29 Oct Speaking to the Greatest Storms

29 October 2023

SPEAKING TO THE GREATEST STORMS

Mark 5:35-41

The text we read today comes from the gospel, according to Mark. The story begins in typical Markan fashion of writing, ‘That day when the evening came.’ At the heart of Mark’s Christology, he is keen to present Jesus as one who did not operate in the same space. At this stage, Jesus is on a journey. Mark says he did four miracles on this journey, and this is the first of them where he calmed the storm on the lake. Some of us are coming out of a storm like the world stood still during Covid-19, where our lives were disrupted, and death became an equaliser. Whether you are rich or poor, young or old, we all felt like we were in the midst of a bad storm. Some of us are like the disciples today in the midst of a storm. Some of us have an impending storm that is waiting to happen. And lastly, some of us have crossed over to the other side.

Jesus says, ‘let us cross over to the other side; This is after he had been with the crowd, and maybe he wanted to go and have a quiet time of rest. It is Jesus who says, ‘come let us cross over to the side’. So, the beauty of this journey is that it has a destination and a captain. It’s now about to get dark, they are tired, and a great storm of wind arose. We should note that there were many boats in the sea, but the difference with this one is that Jesus was on it. With Jesus on your boat, the storms of life may still rock you, yet you won’t sink. Jesus was inside the boat, tired and asleep, and the disciples called out,” Teacher, don’t you care if we drown? He got up, rebuked the wind, and said Be still, and there was peace. There are times in life when you just want to ask Jesus on why he is quiet. The disciples had forgotten that Jesus was the one who said get in and let us cross over to the other side.

CWM’s vision articulates CWM’s conviction that the life-giving alternative that characterised the mission of Jesus is the basis of our hope. Dare to hope when everything says no. Simply because Jesus has promised that you will reach the other side of the shore is no guarantee that they will be no storms while in transit, but when they come, he will control them. Jesus crossed boundaries and invites us to cross over to the other side, to embrace the stranger, to affirm those who have been marginalised and to participate in the suffering and struggles of the poor and powerless.

prayer

Dear God, thank you for the authority over the storms of life that arises. We pray that you will calm the storm in our lives and communities. May every wind that takes our joy away be still. In the name of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen!

for further thought

How do we cling on to hope when the storms of life hit one after another?

Wellington Mthobisi Sibanda

United Congregational Church of Southern Africa