SWAMPED!

People have understood this story on at least three different levels: what is says about who Jesus is; what it says to a troubled Church; what it says to a troubled life.

1. STORM CALMER

It is the identity of the storm-calmer that is important. For the Jews the sea, and in particular the storms on the sea were chaotic and demonic - squalls blew up from nowhere and people could be lost very easily. They believed that squalls were the demons of the deep fighting with each other... So when Jesus calms the storm he uses the same words as the exorcism (the casting out of an evil spirit) of the man he heals in chapter one... [Mk 1.25] Jesus is doing more than a clever weather spell: he is showing his authority over evil, over disruptive forces, to bring peace to the world of nature as he does to troubled bodies and minds. So this is Christological: Jesus does what God does in overcoming chaos, so this action shows us something about who Jesus is.

2. TODAY’S CHURCH?

The little boat is Christ’s Church - in particular Mark’s community - battered and fearful amongst turbulent times, but still trusting and placing their hope in the protection and company of Jesus. This may well speak to our situation today when forces seem out to crush, ridicule or ignore the Church.

3. OUR LIVES

The little boat is our life, tossed by events around us. The poor disciples are having quite a steep learning curve with their boss - a real roller coaster of emotions. They thought they were going to die, they asked Jesus to help them and were surprised shocked and frightened when he did what they asked... Even in the realm of life they knew best, Jesus understood. The disciples - who don’t forget are fishermen and used to the sea - are convinced not only that the boat is going down, but that they will all be drowned too. I’m sure there are times when we feel that our little boats are being swamped by the storms of life... Like his first disciples it is often in the storms that we come to recognise Jesus most truly.

If we just take this as a literal event, we end up saying, well, nice story, but so what? If we look at the significance below the surface we can be strengthened, encouraged and our hope made firm that the peace of Jesus Christ real does pass understanding and is not dependent on outward circumstances...

Fr. Andrew Perry
Rector, St John the Evangelist, Pevensey Rd, St Leonards on Sea

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Bread on the Waters