1. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. When the One who created the world comes to you, there is reason for courage and never reason to fear. The message from God’s Word today as we observe the 9th Sunday after Pentecost is taken from Mark 6:45-56, it’s entitled, “Jesus—Your Savior & Your Lord.” Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. Have you ever been at a social gathering where you didn’t know all the guests? It can lead to some interesting situations. You are standing there, at a graduation party, talking to someone who introduces himself as Jack. When you share how you know the graduate, you find out you and Jack both have children in the same school. That launches you into a conversation about your youngest son. He has become depressed lately, distracted. You wonder if he has fallen into the wrong crowd, and you start to talk about how you are handling the situation. Then, in the middle of your conversation, the host comes by and says, “Oh, I’ve seen you’ve met Dr. Ford. He’s world famous as a family therapist.” For a moment, you want to crawl in a hole. You had no idea to whom you were talking. But his humble demeanor, his invitation to go back to your story, even his offering some advice, all encourage you to think that maybe he cares and can help you in this situation.
3. Something like that is happening in our reading this morning from Mark chapter 6. The disciples are getting a glimpse of who Jesus really is. As you look at the reading, notice how there are two contrasting moments of recognition in the story: One on land and the other at sea. At the end of the reading, Jesus and the disciples land at Gennesaret. Here, notice how Mark informs us that the people, “...immediately recognized Him” (6:53). Such immediate recognition led to immediate action. They gathered their sick and laid them in the streets, positioning them so that, even if Jesus didn’t touch them, they could touch the fringe of His garment and they would be healed.
4. Jesus is known by the people to be one who heals, and, because of that recognition, their lives change in dramatic ways. The sick, normally cared for indoors in their beds, are brought out into the light of day. The marketplace, once filled with the buying and selling of goods, becomes filled with prayerful pleading and sickness. Jesus has changed the shape of their world and filled their markets with hope and healing.
5. But, at the beginning of the reading, we have a different scene. It’s a scene where the disciples lack recognition. It’s late in the day and the disciples are not on land but at sea. They are there because Jesus has sent them to go before Him (Mark 6:45). As they struggle to cross the sea, Jesus comes walking toward them on the water. Mark tells us Jesus, “...meant to pass by them” (Mark 6:48).
6. The phrase is strange and invites theological reflection. In the Old Testament, passing by was a way of divine revelation. God passes by Moses on Mount Sinai. Exodus 34:6 says, “The Lord passed before [Moses] and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” God passes by Elijah at the mouth of the cave. In 1 Kings 19:11 it says, “And [God] said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.” God also passes by Job. Job 9:11 says, “Behold, [God] passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.” In each case there is a divine revelation, whether it is recognized (Moses and Elijah) or not (Job).
7. Jesus intended for His disciples to see Him, to know Him as more than a healer or a feeder or a teacher. Jesus desired to reveal Himself to His disciples as the Lord of Creation: The One who could walk on the waters of the sea. But, their lack of recognition, places the boat in even greater turmoil. Not only are they fighting against the winds, now they are also fighting against the terrors of the night. They see Jesus but they do not recognize Him. They think that He is a ghost. They hear His voice, but they do not trust His words. As Mark says, “Their hearts were hardened” (Mark 6:52).
8. And what were Jesus’ words? “Have courage. It is I. Do not be afraid” (Mark 6:50). In the words Jesus speaks, He locates His self-revelation in that middle-space between courage and fear. When the One who created the world comes to you, there is reason for courage and never reason to fear. Why? Because the One who created the world has promised to come and restore it. He has promised to come and bear the punishment for our sins, so we no longer fear God’s wrath. He has promised to come and defeat the forces of evil so we can live in courageous hope. Jesus is the One who dies to bear our sins and rises from the dead to bring restoration and He comes to us now in His Word and Sacraments to bring us the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation. Not in the middle of the sea, not in the middle of the marketplace, but in the middle of your daily life. God has come through His Word and Sacraments to reveal who Jesus truly is: Your Savior and your Lord.
9. That, then, is the wonder of this text. Notice how Mark contrasts these two realities. On land, Jesus is known as a healer, and it changes everyone’s lives. On the sea, Jesus is not known as the creator of all things, and the disciples respond in fear. What happens now, in your life? Now that you know who Jesus is, the creator and redeemer and restorer of all things, how will this change your life, on land or at sea... at home or at work... in silent prayer or friendly conversation?
10. It may be that we bring out our sick into our prayers, trusting in the God of all healing. It may be that we bring out our Bibles and dust them off, trusting in Jesus who teaches us how to live by faith. It may be that we enter the world differently, with courage and without fear, because Jesus is with us. The One who created all things has entered our lives and walks with us out into the world. It’s the presence of Jesus that helps us still as we go through the sufferings of this life brought about by the effects of sin.
11. If we look at our lives as a whole, most of us would probably agree that they’re filled with many blessings from God. We have family and friends to share our lives. We are blessed with jobs and opportunities to use our gifts in service to our neighbor. We have a place to live and food to eat and many other what we call First Article gifts from our Creator. But, there are moments where the wind picks up: we get in a fight with someone we love, our job becomes a dreadful burden or is taken from us, the joys of homeownership overwhelm us, or our very lives seem to be in jeopardy. Like the disciples today in Mark chapter 6, we find that the days become long and we’re tired; we’re lonely. We’re making headway in life painfully.
12. As people of God, our faith knows where we can turn for help in these times, but as sinful people, we often don’t do it. We tell ourselves that painful headway is still headway, that we can do it ourselves, and even if Jesus factors into things, we often see him as the disciples did: like a ghost and not really there. In fact, we do this so often that we begin to think this is just how things are in life. When life becomes work, when hardship happens to us, when suffering enters our world, we have a tendency to close up, to isolate ourselves, and to desire simply to be alone in the midst of our suffering. As people of faith, we ought to know this isn’t the way things are intended to be for us, that we are never alone, that we know where we can turn to find divine help, and yet so many times our life looks quite different. An outsider looking at our life might sometimes think, “How can you not get it? How can you not see where your help is? Why have you not learned by now that Jesus is always with you?”
13. But, it was the presence of Jesus that brought calm amid wind and waves. It was the presence of Jesus that brought healing to the sick. It is the presence of Jesus that comforts us and joins us to his help and healing and life through forgiveness and grace. From the moment of your Baptism, the Lord’s promise is that he will never leave you or forsake you. He continues to make his presence known to you as you receive his forgiving word of absolution, as you are reminded of his promises revealed in his Holy Word, and as you have his very life placed into your mouth in the Lord’s Supper. His presence is evident to you as a recipient of his daily provision and is shared as you bring works of mercy to others. In all times and in every circumstance, Jesus is there: “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).
14. In fact, Jesus isn’t just present with you but has borne the burden and pain of sin for you. He knows the hurt that you experience. He has died for you on the cross and has risen from the grave to give you the eternal gains of forgiveness, life, and salvation. “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (Mk 6:50). These are comforting words from our Savior today, for the pains of life are sure to come, but as a child of God, you know where you can turn for help in your time of need. Look to Jesus, for he is there: Your Savior and Your Lord. He steps into the boat with you to bring an end to your suffering. Jesus brings his healing touch to you for all your pains of body and soul. He has gained for you the kingdom and promises you life with him eternally. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, until life everlasting. Amen.
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