March 19, 2006

Seven Questions

Why Are You Afraid?

Matthew 8:23-27

Opening Words: Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at dawn on Easter. Not counting Sundays, which are mini Easters, Lent lasts forty days. The number forty is reserved in the Bible for sacred time periods. In the story of Noah it rained for forty days and nights. The Jews wandered for forty years in the wilderness. Jesus fasted for forty days before being tempted by Satan. Jesus walked the face of this world for forty days in his resurrected state after Easter. For forty days we will join the Christian world and strive to live lives that are more pleasing to God.

This year’s Lenten sermon series is called Seven Questions. They are seven questions that Jesus asked the disciples. They are seven questions that Jesus is asking us. The master did not ask these questions to expose our ignorance. The master asked these questions to help us grow in the faith. This morning’s question is Why are you afraid? It is a question of fear. This is sermon number four in this seven part sermon series. Let us hear this Gospel reading together.

Introduction

Janez Rus hid in his sister’s farm house for 32 years near the village of Zalna, Germany. He was afraid he would be punished for pro-Nazi activity during the Second World War. He began hiding in 1945 and was only discovered in 1967 when his sister bought a large supply of bread for her brother. Rus said, "If I had not been discovered, I would have remained in hiding. So I am happy that this happened," Rus told a reporter, “Throughout those 32 years I did nothing. I never left the house, and could only look down at the village in the valley from a small window. I would cry when I heard children laughing.” Fear became the dominant force in his life. Tertullian once said, “It is a poor thing to fear that which is inevitable.” Is fear the dominant force in your life? Are you living or are you just existing? Jesus asked the disciples (and us) why are you afraid?

Body

We are instructed today from the eighth chapter of Matthew. We find Jesus and the disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat. It is no leisurely boat ride. The Sea of Galilee was notorious for fast wild storms. In Jesus’ day there was no modern weather forecasting or maritime technology. You entered the Sea of Galilee at your own risk and prayed for a safe journey. On that day their prayers went unanswered. A wild storm hits the sea and the little wooden ship is thrown around like a toy model. Fear was the dominant force in the disciple’s lives at that moment. They know the end is near but Jesus is secure in the back of the boat. The problem is Jesus is asleep. He only awakens when the storm is in full bloom. He sees the disciples reaction to the storm and asks them the question of the day, why are you afraid?

However, this morning’s scripture lesson is more than a story of an iterant preacher with his followers in the middle of a storm. It is really a story of life. The storm is life! Have you ever felt like storms blow up in your life from time to time? We are like the disciples. We become emotional and fear dominates our lives. From our limited perspective, things look bad. There can be no happy ending. It is at those moments that Jesus asks us why are you afraid?

Today I want to ask you three questions. These three questions will get to the source of your fears. Three questions that will help you confront your fears. What are my three questions? Question number one is where are the storms in your life? Question number two is are you afraid Jesus has fallen asleep? The last question is are you willing to take a risk? So if you are ready to look at these three questions say, “Amen!”

Question Number One - Where are the storms in your life?

The Sea of Galilee is like Lake Erie. It is shallow. When the weather changes the complexion of the sea will change. One minute it will be smooth. The next minute it can be wild! The disciples were in the middle of a wild storm. They wondered if their lives were over? Have you ever wondered if your life, as you know it, is over? Where are the storms in your life? This seems to be the stormy weather season.

Our world seems to be breeding storms. Take a world tour within your mind and you will find storms. Every continent seems to have a storm these days. In Africa there are crimes against humanity and no one seems to care. In Asia there is over population and the threat of atomic bombs. In South America drugs seem to be the cash crop. In Europe peace is still hard to find. Some say there will never be peace in the Middle East. In America we continue to fight our war on terrorism. Our world seems to be breeding storms.

Our own society seems to be breeding storms. Can anyone say America is getting better? Is it me or are things getting more complex? Let me give you an example. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University reported 30 years ago, the greatest fears of grade school children were: 1) Animals, 2) Being in a dark room, 3) High places, 4) Strangers, 5) Loud noises. Today, kids are afraid of the following: 1) Divorce, 2) Nuclear war, 3) Cancer, 4) Pollution, 5) Being mugged. Our own society seems to breed storms.

In the life of this congregation there are many storms. If you tapped my telephone you could hear the thunder. We have people who are facing the storm of illness and disease. We have people whose marriages are failing. We have people who haven’t spoken to loved ones in years. We have people who have a mountain of debt and no chance of paying it off. We have people who are facing addictions. We have people that are facing the demon of depression and anxiety. We have people who are alone. We have people facing all kinds of storms. Do you know anyone who does not have a storm in their life? Let me ask you gently the first question again. Where is the storm in your life? That leads us to the second question.

Question Number Two - Are you afraid Jesus has fallen asleep?

Bishop Roger Herft (Anglican bishop of Newcastle, NSW, Australia) tells of a Croatian refugee he met in mid 2001. This man had fled his war-torn country and arrived in Australia some years before. Since then his marriage had broken up and he lost custody of his children. To add to his agony 24 members of his family, including his 84 year old grandfather and four month old niece, had been killed during the most recent conflict in Croatia. He said to Bishop Herft, "Where is God when it really matters? I'll tell you where. God has got fed up with us. He has put up a board saying, 'Gone Fishing', and has left us to live in this bloody mess." Have you ever felt that way? If so, you are not alone. Even the disciples felt that way.

Go back to the text with me. Use your sanctified imagination and look at the disciples. Fear is dominating their lives. They are consumed by fear because Jesus has fallen asleep. Have you ever felt like Jesus has fallen asleep during your storms? In a world filled with storms are you afraid Jesus has fallen asleep?

Then this morning’s Psalter lesson is for you. This is what it says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation. What shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life. What shall I be afraid?” If you think you may need that quote from time to time say, “Amen!” This is question number three.

Question Number Three - Are you willing to take risk?

Go back to the text with me one more time. Jesus calms the storm and the danger is over. Beyond our reading in verse 28 it says when they arrived on the other side of the Sea of Galilee they got out of the boat and the ministry continued. It doesn’t say they left the ministry or took a vacation. It says when they arrived at the other side they got out of the boat and continued the ministry. Don’t underestimate that fact. The most difficult thing they could have ever done was continue following Jesus. They were willing to take a risk. Are you willing to take a risk?

What risky thing are you going to try in the name of Jesus? Perhaps, you are going to go to the Rescue Mission and serve some meals? Perhaps, you are going to visit a nursing home and spend some valuable time the aged? Perhaps, you are going to help teach Sunday school? Perhaps, you are going to get involved in a mission trip? Perhaps, you are going to sing in the choir or collect food? Perhaps, you are going to get involved in a prison ministry and help the incarcerated? Perhaps, you are going to write an extra big check to help someone you don’t even know? Are you willing to take a risk? If you are willing to take a risk say, “Amen!”

Conclusion

I end this message with a simple story. I friend of mind has a parishioner who is 101 years old. She lives in a nursing home and one day he went to visit her. Physically she is struggling but mentally she is sharp. He sat next to her and asked her the question, “What was it like in your day?” She looked at him and said, “Sonny, this is my day!” This is our day as well. May we claim it for Jesus and do something for him. We are disciples of Jesus Christ! May we not live in fear anymore. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”