G race to you and peace in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today we’re finishing up this series on the Miracles of Jesus. Seeing how God answers our needs. How many of you have silently asked questions like: Does God really cares about what you’re going through? Do you ever wonder about that?

It’s not that you don’t believe. You believe, but you wonder: Does He see your pain? Does He care about your struggles? Does He care about the times when your heart is breaking? Because you might think, if He did care it seems like He’d do something about it. If you’ve ever wondered: Does God notice, does God care, you’re not alone.

Today, we’re going to look at one of the miracles of Jesus when His disciples asked that very same question: Do you care?

A wise pastor once said you’re almost always in one of three places: 1) You’re going into a storm. 2) You’re in the middle of a storm. 3) You’re coming out of a storm. That’s not very encouraging, but we know that can often be true? Life can be challenging, and it can seem like storms are always around.

You might think things like: I didn’t choose, didn’t want, and didn’t expect this. You should know this is where the disciples were in Mark 4

There it says:

W hen evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side. And leaving the crowd, they took Him with them in the boat, just as He was. And other boats were with Him.

He want to go to the other side of the lake. Then the Bible says:

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 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?”¹

Let me help you see this more clearly. The Sea of Galilee is about 13 miles wide and eight miles long. There are small mountains on all sides. The geography can make for incredibly fierce storms that pop up from nowhere. If you’ve ever been on Lake Winnebago when a storm pops up you know what I’m talking about. Storms can come up almost instantly. You have to really watch the sky or you may find yourself in a storm you will not enjoy. Especially if you’re in a small boat.

So after an exhausting day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go to the other side.” Notice, it was Jesus’ idea. Don’t forget that! The disciples would not have been happy about it because they knew “the other side” was where the Goyim² lived. The Gentiles. The outsiders. The strangers. The Jewish people avoided the Gentiles because they saw them as the pagan people. Wives-tales at the time said the devil himself lived right where they were going.

People at that time also were very superstitious about the sea. It was something like all those tales of the Bermuda Triangle that were so prevalent not so long ago. The Sea was known to “swallow entire ships and gulp down people.” It was a common superstition to view the water as the abyss, where demons lurked in the deep. The sea was considered the manifestation of the realm of death.

The disciples are heading into these two superstitions: Crossing the abyss where demons live, to the other side where the devil lives. That was Jesus’ plan after a long exhausting day. You can bet the disciples would not have been excited about that.

So they get in the boat, trusting Jesus, and soon this massive storm blows up, showing us clearly: Even if you’re a Christian you are not exempt from the storms of life. Even if you’re a faithful follower of Jesus, it is no guarantee you’re not going to go through hardships. In fact, Jesus said:

I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart I have overcome the world.³

You will face storms. You will have hard times, difficult times. “But take heart,” He says. The good news is, “I have overcome the world.”

So the disciples find themselves in the middle of this storm and they are terrified. They felt desperate and near death. Whatever delusions of control they might have had were gone. Some of you might know what that’s like. You may have times when you feel you’re facing something you didn’t choose, something you didn’t expect. You just woke up in the middle of a storm you didn’t see coming.

Let’s look at verse 38. It says there:

Jesus 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?”

What they were really saying is, “You don’t care, because if You did care, You’d do something about it.” How often have you felt like that? “God, if you cared You would do something about this.” “If You cared You wouldn’t let this happen.” “God, if you really cared You’d help me. Don’t You care?” You find yourself in the middle of a storm and you wonder: Does God notice?

There’s two things to remember in the storm. The first is: You are in the storm with His presence, He has not left you and He never will. Number two, you’re in the storm for His purpose.

You don’t have to understand the plan
to understand God has a purpose.

Remember, It was Jesus’ idea to, “…go to the other side.” The first is: You’re in the storm with His presence.

T hat always reminds me of a time when my family was at a church camping trip at Devil’s Lake. I wonder how many of you are heavy sleepers. I am. My sisters and I were in the tent and my folks were in the van. A storm came up with a tornado. My two sisters ran to the van. Trees were falling down, the wind was blowing and my folks wondered why I had not left the tent. They guessed I was too afraid to come out.

After the storm passed they came to the tent to see how I was doing. They had to wake me up to find out. I had slept through the entire thing. That event sticks in my mind because that was not the only storm going on that weekend.

A new Lutheran High School was opening up in Sheboygan and they were looking for students. Some of the parents at this church camping event had decided to send there kids to that school. While sitting around a campfire I watched my sixth grade teacher, from the Lutheran school, attached to this Lutheran Church, ridiculing those parents, some to tears, because they planned to send the kids to a Lutheran High School.

A Christian church, with a Christian school, and a teacher in that school openly mocking people for their faith and for their desire to form, support and encourage the faith of their children. There were storms going on that weekend. (For what it’s worth you might not be surprised to discover he was not teaching there the following year. The pastors had a problem with a Christian day-school teacher ridiculing people for their Christian faith.)

Here’s what I want you to remember: In life we can get so caught up in the ‘what’ of the storm that we forget the Who in the boat. We get so caught up with what we see going on around us that we forget Who is always with us. Remember the ‘Who’ is always more powerful than the ‘what.’ Jesus is with you and He will never leave you, He will never forsake you. Look though all of God’s Word and you will see again and again, God has promised His presence. God’s Word says:

Our God is good. He is with you. He will not leave you. He will never forsake you. Don’t get so caught up in the ‘what’ of the storm that you forget Who is in the boat. Never let the presence of a storm cause you to doubt the presence of God. He is with you. He is always with you.

If something breaks your heart, He’s still with you. If you lose your job, He is still with you. If you don’t understand why something’s happening, He is still with you. Our God will never leave you. He will never forsake you. Jesus never said we wouldn’t experience storms. He just promised we’d never be alone in them. If you are going through something remember: He is there with you.

There are always times when we could easily ask the question, ’Why?’ We need to change that ‘Why?’ into a ‘What?’ and a ‘Who?’. Don’t ask, “What can I do with this situation?” Remind yourself to lean and rely on the ‘Who’ who is with you. Don’t forget Who is in the boat. That ‘Who’ is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is our refuge, He is our strength, and He is our Helper and our Hope.

Whatever you’re going through: you’re hurt, you’re pain, your doubt, when you’re tempted to ask, “Why?” and “Where are you?” Don’t forget who is in the boat. The ‘Who’ is always more powerful than the ‘what.’ Number one: You’re in the storm with His presence. That is the first thing.

Number two is: You’re in the storm for His purpose. Remember Jesus was the One who said, “Let’s go to the other side.” The disciples weren’t in the storm because they were outside of His will. They were in the storm because they were in the middle of His will.

Doesn’t that raise a complicated theological question? Why does Jesus allow His followers to endure the storm? Sometimes we know. Sometimes we don’t. We do know God says:

My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.⁴

God is always working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.⁵ Why did God allow this? Perhaps because there was something they needed to learn in the storm they couldn’t learn on the safety of the shore.

While all the disciples are freaking out, in verse 39 we read:

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

He was proving He had authority over creation, over the wind and the waves. He didn’t just say, “Please stop.” He commanded, “Be still!” The wind died down and it was completely calm.

Later, Peter would write:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.⁶

Whatever it is that’s burdening you, whatever it is that’s making you anxious, whatever it is that is keeping you awake at night, the very thing that weighs on your soul, give it to God. Cast your cares on Him.⁷ Trust God: because He loves you more than you can imagine, because He is good, because He is loving, because He is powerful.

Never let the presence of the storm cause you to doubt the presence of God. You’re in the storm with His presence and for His purpose. God does care about you. He cares about every detail of your life. God cares for the brokenhearted. He draws near to those who are desperate. He is close to those who are crushed in spirit. You may be rejected by someone, but you are never rejected by God. He is always with you. He is always for you. He is always good.

You are often in one of three places: 1) You’re going into the storm. 2) You’re in the middle of a storm. 3) You’re coming out of a storm. That is because we live in a broken world stained by the mess of sin. However, just because you’re in a storm doesn’t mean you’re not in the presence of God. The same one who rebuked the storm will one day rebuke every sin-filled storm in this world. By His power and with His grace, He will restore all those who are sick and He will heal all those who are hurting and He will bring joy to all those who are mourning. He will end all rejection and He will wipe away every tear.⁸

Jesus, the resurrection and the life,⁹ will tell death, “You can go no further.” He will say, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.¹⁰ On that day, Jesus will make all things new.¹¹ On that day we will declare, “Death don’t live here anymore!”

I cannot encourage you enough to make some time, take some time to spend some time with people who encourage, support and care about you and your well being. You will find that here at Zion.

The Bible says:

Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some. But encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.¹²

A little girl was afraid. There was a storm outside, so she called out to her daddy from her bedroom, “I’m afraid.”

Her daddy came and reminded her, “Jesus is always with you, you’re never alone.”

The little girl said, “I know daddy, but right now I want someone with skin on.”

There is an old tradition to call the Church: The Ark, or The Ark of the Holy Christian Church. It means when you’re in church you’re in the Ark. The Ark is what kept people safe in the storm at the time of Noah.

That is what church is for. That is what church is about. That is why I encourage you to be here so often. Because you need this. If you think you don’t right now, you can bet you will. You need good people around you. And these good people need you when their storm comes.

That is what church is about. It is about being with “someone with skin on.” It is about gathering together, just being with other Christians, some who have already been where you are going. Encouraging each other to trust in God.

Until Jesus comes.

Amen.

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