Who is this?
When we begin to scratch around in this story we unearth more questions than answers. For example …How come the disciples are flummoxed by a storm? These guys are experienced fishermen who earn their living from being out on the water. Yet they are surprised and frightened by a sudden storm. So what is Mark doing here? Clearly it’s not just about a weather forecast and storm warnings. Look deeper dear reader. Let me take you in the boat for a little journey and perhaps along the way we might discover what Mark really requires of us. Three little phases to steer us.
First “Let us go over to the other side”. For me at least, these words are oozing with meaning. The Marcan Jesus invites us to move from one place to another. We are encouraged to leave what is familiar and comfortable and go somewhere else. It’s usually not a geographical place, although that can be true. It often means a new phase in our life. Something is changing or has changed and we are invited, nay we are challenged and encouraged, to get into the boat with The Master and his disciples. To go to a different place that will not and cannot be the same. And we will discover that not only does the terrain and the climate change, but in the process of travel we also will change. But before we get to our destination there are some tricky waters that we have to navigate and it will seem as though our host has simply nicked off and gone for a quiet little kip. “Come over to the other side” There is a sense in which Jesus invites us every day to come over to the other side. To be a little further along, until that day when he says ‘Come over to the other side of the grave ’
Second “Leaving the crowd behind”. Leave the busyness, the maelstrom, the frenetic stuff behind. The things that you cannot alter or change and move with Him to that place where the storms are stilled and the waves are calmed. The distractions might still be about us, but we now have a space where things are mollified and a healthy sense of perspective settles upon us. “The crowd” is in fact anything that distracts us from that solitary figure in the boat. It is terribly difficult to leave this hubbub behind and just focus on Him. But when we do manage it, when we allow him to be the sole focus of our energy and prayer, then we will discover that we actually have more resources at our disposal; to walk on the water and not be frightened of the tornado encircling us.
Third “Just as he was in the boat”. Jesus doesn’t need to think about having a pedicure, or a manicure, or a change of clothes or even a quick hot shower. He sets off while he is in the boat, without stepping ashore. The mission is urgent, it will not wait and the time is now.But there is another way to look at this little phrase. The Master invites us just as we are. The guy slumbering in the boat, the one who is master of the storm is the one who takes us just where we are, just as we are. With all our warts, ugly bits, failings and flaws. And the question is not are we good enough, or bright enough or whether we got a gold star at Sunday School, or what mischief we have wreaked during the week, or even if it has been the most tragic of times these past 7 days. The question is simply this Just as you are.. will you get into the boat?
Now I hope that those little phrases might be of some help. But I suspect Mark is asking something more of us. There is one more little phrase, a question… right at the end of this morning's reading. “They were terrified and asked each other, “Who… is… this?” So perhaps today Mark simply wants to ask us a question. Perhaps all he really wants to do is look us in the eye and ask.
Who is this?
Who do you see before you?
Who is this that comes to you in broken bread?
Who is this that invites nature to continue its cycle of death and new life in spectacular fashion all around us?
Who is this that comes to you in the face of friend and stranger?
Who is this … that looks back at you from the other side of the mirror.
Who do you see there?
Who is this?
And all we have to do is answer honestly. And when we do that, we will find that we are already in the boat with Him. We will have found not just the answer to an academic question, but we will have found Him who in fact found us a long time ago and has been travelling with us all along in our rocky little boat.