Why Are You So Afraid?

by | Jun 24, 2018

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

  1. Jesus is Powerful
  2. Jesus is Gracious
  3. Jesus is With You
SERMON TEXT:  Mark 4:35-41

On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” After leaving the crowd behind, the disciples took him along in the boat, just as he was. Other small boats also followed him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves were splashing into the boat, so that the boat was quickly filling up. Jesus himself was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to drown?” Then he got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind stopped, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still lack faith?” They were filled with awe and said to one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

Bible Readings

FIRST LESSON:  Proverbs 30:4-5

Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the palms of his hands? Who has wrapped the water in a garment? Who has set up all the ends of the earth? What is his name and the name of his son? Tell me if you know! Every word of God has been refined. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

SECOND LESSON:  Acts 27:13-26

When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they could carry out their plan. They raised the anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. But before long, a hurricane-like wind, called the “northeaster,” rushed down from the island. Since the ship was caught in it and could not head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. As we sailed on the sheltered side of a small island called Cauda, we were barely able to secure the skiff. After hoisting it on board, the men tied ropes around the ship to reinforce it. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and in this way were driven along. Because we were tossed around so violently by the storm, the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship’s gear overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the violent storm kept pressing down on us, finally all hope that we would be saved was disappearing. After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice and not set sail from Crete and avoided this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because there will be no loss of life among you. Only the ship will be lost. In fact, last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And surely God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, because I believe God that it will be exactly the way I have been told. However, we must run aground on some island.”

VERSE OF THE DAY:  Galatians 4:6

Because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

GOSPEL: Mark 4:35-41

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