100 years is a lot of years.  Yes?  How many of you were here 100 years ago?  How many of you are expecting to be here 100 years from now?  100 years ago the group led by Badveli.Kartozian probably had no clue that we’d be in this beautiful sanctuary celebrating Calvary’s 100^th Anniversary.  None of us knows what Calvary will look like 100 years from now.  True.

Each of us has this God given moment to be here and now serving Him – being faithful to what He’s created and called us to do for Him – at Calvary – in our families and community – where we work or go to school – in this moment in time.  And the from whenever past and into the whenever future – whatever that looks like – all that is up to God. 

So this morning in – in our moment of that time line – I’d like to press into a familiar passage and think together about the “how we do that part” of what it means for us to be faithfully following God into whatever He has for us to do for Him today – tomorrow.  How do we live faithfully following God into what comes next.

Please turn or tap or you can look at the wall – and meet me at Matthew 8 – starting at verse 23 – which is the account of the disciples in the boat with Jesus – sinking in the storm. 

Before we get into God’s word would you pray with me.

Matthew 8 – starting at verse 18:

Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, He gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Let’s pause there.  

Before we get to the boat – what we’re looking at here is what took place on the way to the boat.  Which is important for us to have in mind because this was fresh in the minds of the disciples as they got in the boat.

Jesus is doing ministry on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee – probably in or near Capernaum.  A crowd of people has gathered around Him.  Some are there because of what He’s teaching.  Some are there because of the miracles.  Some are there because they’re trying to take Jesus down.  Jesus sees what’s going on – discerns it’s time to leave – gives instructions to head for the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

On the way to the boat – a scribe comes up and tells Jesus, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”

Scribes were professional scholars that knew the law – the Torah – and everything about it – how it applied to every detail of life.  They were the go-to guys when someone wanted to know anything – no matter how obscure – about the law.  Meaning they were educated – respected – they had position and prestige in the community.  This was a real boost to Jesus’ reputation that Jesus had a scribe wanting to follow Him.

Pretty sweet!

Another of the disciples – not one of the 12 – but someone also seeking to follow Jesus – on the way to the boat another disciple says to Jesus, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”  

Respecting your father.  That’s honorable?  Yes?  Fulfilling your obligation to your family.  Highly valued in the Jewish community.  Highly valued in the Armenian community.  Yes? 

Jesus’ response is culturally unimaginable – even cruel – probably not understood by the disciples or anyone else listening to this: “Follow Me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”  What kind of person wouldn’t bury their father?  "Amot eh."  

Following Jesus will probably mean leaving the expected norms of family life – potential rejection by our families and community.  Knowing the shame that comes with that.

We’re together?  As Jesus is moving towards the boat Jesus is answering questions – to follow Jesus means we’re on a different path through life – Jesus’ path through life – a path that most probably will not conform to our culture and most probably will involve rejection and shame.  And sometimes – even as followers of Jesus – we’re not going to understand how all of that fits together.

That’s what’s fresh in the minds of the disciples as they get into the boat – most probably not being understood and they themselves not always understanding.

Verse 23: And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.

Don’t miss that.  With Jesus’ answers fresh in their minds – when Jesus got into the boat – the 12 disciples made a choice to follow Jesus – to get into the boat.

“Disciple” translates the Greek word “mathetes” – it has the idea of a learner – a student.  These are men who are making a choice to learn from Jesus – their teacher.

“To follow” translates the Greek verb “akoloutheo” which not only has the idea of following – but also of imitation.  Following the teacher in order to learn to be just like the teacher.

As a kid did you ever play follow the leader where you have to walk or do whatever they kid in the front of the line does? 

Put simply: To see the student is to see the teacher. 

If we’re a disciple of Jesus – when people see us doing life in the places where we do life – they should be seeing us doing life like Jesus would be doing life if Jesus were doing life in the places where we do life.

So, by stepping into the boat – with Jesus’ answers fresh in their minds – these 12 men are committing themselves to learning from Jesus what it means to faithfully be what Jesus is calling them to be – today – tomorrow – understood or not – themselves understanding or not.

If we’re a follower of Jesus, we’re in the boat.

When the Jesus and the disciples set out for the other shore the disciples might have been looking forward to getting away from the crowds – a relaxing trip across the sea.  Which it wasn’t. 

We know this because it happens today.  The mountains that surround the Sea of Galilee – which is about 680 feet below sea level – those mountains and valleys create winds that gather and suddenly rush down on the sea.  So, with the wind rushing down off the mountains suddenly the sea was churning –  the wind is roaring – the waves are over the boat – the boat is taking on water.

Someplace in all that "erarantzoum" the disciples wake up Jesus saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.”

“Save us” is an imperative command.  “Do something NOW.”

“Perishing” in the Greek has the idea that we’re already perished.

Meaning – we’ve tried everything we know how to do and we’re all going to die.  We’ve already as good as perished.  “Jesus save us.”  

Jesus, is in the in the back of the boat sleeping.  Matthew is intentional in pointing out that contrast.  The chaos of the sea – the hopeless fear of the disciples – the complete peace of Jesus.

Verse 26: And He – Jesus – said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Hang onto the contrast.  The disciples are reacting.  Jesus is responding.

The disciples could have responded by going to Jesus first – when the wind and waves first started kicking up.  But they didn’t.  Why?

The disciples had seen Jesus do miracles – heard His teaching – they probably knew a lot about Jesus. 

They’d heard Q & A on the way to the boat.  Knowing that the people back home may not understand.  Knowing that sometimes they themselves might not always understand – they’d made the choice to get in the boat – to learn – to follow.

Intellectually they get that.  But heart level – emotionally – from the level that often drives us before we can think about it – they’re reacting with fear. 

We know that a number of the disciples were experienced sailors – fisherman.  This isn’t the first storm they’ve been through.  So, they’re probably doing what they knew to do to deal with the storm.  Bailing water – throwing stuff overboard – rowing for shore. 

They’ve got this because they’re fishermen.  They’re going to save the boat because it’s who they are – and who they are demands it – their reputation – their family honor – their standing in the community. 

They know that if they fail – 100 years from now they’ll be telling stories in Capernaum about how these fishermen died with Jesus on the sea – "amot er" – how shameful. Their families will be disgraced forever.

They should have this – but they don’t.  This is a storm beyond their abilities.  They’re beyond desperate.  Failure is not an option.  Until it’s the only option.  Jesus, maybe now you can do something.  That’s fear not faith.  Reacting not responding.

There are anxious and threatening circumstances – times when life is treacherous – days and seasons when we have no clue what comes next and we wonder why God hasn’t stepped in to do something.  Maybe God has forgotten about us.  Why isn’t the prayer app working? 

Maybe because of past hurts and experiences we can feel misunderstood and unseen – alone – abandoned and rejected – disappointed – we’re trying so hard – fearful of failure and shame and ridicule – what others may think of us – "amot eh."

Like the disciples we can react by trying to work harder at our own solutions – or maybe sulk or get angry or blame others.  We react.

Anyone with me on that?

In contrast, Jesus is responding.

Jesus asks the disciples one question – which is both a question and the answer to the question: “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”

The teacher Who knew in advance what would happen when they got into the boat and set out across the sea – the teacher Who’s responding – is teaching.

Put bluntly: The reason you’re afraid is because your faith is deficient – it’s inadequate.  They have faith.  It’s simply “little faith”.  Its faith placed in themselves which is inadequate and so they’re driven by the storm and reacting in fear.

Are we hearing Jesus? 

Jesus isn’t saying, “Ignore what you’re feeling.  Follow Me and forget about having a career or having a home or family.  Neglect your family responsibilities.  Never give consideration to what others think.  Follow Me and just check out of real life.”

The question is: Why in the midst of all that "erarantzoum" are you afraid?  Is your focus on yourself or someplace other than Me?

Point being:  It’s not how much faith we have – quantitatively – but Who are faith is placed in - qualitatively.

Then He – Jesus – rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 

“Rebuke” in Greek means “reprimand” – meaning Jesus has the authority to “rebuke” the wind.  You and I can rebuke the wind all day long and it’s not going to make difference.  Jesus has authority.