Pastor’s Letter – May 10, 2020 – It Was Now Full

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

Mark 4:37

Dear Church and Friends,

Happy Mother’s Day! This day finds us in a storm. Our boat is about to be swamped by the waves. Why isn’t Jesus doing something about this? We are his disciples, is he really going to let us drown?

The passage today is exactly expresses that problem and a solution. Jesus and the disciples are traveling across the Sea of Galilee, he’s asleep, they are trying to keep things afloat. Finally they up and complain about his lack of concern for them “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”

After the waves are stilled he counters with questions of his own, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” Ouch! How selfish and faithless our praying can be. If we are believers, Jesus is in the boat with us. He knows all about the conditions of the boat, the condition of our heart, and the threat of the storm.

He is in control. We are learning we are not in control. Who is this man in the boat with us? The demoniac in chapter 5 answers that question for us, “Jesus, thou Son of the most high God.” Oh, now I see, I am in His boat, on His sea, at His feet. Lord, ever at your feet.

Music: I Heard My Mother Call My Name in Prayer by Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.

Prayer: Please pray for the Tihama Yemeni Arabs of Yemen.

• (tih-HAH-mah) – Before the war, there were three friends who used to live together in the Tihama region One was a fish seller, the other was a maker of ice chests, and the third was an outsider. The fish seller and the ice chest maker were pretty much inseparable; the main reason was because there was only one motorcycle between the two of them! The one who owned it was too afraid to drive it, so the friend drove it while the owner rode along. That is how it always was when they came and picked up the third friend, the outsider. He would hop on the back of the motorcycle, and that would make three. They would ride around the city together and would always get a flat tire. The outsider would blame the flat tire on his weight, while the other two always blamed it on Satan. They would spend time together talking about religion and often ended up talking with older, wiser men about important matters. They would spend hours and hours asking and answering questions. Pray that the evil one will not stop people from asking questions and seeking truth. Pray that the truth will come out through questions and answers. Ask that Tihama Yemeni Arabs will find the way, the truth, and the life. May the Holy Spirit work mightily among these people!

Catechism: Craig’s Catechism (1581) [1. The Creation and First State of Mankind].

“The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.”

All my best.

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Mark 4:39