March 19 - Lenten Devotional

“They 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. He 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?" (Luke 8:22-25)

This text is rich with meaning and full of ideas to explore. Unfortunately it’s very easy to fall in the trap that the disciples fell into… namely it’s quite easy to get caught up in the amazement of Jesus calming the storm.

The calming of the storm holds wonderful reverberations of good news for us. We all have storms in which we need some respite. The text claims God’s presence as bringing “a calm” – not that the storms are gone, but that they are quiet for the moment. This is good news. However… I’m not really certain this is what Jesus thinks is important at the moment – in fact I’m fairly certain that the calming of the storm is the side show for Jesus.

“Where is your faith?”

This is what Jesus says to the disciples. They have cried and shouted to Jesus in fear – certain of their imminent death. Jesus wakes, calms the storm.. and yet, Jesus does not want to talk about his power over storm and wave. Jesus wants to talk about why they were worried in the first place.

“Where is your faith?”

I want to even push a further step. I do not believe that Jesus means that they ought to have faith that he could calm the storm. No… I believe that Jesus means their faith should have made them calm. The storm that concerns Jesus is not the storm tossing the boat to and fro – it is their storm in hearts of the disciples that was causing them so much fear at the idea of perishing, so much trembling and panic that they were all alone.

“Where is your faith?”

What is truly sad in this moment is that the disciples are unable to learn the lesson. They are unable even to engage Jesus question… they are lost to the magic and mystery of Jesus power… “afraid and amazed” – there are still storms in their hearts! The winds and water have obeyed Christ… creation had faith. But Jesus’ disciples were unable to hear and obey their Lord.

What then is faith for the disciple? I imagine the text tells us that faith is trusting that the Lord is with us in the “boat”. Faith is not allowing the storms outside to create storms in us. Faith is being able to know that “perishing” is occurring but we are still safe in the hands of our God.

Our devotional is about the length that it should come to an end – but I want to share a story of someone who witnessed to me this kind of faith.

Mary Lou Thornton was a member of our congregation who was dear to very many of us. We will gather this afternoon to honor her life and witness to the resurrection of Christ as we remember her. She had a passion for God I have seldom seen – and truly walked the journey of discipleship in the way of Jesus.

In October of last year when it was discovered that another round of treatment had not rid her of cancer – she said enough. She was done treating the cancer. She turned her back on the medical sciences (not because she doubted them or scorned medical science but because she no longer felt that it was the right answer for her) and she walked her final months free of needles and tubes, chemo or radiation, hospitals and doctors.

Mary Lou had journeyed with cancer for a long time, and now felt or sensed that perishing was happening. I think she knew it in her heart. She also knew that Jesus was in the boat with her – and that to die; having lived so fully with and for her Lord, was no loss. She did not lose a battle with cancer. She refused to even the toe the line because she was able to live without needing to battle the world. She did not let the storms outside become a storm inside her. With strength, dignity and grace she placed her full trust in God, turned her boat down stream, and floated home.

I’m not sure I’d have the strength to make that kind of decision – but having watched her journey I believe I’m more likely to be able to than I would have been without her example. She made her death, as she lived her life, a testimony to faith and the good news of Jesus Christ. And Jesus holding her hand as that boat sailed home never had to ask her, “where is your faith?”

Do you live fully in the knowledge that Jesus is in the boat with you?
Are you willing to put your life and trust in God’s hands?
Have you heard the calming voice of Christ and allowed it authority over the storms in your heart?

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Sovereign God, You abide with us in all the times and places of our life. Help us take strength from your presence and trust in your care. Let the faith of Jesus Christ calm our hearts and give us peace amidst the storms of life. Amen.