Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 20th June 2021
Lectionary Readings:
Job 38 v1-11; Psalm 107 v1-3, 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6 v1-13; Mark 4 v35-41.
Teacher, Lord, Master.
Was the ‘Storm on the Lake’ incident a miracle or a teaching point, or both?
The miracles recorded in the gospels seem to me to be like a momentary lifting of the veil between heaven and earth, a ‘pre-view’ of Jesus’ Lordship over the earth, a taste of things to come.
Or, was Jesus using the incident to bring home a truth about where to turn to in times of trouble?
Jesus was a carpenter not a sailor/fisherman. I’m sure that Jesus was quite happy to leave boat handling to those with experience and expertise. But when a storm struck the lake and waves began to fill the boat, the disciples turned to Jesus for help.
In Mark’s account, the disciples say, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to drown? (4 v38b).
In Matthew’s account the disciples say, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” (8 v25)
In Luke account the disciples say, “Master, Master! We are about to drown!” (8 v24)
How would you have responded to danger if you were in their situation? Would you have woken your minister up? I would!
Are the disciples not showing their faith in Jesus by turning to him in their moment of danger?
Why then does Jesus suggest that they lack faith?
Is it because Jesus thinks that they had it within them to deal with the situation themselves?
The disciples would have been familiar with the story of Job and how God reminded Job of the fact that he (God) was the creator and ruler of the earth, able to control the waves? (Job 38 v1, 4, 11)
The fishermen among them would have treasured Psalm 107, with its mention of God rescuing storm tossed sailors from peril after they had prayed to God for help. (Psalm 107 v28)
Does Jesus want us to understand that our first response to danger should be to turn to God?
The gospel accounts don’t tell us that Jesus prayed aloud for God’s help, but it seems to me, likely that he did pray, as he did at other times, e.g. in the raising of Lazarus. (John 11 v41,42.)
Silent prayer can be just as effective as spoken prayer, but it lacks the elements of reassurance, leadership and encouragement that spoken prayer can convey to others in moments of crisis.
In the light of your own life experience, can you agree with the psalmist when he says, “Everyone the Lord has rescued from trouble should praise him”? (Psalm 107 v2)
The gospel writers variously describe Jesus as ‘Teacher’, ‘Lord’, ‘Master’. What is your view of Jesus, in relation to this story?
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.