Not Plain Sailing
The Gospel of Luke • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsFollowing Jesus isn't plain sailing - as the disciples discover. This test is to show them their lack of faith - but also to reveal Jesus' care for them and his overwhelming power. We should not expect following Jesus to be all plain sailing - but he is with us in the storm, he cares, and he's able to bring us safe through it.
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False advertising
Ever heard of “Dieselgate”? Everything has to be a something-gate just now so why not diesel?
Here’s the story: certain car manufactures - VW was one of the big ones - hid secret software inside their engines which would detect when the car was being tested by the government. When the computer thought it was on test, it would tweak a bunch of settings to make it far less polluting than when driving normally (but pretty rubbish to drive).
Christian life as plain sailing
Apparently they got caught out when another organisation tried to reproduce the government’s pollution tests independently - by actually driving the cars around on roads rather than plugging them into test machines - and they got hugely different results and smelt a rat. It ended up costing VW billions.
For years, VW were happily marketing their cars as low pollution super eco things - when it was all a big fat lie. False advertising stinks - that’s why it’s illegal!
Christian life as plain sailing
There’s some pretty serious false advertising about the Christian life around, isn’t there? Follow Jesus and you’ll be happy. Follow Jesus and you’ll be healthy. Follow Jesus and you’ll be rich. Follow Jesus and you can get your own Gulf Stream Jet - apparently. Follow Jesus and all your problems disappear - I even remember a song with those words in it. Follow Jesus, and life will be plain sailing.
Is your life plain sailing?
But if you’re a Christian here today, I have to ask you: is your life plain sailing? has it all been plain sailing all the way? I don’t know all of your stories - but I know enough of enough of them to say without a shadow of a doubt that’s not true. And I know my own story - and I can tell you too that it’s not all been plain sailing.
No false advertising here.
So how should we deal with it when life isn’t plain sailing? We’re continuing our journey through Luke’s gospel, Luke’s telling of Jesus’ life story, and in today’s short section, Jesus has something to show his disciples.
Come with me to Luke chapter 8 - the chapters are the big numbers - and verse 22 - the verses are the small numbers. - big 8, small 22. That’s on page ________. , page ______. Let’s read together.
Reading:
Jesus has something to show his disciples
Reading:
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Nice day for a sailing trip
Jesus has been teaching crowds publicly, talking about his message and his kingdom. Jesus has been teaching his disciples privately, explaining more to them. He’s calling for faith, calling for people to listen to him and to put his words into action. And then after a big block of teaching, it’s time for a change of scene. Jesus wants to head over to the other side of a lake, Lake Galilee as it happens - about 7 miles across. Perhaps he just wants some space from the crowds. Perhaps he has a particular mission in mind to accomplish.
But either way, the story starts out simple-enough. Jesus’ disciples are probably thinking a wee sail would be rather nice after all the talking and crowds. The ex-fishermen among them are probably thrilled to be back in the saddle (to mix metaphors), back out on the lake, back on home territory.
All is calm. I picture them cruising smoothly out into the lake. It’s the perfect moment for a nap - and Jesus settles down for a rest. Seems totally fair again after all the crowds and teaching. It’s an Instagram moment.
context: teaching disciples, calling for faith
fishermen back in the saddle (to mix metaphors)
All calm and easy
I wonder if anyone was thinking “there may be trouble ahead”? Or humming it?! Well we’ve read the story, and we know it. And suddenly the perfect storm seems to be upon them.
Perfect moment for a nap
Suddenly the perfect storm seems to be upon them. Now apparently the lake’s geography makes storms like this
Now apparently this lake was known for sudden violent storms - and the lake’s geography explains it: far below sea level and surrounded by steep mountains. So you have to imagine those fishermen who have spent their lives on the lake wouldn’t be totally surprised by one of these storms.
But it seems to be a particularly severe one. You can tell a storm’s bad when the fishermen are afraid. I mean, have you ever seen that show, Deadliest Catch, all about crab fishermen braving wild seas? They always seem basically non-plussed by the epic waves and crazy storms they are working in, just carrying on with business as usual with the deck at 45 degrees and waves crashing over their heads.
But these seasoned fishermen, back out on the lake with Jesus, they’re terrified by this storm. “we’re going to drown” they shout at Jesus in v24. More literally, that’s translating them saying “we are perishing” - we’re dying right now, we’re going down, this isn’t just a storm Jesus, this is a killer storm. And we’re not going to make it. That’s the sense you get from their words and the urgency of their call to Jesus.
“we’re going to drown” they shout at Jesus in v24. More literally, that’s translating them saying “we are perishing” - we’re dying right now, we’re going down, this isn’t just a storm Jesus, this is a killer storm. And we’re not going to make it. That’s the sense you get from their words and the urgency of their call to Jesus.
This story is told in Matthew and Mark’s gospels too - and Mark adds to the disciples’ words: “don’t you care?”
There may be trouble ahead
How can Jesus be sleeping in the middle of a killer storm like this? How can he be all casual and relaxed when death is only moments away for everyone? Practically, how come the water washing into the boat hasn’t woken him up already? I don’t know. But the disciples rouse him urgently, fearing for their lives, questioning his concern.
“the perfect storm”
And then the story turns.
it’s bad when fishermen are afraid [deadliest catch]
A sinking feeling
lit: “we are perishing”; Mk don’t you care?
Creation commanded
Jesus is calm despite the storm
Jesus is cool as ice despite the storm - not panicked by the waves. He doesn’t wake in a haze like I so often do, but with clarity and focus from the first moment. “he got up and rebuked the wind and raging waters,” it says.
Now that word “rebuke” pictures this as a confrontation, mano-a-mano, Jesus vs. the storm - but there’s no contest here at all. Creation obeys it’s creator. The storm stops - that “subsided” there makes it feel like this happened gradually but underneath, the original language just says it stopped.
And it isn’t just the storm that stops, the waves disappear too: sudden flat calm. Physicists, no conservation of momentum here. That’s a lot of water mass in motion in the storm which suddenly comes to a halt, not a few hours of the waves gradually subsiding.
I don’t think it’d surprise you to know that ancient Greeks and ancient Romans and ancient Jews all agreed that it was only the divine which had this sort of power over nature. They certainly knew people didn’t - and it’s pretty obvious to us today that mere humans don’t have this sort of power too - think about the variously named storms which have hit the UK this year. It would be ridiculous of anyone to think they could do anything at all to tame the awesome scale of the power of nature.
Storm stops; waves calmed too - no conservation of momentum
Jesus is calm despite the storm
But Luke tells us Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waters and the storm subsided and all was calm. He wants us to be clear Jesus is no ordinary human.
Rebuke => confrontation - but there’s no contest
And then this same Jesus confronts his terrified disciples:
Storm stops; waves calmed too - no conservation of momentum
Where is your faith?
“where is your faith?” he asks them in v25. Now we don’t know what tone of voice he used here. We don’t know if he was frustrated or disappointed or astonished - or amused, even. But it is clear their faith is deficient in some way - Jesus suggests it’s missing altogether - “where is your faith?” - or at least that it’s lacking something, that’s it’s not as it should be.
So what should it have been? What sort of faith was Jesus looking for?
Should they have prayed harder? (Because I’m pretty sure they were praying by this point - even today surveys show almost everyone is ready to pray when their back’s up against the wall) I don’t think that’s what he means.
Should the disciples have done the rebuking of the storm themselves? I don’t think so - part of the point of this episode is creation’s obedience speaking about Jesus’ identity.
implication: it is deficient in some way
Matthew and Mark help us here with their parallel tellings of the story - both show Jesus putting his finger on the disciples’ fear. and both add “why are you so afraid?”
in the calm they might have claimed plenty of faith - but the storm they found its limit
It’s their fear which shows what’s deficient in their faith. They should have known their Lord would bring them safe through the storm. And so they needn't be afraid. That’s the sort of faith Jesus is looking for here. That’s the sort of faith they didn’t have. They thought they were going to die.
What should have been?
Jesus wants them to have faith in his presence, his care, his ability to bring them safe through. And they just didn’t have it when the moment came. All was fine when it was calm - but they only had terror and doubt in the storm.
disciples still the storm? pray with more faith? no
I think the faith Jesus is looking for is trust that their Lord would bring them safe through the storm.
disciples still the storm? pray with more faith? no
Who is this?
disciples trust their Lord to bring them through the storm
present
caring
able
Response: “who is this?”
That’s the question the disciples ask in response. The implication is they still don’t know who Jesus really is. This event has rocked their world, challenged their understanding of just who it is they’ve been following and watching and listening to - and sailing with. They thought they knew him already - but they’ve just discovered he’s still more than they had imagined.
And the Bible’s clear that the one who commands the wind and the waves is God himself - none other. There’s a whole bunch of places it makes that point. So who is this in the boat with them? Jesus is blowing their minds.
...
but they know his presence; they see his power; they experience his care
It’s an amazing story, isn’t it? But so what? What does this have to do with you and me, here and now? We’re not in a boat with Jesus. We’re mostly landlubbers. Jesus has died, risen and ascended to heaven. So what does a story like this one teach us today?
So what?
Following Jesus isn’t plain sailing
Anyone who tells you it’s going to be an easy ride just hasn’t read the Book.
As these first disciples physically follow Jesus around on earth they face trouble and storms - literal storms like this one we’ve been reading about - but all kinds of other storms and difficulties too, as you’d see if you followed the story onward. They don’t walk a smooth and easy path.
And as people set out to follow Jesus still today they should know that following Jesus doesn’t mean a smooth path, an easy ride, plain sailing. That’s not what’s been promised at all. And it’s not just hidden in the small-print - you know, tiny details at the edge, a stray phrase or two. It’s plain. Plain from the words of Jesus himself. Plain from the lives of his first followers. Plain from their writings in the bible.
Plain from the letters in the bible. Here’s just one example: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” Don’t be surprised. This isn’t meant to be an easy path with no difficulty. That would be totally false advertising - but the bible doesn’t give that false advertising. It’s straight about the truth: following Jesus isn’t plain sailing. It has all kinds of different storms to throw at us.
Here’s just one example: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” Don’t be surprised. This isn’t meant to be an easy path with no difficulty. That would be totally false advertising - but the bible doesn’t give that false advertising.
The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
It’s straight about the truth: following Jesus isn’t plain sailing. It has all kinds of different storms to throw at us.
So when we find ourselves in the middle of a storm, that doesn’t mean we’ve done something wrong or taken a wrong turn. It doesn’t mean our faith is broken or God has deserted us. Storms are part of the path.
we’ve done something wrong / taken a wrong path
Storms have things to teach Jesus’ followers
Jesus sleeps in the storm for the disciples’ good
He cares enough to lay down his life for them - if it was necessary, he could have stayed awake - he only allows this because it is for their good
in the calm the disciples would have claimed plenty of faith - but the storm showed its limit
Jesus allows the storm
the disciples thought they knew who they were travelling with - but the storm showed them more
Let storms in your life teach you about your faith and your Saviour
challenge you to grow in your trust and knowledge of him
Life has storms - but here’s the thing: Christians are not alone in them
“surely I am with you always,” Jesus promises his followers in his final commissioning of them. In the story we read today Jesus is physically there with the disciples in the boat in the middle of the storm, not safe and comfortable on the shore. Jesus isn’t physically with us any more - he’s risen and ascended to be with God the Father - but he has sent the Holy Spirit to be with his followers. With them through every storm.
And just like the disciples in that boat had his presence, care and power to call on, we do still. The bible invites us to “cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” And in today’s story we’ve seen he doesn’t just care for us, but he is also able to help.
Jesus is with us through every storm
Life has storms - but Christians are not alone in them.
His presence, care and power ours to call on “cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”
We also see that..
Storms have things to teach Jesus’ followers
Jesus sleeps in the storm for the disciples’ good. He cares enough to lay down his life for them - this isn’t a selfish nap moment. If it would have been better, of course he could have stayed awake a little longer here. He only allows this storm to come on the disciples’ boat for their good. What does it teach them?
He cares enough to lay down his life for them - this isn’t a selfish nap moment. If it would have been better, of course he could have stayed awake a little longer here. He only allows this storm to come on the disciples’ boat for their good. What does it teach them?
The disciples would have claimed plenty of faith in the calm - but the storm showed them its limit.
The disciples thought they knew who they were travelling with - but the storm showed them more of Jesus.
How do you think about storms when you’re caught up in the middle of them? I just want to get out, to have it over. But perhaps there’s something for us to learn in there too? Perhaps we can find a little comfort in finding it has something to teach us - about our faith; about our Saviour.
When we find ourselves in a storm, perhaps we can find a little comfort in knowing it has something to teach us. Perhaps about our faith. Perhaps about our Saviour. It’s not an accident. It’s not pointless.
Finally, this story shows us...
Jesus is able to bring us safe through every storm of life
The disciples see his power over wind and waves here and they’re gobsmacked. “Who is this?” But they’ll see more yet… Jesus has all power, is able to deliver from every storm - nothing is too difficult for him. It doesn’t matter what storm you are going through - Jesus is able to bring us safe through every storm of life.
...
Jesus has all power, is able to deliver from every storm - nothing is too difficult for him. It doesn’t matter what storm you are going through - Jesus is able.
But you might ask how come we don’t see every Christian always delivered from every trial in this life, then? I mean, if he is able to bring us safe through, if he really is with us, really cares, and really has this power, how come some Christians die as martyrs for their faith - and have done since Jesus’ day? How come Christians fight disease and some lose? How come Christians struggle with depression, with anxiety, with mental health - and some live in that storm for their whole lives? How come not every storm passes?
So how come we don’t see every Christian always delivered from every trial in this life?
We don’t know or see or understand everything. These are big and difficult questions. I don’t think there are simple, satisfying answers we can trot out in the face of life’s difficulties.
How come we don’t see every Christian always delivered from every trial in this life?
But one thing I think can help us here is more perspective. This life isn’t the whole story. This life is just the prelude; the introduction; the opening credits - it’s not the main event.
Because this life isn’t the whole story; because death isn’t the end of the story
this life is just the prelude; the introduction; the opening credits - it’s not the main event
And Jesus isn’t about getting us through to calm water and plain sailing in this life. That’s not his big objective, his main goal. Jesus is about taking us through the last and greatest storm of life, through death itself, and out into the calm beyond with him. That’s the ultimate answer to the storms of life. That’s where all wind and waves are stilled.
Jesus is about taking us through the last and greatest storm of life, through death, and out into the calm beyond with him
The disciples saw Jesus’ power over creation; ultimately they’ll see his power over the last and greatest enemy, death, as Jesus defeats it through the cross and his resurrection. And because of his death in our place, we’re offered life beyond death, safety through even the last storm.
Because of his death in our place, we’re offered life beyond death, safety through even the last storm.
if we trust him
Jesus will bring those who trust in him safe through.
As we face life’s storms - storms that may last all the way to the end, the question we have to ask ourselves is the one Jesus asks: “where is your faith?” Jesus will bring those who trust him safe through all storms - so we needn’t be afraid.
So, friend, where is your faith?
Is that your trust today? Can you say with Paul “where O death is your victory?”