS for personal and congregational use 

Lectionary summary on front page from the LCMS Commission on Worship