Why Are You Afraid? (Mark 4, continued)

Published: June 20, 2021, 2 a.m.

Hello, and welcome to the Will Preach for Food podcast. I’m Doug, a pastor here at Faith Lutheran Church, based out of Shelton, Washington, a congregation of the ELCA. Thanks for tuning in today. We are a Spirit-led, beloved, affirming community of Faith growing closer to and more like Jesus, for the sake of the world. You can learn more about Faith at our website, www.faithshelton.org.

Happy Father’s Day! So let’s read about a fishing trip, use a tennis analogy, and start with a golfing joke. Years ago my college roommate Jake and I were out golfing one summer afternoon outside of Greeley, Colorado. The front range is famous for late afternoon storms that bring wind, rain, hail, and lightning. As the storm quickly blew in, other golfers scurried into the clubhouse, but Jake kept on going, calmly walking the course, carrying an iron over his shoulder. It’s a one iron, he told me, and even God can’t hit a one iron.

Grab your Bible, turn to Mark 4:35-41, and let’s read a fishing story—this one also involves a storm.

Mark 4:35-41

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

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