David Bahn – Reflections

On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. ³⁸ But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea,  “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” – Mark 4:35-41

Maybe you’ve had the feeling. You want to get away. Out of Dodge. To somewhere. Anywhere. Other than where you are. That’s especially likely to be true these days. Covid has us on lockdown, or nearly so. Lots of us are not ready to fly. Others just don’t have the courage to brave an unknown place with unknown or unverifiable cleaning protocols. So we stay hunkered down.

But it’s not always a reasonable decision to go or not. Some families will go shopping, out to eat, send their children to school or child care, but not gather for worship. They’re just not ready they say. Others are so consumed by fear that they won’t venture outside their home at all. Still others are ready to go anywhere at the hint of an invitation or opportunity’s knock. 

For most of us these days, the idea going over to the other side has a peculiar appeal. We want to go for reasons we may not even realize. Still Jesus invited the disciples to go with him to the other side. He invites us to do the same. For this is an invitation to an adventure.

What appears likely to be random is much more intentional than they might imagine. He will lead them into a raging storm. They will see his mighty power. He will (spoiler alert!) encounter a demon-possessed man. Jesus is literally on a mission for God. He is the mission of God in the flesh. 

I believe Jesus is inviting us daily to go over to the other side. Along with that he is inviting us to an adventure of faith and mission. We will encounter storms of all kinds. We will see his glory. We will discover his heart. We will be part of a story of life and redemption as we interact with others along the way.

I wonder what kinds of encounters await you today. Will there be people you meet who need your kindness and love? Will you have the opportunity to show how God’s power has worked in your life? Are you ready to look to Jesus in the midst of the crisis, believing that he will help? What awaits you on the other side of the lake you’re crossing? You’ll only know if you head out for the other side – whatever that means for you.

On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. ³⁸ But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea,  “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” – Mark 4:35-41

Maybe you’ve said it. Surely you’ve heard it these days, “We’re all in the same boat.” Sounds good. Recognizes that there is a fellowship of difficulty, troubles, and danger to which we all belong. COVID-19, riots, wildfires, politics, economic uncertainties: These winds all swirl through the sails of our lives these days. 

But we’re not all in the same boat. Some boats are more sturdy than others. Some boats have massive engines, high tech guidance systems, a full pantry and modern galley, plenty lifeboats and life preservers. Others are leaky, with oars barely held in place and no extra provisions. We’re not all in the same boat. 

Mark tells us that there were other boats in the armada crossing the lake that night. They were all in the same storm. But only one boat had Jesus aboard. Those in that boat got to see Jesus still the storm. The people in the other boats experienced only the storm’s upheaval, and the sudden quiet and peaceful relief from the storm’s rage. 

That is the delightful reality of Jesus’ intervention in our world. The storms of evil, sin, sickness, and death swirl around us all. Then comes a time of calm, a return to righteousness, a relief from illness, a reprieve from death. People of all sorts and kinds experience it. Many of them are not aware that Jesus is the author of that calm. Jesus is at work healing, calming, saving, forgiving. 

But not all people are aware of it. Many just continue on their way. Oblivious. Unaware of Jesus’ calming grace. Relieved but not thankful to God or for his grace or his deliverance. They are unaware. How sad. 

I want Jesus in my boat. I want to see him in everyday happenings. I want to experience his love and faithfulness in such a manner that I recognize him as the Giver. I want to be in awe of his divine power and gracious goodness. I want Jesus in my boat. Better yet, I want to be in Jesus’ boat. How about you?

On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. ³⁸ But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea,  “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” – Mark 4:35-41

I’m ready! How about you? Political bitterness and back-biting, mud-slinging and fear-mongering. Racial tensions. Police controversies. COVID-19. Wildfires. Enough! Peace! Be still! Oh how I wish I had that power, or maybe not. Oh how I wish Jesus would do his thing in our times. We need you Jesus! Don’t you care if we perish?!?

Let’s be careful here. The one who calmed the storm at sea, did not prevent Pilate from killing a number of religious/political protesters, or stop the tower at Siloam from falling on another group of people (cf. Luke 13:1-5). The same One who stilled the waves did not still every storm at sea. Plenty of people have died while yearning for Jesus’ direct intervention in their lives. 

Jesus’ miracles are a sign. They have a meaning beyond the event itself. The water turned to wine was a blessing to the people at the wedding feast. The calm waters and still winds were a relief to the disciples. But in each case the miracle pointed to the One who did it. John tells us that Jesus’ first miracle (water into wine) was a revelation of Jesus’ glory, and that his disciples put their faith in him. The disciples marvel at Jesus’ storm-stopping intervention. 

Jesus is someone to be reckoned with. He’s not a lucky rabbit’s foot. He’s not a get-out-of-death-free card. He gives no pass to even his closest followers when it comes to the troubles of this world. 

But he can. He can and does intervene from time to time. In those moments when the reality of his mighty power and his loving kindness becomes evident we are moved to praise God and thank him for his mercies. But when he doesn’t come to save the day we must not give up and despair of his goodness. 

I still wish for God’s intervention in the affairs of this world. I pray for an end to the novel coronavirus. I wish there would be peace between the races and I’ll pray for it and do all I can to bring it about. I yearn for rains to douse the fires in the western United States. I wish there were no bad cops. I wish the protesters would respect the rule of law. 

I pray for all these things. But I keep my eyes and heart fixed on Jesus, the author and completion of faith. He experienced the most grave and darkest moments for you and me. He did it to redeem us, and with an eye on the future glory that will be ours in the life of the world to come.

Jesus cares about our eternal wellbeing, and has done all that is needed to give us eternal peace. 

On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. ³⁸ But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea,  “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” – Mark 4:35-41

Maybe you’ve done this. You see your child edging toward a minor danger. Nothing life-threatening. Maybe just mildly frightening. You don’t want your child to suffer emotional or physical trauma. But allowing him to learn a lesson about how the sprinkler system works (he’ll get wet if he walks into it’s path) is OK. If she learns that coffee tastes bitter that might be a good thing.

And maybe he will run to you in tears wishing you had warned him. She might look at you with startled eyes near tears, seeming to say, “Why didn’t you stop me?” You let them learn some things in the school of hard knocks. Other things you hope they’ll learn in the lessons from others’ experience.

Is this what is happening in this event on the Sea of Galilee? Did Jesus let the disciples sail into a storm knowing they would not drown, but that they would need his help? Did he deliberately stay asleep in the boat while the winds and waves rage so that they would learn just how powerful he was? 

It’s difficult to assign motives clearly in these cases. There are many different possibilities. But we do know this: Jesus was committed to his mission to seek and save the lost. He was embodying the presence of God’s rule and reign during his time on earth. He was bringing down the high and mighty and exalting those who are humble and lowly in spirit. 

But the disciples ask a telling question: “Don’t you care if we drown?” It’s actually quite an indictment of Jesus. They are assuming, by their question, that Jesus was aware of their plight, and that he didn’t care to help. It’s not clear whether or not both are untrue. He may have been so at peace with his Father, and so aware that they would reach the other side, that he was unaware of the storm. He is true man, afterall. And he was tired.

But he definitely cared about their predicament. He was not unmoved about their fear or the danger they faced. And he shows that he is more than concerned. He has the whole situation well in control. For Jesus is not only true man (asleep in the boat), but he is also true God.

And here it shows. He commands the wind and waves and they obey. He says, “Peace” and there is peace. No one else can do this. And he cares. 

On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. ³⁸ But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea,  “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” – Mark 4:35-41

Saturday is often the day we do the lawn. Diane runs the lawnmower (self-propelled), and I do the edging, trimming, and blowing. Viewed from the side of “before” the task is sometimes daunting. Viewed from the side of “after”, it’s a great feeling. We say the same thing about our workouts. The view from after a difficult but rewarding task is so much better.

I’m thinking Jesus’ disciples might have such a recalibration – at lease half-way through their trip across the lake. Initially it’s likely they were gung ho. Yes! Let’s go to the other side. Let’s have some down time. Let’s get away from this crowd. Let’s take some time off. They likely also realized that Jesus needed a break as well.

That became obvious for them as they were crossing the lake and Jesus fell asleep. Then comes the storm. The crossing seems not so inviting. The task at hand becomes more challenging – to say the least. What had started as an easy trip to a time of R&R becomes suddenly a fight for survival. And Jesus is asleep in the boat. Oblivious. Exhausted. Unconcerned. Unhelpful. 

Don’t you care that we drown?!? I certainly understand that sentiment. There is no obvious expression of concern about their plight on the part of Jesus. He’s asleep, remember. 

But they perhaps lost sight of Jesus’ initial words, “Let us go across to the other side.” They are about to see how powerful and far-reaching these words are. They are about to learn what Jesus’ words can do. If Jesus can speak to the sea and winds, “Peace! Be still!” And winds cease and there is a great calm, then his words about going to the other side are perhaps worth further consideration.

The view from the other side allows us to do just that. We know they made it. We know he stilled the storm. We know his disciples were in awe of him after they saw that mighty display.

What other words of Jesus might be worth your further consideration?

Psalm 13

Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? ¹⁴ The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. ¹⁵ The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. ¹⁶ The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. ¹⁸ The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, ¹⁹ but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. ²⁰ And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

²¹ Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. ²² For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. ²³ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

²⁴ Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. ²⁵ To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” – Mark 4:13-25

When I was in 6th grade I discovered a note on my desk. I don’t recall everything it said, but I do recall the last word: “ZATTD!” I don’t remember the rest of the note for it was gibberish as far as I could tell. Letters that went together to form non-words, lines of non-words with punctuation. As though someone had simply tried to confuse me. It actually made me mad.

Until a friend asked me if I had gotten his note. “Your note?! That was crazy. I threw it away.”

“You what! Where!”

I showed him the crumpled note in the classroom trash can. He got it out and told me, “It’s a code. ZATTD means HURRY! Z stands for H, A stands for U, T stands for R, and D stands for Y. ZATTED! HURRY!”

My friends were too kind, letting me in on the secret. I was supposed to figure it out myself and break the code. Look for single-letter words, see if that could fill in bits and pieces of the puzzle. Once I got it, though, I could figure out the note.

It was an invitation to be part of a secret club they had formed. The three of us, plus one or two more, would make up codes and write messages to each other. That way, if the note was intercepted by our teacher she wouldn’t be able to decipher it. It was such fun.

Jesus does not write things in code. Nor does God send secret invitations to join his club. In fact, the message of Jesus is clear and open: Repent and believe the good news: the rule and reign of God is at hand in Jesus. God is saving his people. God is calling people to himself. Jesus is the fulfillment of all of Scripture’s promises and prophecies. Look to him. Believe in him. He is the key. 

Once you have Jesus, you have the key to all of the New Testament’s teachings. Once you have Jesus, you can unlock the mysteries of God. Once you have Jesus you have forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. 

Martin Luther is to have said, “When you come to a place in the Bible you don’t understand, praise God and continue on.” That’s because Luther had Jesus, and with him is peace, joy, and life. So if you reach a point in your reading or faith walk that you don’t understand, “ZATTD” (hurry) on to the next thing. Hurry on to the next adventure of life in God’s kingdom. No decoding required.

Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? ¹⁴ The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. ¹⁵ The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. ¹⁶ The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. ¹⁸ The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, ¹⁹ but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. ²⁰ And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

²¹ Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. ²² For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. ²³ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

²⁴ Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. ²⁵ To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” – Mark 4:13-25

Did you ever read a book while hidden under the covers, flashlight in hand? What was the motive? You wanted to get away with reading past your bedtime. Or you were reading something you know you shouldn’t be reading. Or you just wanted to have an adventurous experience, pretending to be in some other place and time.

This is not what Jesus is talking about when he speaks of putting your lamp under a basket. He’s saying that lamps are to be lit for light. No one in Jesus’ day would waste precious oil by burning a lamp hidden under a basket. That’s foolishness!

Lamps are lit to shed light. They shed light to provide safe navigation, a sense of security, and give light and life to a room. We light lamps to see where to go, who we’re with, and how to get from one point to another. 

God’s word does this. It provides a path for life. It helps us to recognize who we are and who are the people around us. It points us in the right direction for life. 

But there is one other thing. You can tell a lamp is there. It sheds light, and you can see the lamp as well as the objects it illuminates. You can see the light. You can see the lamp. 

Some people want to sit in the background. They don’t want to make a scene. They don’t want to put themselves forward. I get that. But we must never use that as an excuse not to act. It is never proper to have the light of grace and truth in our hearts and lives and never let it out. It’s not good to brag, but it’s not good to refuse to do the things God’s word inspires us to do. Sometimes our refusal to put ourselves forward is nothing more than a thinly veiled effort to avoid the responsibilities we know we should take.

Are you being called to pray? Pray! Are you being called to become a friend of a lonely person? Become a friend. Are you being called to give to a worthy cause? Give? Are you being called to serve? Serve! Are you being called to lead? Lead! 

Sometimes you just have to put yourself out there. Sometimes you just have to let your light shine. 

And Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. ¹⁶ And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. ¹⁸ And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, ¹⁹ but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ²⁰ But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

²¹ And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? ²² For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” ²⁴ And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. ²⁵ For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” 

– Mark 4:13-25

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them. Perhaps you recognize these words from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books. That one ring is nearly Frodo Baggins’ undoing. It takes hold of him and casts a spell of greed and suspicion. In the end it is destroyed.

Jesus and his message of the rule and reign of God (“Kingdom of Heaven” in most translations of Matthew’s Gospel) is the key that unlocks all mysteries and aligns all truths of God, faith, Scripture, life, and salvation. If you want to understand a difficult passage of Scripture, look at it through the lens of Jesus’ reign and rule over all things. 

Jesus’ rule is gracious; he does not force himself on people. The sower sows the seed and some receive it with joy, believe and live abundantly fruitful lives to his glory. Others reject it, and are – sadly – eternally lost. But his desire is to sow the seed of faith into our hearts and to rule there by his grace. His desire is to save. His desire is to bless. He takes no pleasure in the death of the sinner. He came to give life. Faith itself to live under Christ in his kingdom is a gift.

Jesus rule is a rule of faith. Those who receive the word and believe it live by faith. They are the ones who accept the word sown into their hearts and live under Christ and serve him.

Jesus explains the parable of the sower so that we who believe also understand why not everyone lives for Christ. We who want to see Jesus’ rule and reign extended must contend with a disappointment that is only a pale reflection of God’s disappointment over those who do not accept his give, who do not allow God’s word to grow in their hearts. 

We are left therefore with only one true hope: Jesus’ love, mercy, redemption, and grace form the basis for our place in his kingdom. He rules hearts by grace through faith. We are saved from a fruitless life by grace through faith. We who have heard this word must keep listening!

Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? ¹⁴ The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. ¹⁵ The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. ¹⁶ The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. ¹⁸ The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, ¹⁹ but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. ²⁰ And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

²¹ Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. ²² For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. ²³ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

²⁴ Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. ²⁵ To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” – Mark 4:13-25

“I didn’t do it on purpose! I promise! I didn’t do it on purpose!” Have you ever said that? Have you ever hurt someone accidentally, incurred their extreme anger and an unkind word shower? Most of us have. We’ve also learned that intent and impact don’t always align. 

“I’m so glad you feel that way! I thank God for you, too.” Have you ever gotten to say that as well? Have you experienced the soothing refreshment of kind words fitly spoken? Perhaps you’ve not even intended to be so kind, or thought of your actions as particularly praiseworthy. 

There are those times, however, when we do want our actions to be noticed. Sometimes in anger we lash out, fully intending to hurt whoever is to blame. Other times, we reach out in love to someone, hoping to bring them to a better place. Whether it’s meeting a need they acknowledge or one that we perceive, our actions are intended to produce a good result.

From Jesus’ words here we learn that God intends that the light he gives us enlightens others. He makes the point that we don’t go around lighting lamps only to hide them in the closet. We light a lamp because we intend to shed light in the room. 

So too with God. He turns on the light at times so that we enlighten others. The Holy Spirit enlightens us with his gifts so that we give them to others. He brings us to faith so that we help others along the path of faith. He opens our eyes so we can help others see the goodness of God and his rule and reign in our lives. 

Next time you turn on a light switch think of how God wants you to enlighten the world with his love. Next time you want to protest, “I didn’t mean to…” consider what God is calling you to mean to do. Living intentionally is a life-long and life-giving calling for those who have the light of the gospel in their hearts.