Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Led Into Difficulty

One of the things that stands out in the account of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee is that the disciples were doing exactly what Jesus had told them to do (Mark4:35-41). This was not like the case of Jonah, where God told him to go one way and Jonah ran the other (see the book of Jonah). In that case, we are not surprised when God sends a storm to put Jonah back on track. But the disciples could ask the question, “Why did God send a storm when we were doing what Jesus said to do?” We are not explicitly given the answer to this question, but we can see in the context that this storm became an opportunity for the disciples to know more about Jesus and who He was. Perhaps this is a large part of what it means when it says God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

It is often in the difficult times that we learn more about God and who He is. I don’t know what your reaction to this is, but there is a petty, selfish part of me that wants to rise up and say, “Why can’t God leave me alone? Do I have to be super-spiritual? Can’t I just slide through life and be satisfied with knowing God reasonably well?” This whole approach is, of course, predicated on the idea that life is about what I want, not what God wants. But it is also firmly rooted in fear. “What am I going to have to go through to be what God wants me to be?” But God isn’t willing to let us settle for that. He has no intention of letting us settle for anything less than being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). Should we settle for anything less either? The end result of the kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Is this not worth passing through a few storms?
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8 comments:

  1. kc bobDecember 2, 2015 at 8:52 AM

    "Why did God send a storm when we were doing what Jesus said to do?”

    They did not ask it because they did not believe that God sent the storm. The text itself does indicate that God sent the storm. I mean really, how could Jesus subvert the will of God by rebuking the storm. If the storm was God's will then Jesus and the disciples would have to persevere in it and not rebel against it.

    That said, I find the rest of your thoughts to be insightful Mike. The will of God is for us to be molded into the image of God the Son, in prosperity and difficulty.

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    1. Mike Erich the Mad TheologianDecember 3, 2015 at 5:51 PM

      I do not if you want to open the whole question of God's providence again as we have already covered that a number of times. But in answer to the specific question I would say that God sent the storm so that Jesus could still it to show who Jesus was and Jesus could still it because it was sent for that purpose. I know this is not how you think God works, but I do not see it as Jesus and the Father in any way working against each other.

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  2. kc bobDecember 4, 2015 at 7:21 AM

    Again, the text does not say that God sent the storm. Your interpretation of the story is just speculation built on a preconceived notion of God's sovereignty.

    And, in saying that God the Father sent the storm so that God the Son could calm it, you present a very strange image where Jesus is no longer doing only what he sees the Father doing.

    So, while I understand your reasoning on sovereignty, I do not think that this passage in any way supports your view.

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    1. Mike Erich the Mad TheologianDecember 4, 2015 at 7:49 PM

      My understanding that God sent the storm is based on a general understanding of God's sovereignty. I never claimed that this passage stated it nor am I trying to prove it from this passage. But I also see nothing in this passage that denies it. I do not feel something needs to be stated in every passage for me to affirm it based on general principle.

      But as for Jesus doing what is not done by the Father, I would say all storms are calmed by the Father. It is my understanding that God sends all storms and calms all storms. But from your understanding how is Jesus doing what the Father does. Do you see God as only calming storms but not sending them?

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  3. kc bobDecember 5, 2015 at 6:04 AM

    Do you see God as only calming storms but not sending them?

    If one really believes that Jesus only did what he saw the Father doing then one believes that the Father only does good.

    God created everything good. Humans over time screwed it up. I see no reason to blaspheme God by saying that he does things that hurt when it is obvious in the life of Christ that he is a healer and not a hurter.

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    1. Mike Erich the Mad TheologianDecember 5, 2015 at 7:45 PM

      Has I have said before, doing what I good in many cases requires hurting people. The Pharisees were certainly hurt by Jesus' rebuke of them. Sometimes the only way to heal (as in setting a broken bone) is to hurt.

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  4. kc bobDecember 6, 2015 at 7:49 AM

    Now that was confusing. Are you conflating a verbal rebuke with a proverbial punch in the face? That is just crazy talk. ツ

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    1. Mike Erich the Mad TheologianDecember 7, 2015 at 8:17 PM

      I do not think this is a confusion at all. If a rebuke is to be meaningful it must be capable of being followed by consequences if it is ignored. If Jesus threatened the pharisees with hell, He must be willing to send them there if they ignore the warning. Otherwise it is an empty threat. Nor do I believe "hurt" should be limited to the purely physical and not include the verbal. It seems to me this is a spectrum and not two contrary things.

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