Who Is In Your Boat?

This coming Sunday is Storm Sunday in the Season of Creation. Here are some thoughts about the gospel reading that went out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church. I would love your input on this gospel text. Let's talk via email or the comments section of this blog.

 
Luke 8:22-25

²²One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they put out, ²³and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. ²⁴They went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. ²⁵He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?” 

The Sea of Galilee is a small lake and in Israel, it is called Lake Kinneret. When the lake is calm, it is hard to imagine that it could ever be stormy enough to frighten seasoned fisherman like Peter, James and John. But that does happen because of the hills surrounding the lake. Just as Luke described, windstorms do sweep down the lake. There are even signs around the lake warning to beware of western winds.

The disciples were not imagining that they were in trouble—they were in trouble. Luke continues his narrative, “and the boat was filling with water and they were in danger” (v. 23). They were being swamped with water. It was a reality. Notice that when they alerted Jesus, he did not rebuke them, but did rebuke the wind and “raging waves” (v. 24).

Jesus demonstrated his power over storms to his disciples. No wonder they were amazed that the storm obeyed Jesus. Experiencing what they had, and seeing Jesus at work in such a wondrous manner, no wonder the disciples experienced amazement mixed with fear. Think about it. Who does these things that Jesus does?

We too are in our own boats, the boats of our lives. Even if we may feel like it, we are not alone in them. Besides family and friends, Jesus is with us. Sometimes it may seem that he is asleep; unaware and unresponsive to what’s happening to us. Remember though, that Jesus can create calm out of the storms of our lives today just as he did so long ago.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, your love never fails, and you can turn the shadow of death into daybreak. Help us to receive your word with believing heart, so that, confident in your promises, we may have hope and be lifted out of sorrow into the joy and peace of your presence; through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen (ELW p. 84).

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