WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.839 God, where are you? 00:00:06.060 --> 00:00:07.400 Do you even care? 00:00:09.580 --> 00:00:12.939 God, I've been looking for a job for months and months and months, 00:00:13.019 --> 00:00:14.700 and it seems like nothing is out there, 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:17.339 and I'm pretty sure that if I don't find a job soon, 00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:20.900 my family is not going to be able to stay in our house 00:00:20.900 --> 00:00:22.740 because we can't afford rent anymore. 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:23.660 Where are you? 00:00:25.900 --> 00:00:27.940 God, we just got back from the doctors, 00:00:28.120 --> 00:00:29.660 and the report doesn't look good. 00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:32.960 And if it was my health, that'd be one thing, 00:00:33.100 --> 00:00:35.000 but watching my kid have to go through that, 00:00:35.060 --> 00:00:36.480 I don't know if I can handle this. 00:00:36.579 --> 00:00:38.359 Do you even care, God? 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:44.640 I think these two questions, God, where are you, 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:45.820 and God, do you care, 00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:50.879 are at the center of a lot of our questions to God and about God. 00:00:51.260 --> 00:00:54.840 I would guess that pretty much everyone in this room 00:00:54.840 --> 00:00:58.120 at some point in their lives has asked those questions 00:00:58.119 --> 00:01:00.159 in some form or another. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:04.679 God, where are you? 00:01:06.039 --> 00:01:07.340 God, do you care? 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:12.700 There's questions that reveal to us the fact, 00:01:13.219 --> 00:01:16.179 or that show the fact that we live in a broken world. 00:01:16.259 --> 00:01:18.780 We're broken people surrounded by brokenness, 00:01:18.780 --> 00:01:24.200 and we want a place of safety and a place of refuge 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:26.680 in the midst of that brokenness. 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:29.000 We cry out, 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:32.400 God, where are you? 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:36.100 And if you're here, 00:01:36.180 --> 00:01:37.380 do you care? 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:40.160 Do you care about these storms 00:01:40.160 --> 00:01:41.800 that are happening in our lives? 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:43.300 Are you with us through them? 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:46.920 And in the Christmas season, 00:01:46.980 --> 00:01:48.700 these questions become even more pronounced 00:01:48.700 --> 00:01:50.979 because we talk about things like hope and peace 00:01:50.979 --> 00:01:52.519 and love and joy. 00:01:54.659 --> 00:01:57.379 And they're such wonderful, beautiful ideas, 00:01:57.560 --> 00:01:59.120 but for so many people in our world, 00:01:59.219 --> 00:02:02.479 they're things that are dreams and not realities. 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:07.659 And yet, the Bible tells us 00:02:07.659 --> 00:02:09.000 that there's something that happened, 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:12.079 something amazing that happened on Christmas. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:19.040 that can give us true love, joy, hope, peace. 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:22.820 And so today, we're going to look at a story 00:02:22.820 --> 00:02:24.760 from the book of Mark that you just heard read 00:02:24.760 --> 00:02:29.180 about Jesus and his disciples on a boat. 00:02:30.500 --> 00:02:33.960 And we're going to hear his disciples ask the same question, 00:02:34.100 --> 00:02:36.460 do you even care? 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:40.900 And we're going to see what Jesus' answer to them is 00:02:40.900 --> 00:02:43.379 and how that connects to our lives today. 00:02:43.500 --> 00:02:46.300 And spoiler alert, he does care, 00:02:46.599 --> 00:02:48.020 and that makes a huge difference. 00:02:48.780 --> 00:02:49.939 So my name is Eric. 00:02:50.040 --> 00:02:51.159 Welcome to Watermark Church. 00:02:51.219 --> 00:02:52.960 We're so glad to have you here with us today. 00:02:53.140 --> 00:02:55.080 If you have your Bible or bulletin, 00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:57.219 you can flip open to the story. 00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:00.379 And the first thing I want us to see in this story 00:03:00.379 --> 00:03:02.560 about Jesus and the disciples on the boat 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:05.099 is a set of contrasting reactions. 00:03:05.099 --> 00:03:07.460 Contrasting reactions. 00:03:08.699 --> 00:03:10.139 So if you're following the storyline, 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:11.439 Jesus has been teaching. 00:03:11.659 --> 00:03:13.699 He's been teaching and teaching and teaching. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:15.680 There's so many crowds that he has to go out 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:17.240 on a boat on the lake 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:19.400 so that he can speak to the crowds 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:21.599 and not get smushed or wet. 00:03:22.620 --> 00:03:24.359 And he finishes teaching, 00:03:24.519 --> 00:03:25.639 and he says to his disciples, 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:29.139 all right, let's go across the other side of the lake. 00:03:29.359 --> 00:03:30.560 You know, the crowds are exhausting. 00:03:30.799 --> 00:03:31.479 Let's get some rest. 00:03:31.539 --> 00:03:32.139 Let's go away. 00:03:32.139 --> 00:03:34.659 And the disciples say, all right. 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:37.759 The disciples, they're Jesus' followers. 00:03:38.339 --> 00:03:39.359 A lot of them are fishermen. 00:03:40.079 --> 00:03:43.019 They know this lake like the back of their hand. 00:03:43.559 --> 00:03:45.939 A lot of them have spent thousands of nights 00:03:45.939 --> 00:03:51.000 out on this exact lake fishing again and again and again. 00:03:51.939 --> 00:03:54.819 And so for them, a trip across shouldn't be a big deal. 00:03:55.519 --> 00:03:56.599 Jesus says, let's get in the boat. 00:03:56.679 --> 00:03:57.399 Let's go across. 00:03:57.500 --> 00:03:58.159 They say, sure. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:00.060 They head out to sea. 00:04:00.060 --> 00:04:03.759 And as they get to sea, a great storm hits. 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:07.120 Now, like I said, these guys were fishermen. 00:04:07.259 --> 00:04:08.420 They had been in the sea before. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:10.840 They had probably faced lots of storms before. 00:04:11.259 --> 00:04:14.420 They were experienced in facing storms. 00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:17.779 But this one wasn't just any storm. 00:04:18.139 --> 00:04:22.600 It was a great storm, a furious storm. 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:27.280 I think in life, each of us faces storms. 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:31.500 Each of us faces difficulties and issues and problems, 00:04:31.580 --> 00:04:33.920 whether that's in our job, in our relationships. 00:04:35.280 --> 00:04:39.060 Jesus and his disciples on the boat, they faced a literal storm. 00:04:39.200 --> 00:04:41.280 There was rain splashing down from the sky. 00:04:41.400 --> 00:04:44.260 There were waves that were crashing over the edge of the boat. 00:04:44.259 --> 00:04:46.339 The boat was getting full of water. 00:04:47.339 --> 00:04:55.240 And the disciples were doing everything they possibly could to keep the boat upright and keep everyone on it alive. 00:04:55.620 --> 00:05:02.259 They, obviously, are terrified, as I think any of us would be in that situation. 00:05:02.259 --> 00:05:07.959 When we think about boats today, we think about, like, huge cruise liners that can face any storm. 00:05:08.420 --> 00:05:09.740 These guys were not on that. 00:05:10.459 --> 00:05:15.939 They were on a fishing boat that was maybe as long as this stage right here and made out of wood. 00:05:17.180 --> 00:05:20.000 And there were waves coming up, crashing over. 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:24.779 I'm sure they thought it was just a matter of time until one of the waves split their boat in half. 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:27.399 They were scrambling. 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:29.360 They were panicking. 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:31.759 They were afraid. 00:05:33.219 --> 00:05:34.779 Can you relate to the disciples? 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:44.599 Being in a situation in life where you're doing everything you can to fix it, to make it better. 00:05:45.779 --> 00:05:50.800 And yet, no matter how hard you try, it seems like it just keeps getting worse. 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:54.300 And there is nothing that you are able to do to fix it. 00:05:56.439 --> 00:05:59.079 And yet, they keep trying and keep trying. 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:05.120 And if we look, we see a contrasting reaction in Jesus. 00:06:05.659 --> 00:06:07.120 The disciples are panicked. 00:06:07.219 --> 00:06:10.939 The disciples are rushing and hurrying and trying to make everything better. 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:14.039 And Jesus is napping. 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:17.340 How is he able to do that? 00:06:18.939 --> 00:06:21.319 That's my big question when I read this story. 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:26.100 How on earth is Jesus able to nap in this situation? 00:06:26.100 --> 00:06:35.780 For me, I remember when we first got married, my wife and I had a big discussion because I love blackout curtains in the bedroom. 00:06:35.780 --> 00:06:38.720 Because I like it pitch black when I sleep. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:44.340 I like quiet and dark and calm and a soft mattress. 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:46.000 No commotion. 00:06:46.460 --> 00:06:48.480 No waves splashing in on me. 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:50.600 No people running around screaming. 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:52.940 No my life being in danger. 00:06:52.939 --> 00:06:57.199 I like blackout curtains. 00:06:58.399 --> 00:06:59.000 I like blackout curtains. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:00.899 I like a soft mattress underneath me. 00:07:02.339 --> 00:07:04.540 Jesus did not have those things on the boat. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:08.720 And yet, he was sleeping calmly. 00:07:09.500 --> 00:07:12.120 How is he able to do that? 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:25.100 When I think about my life, back to my desire for comfort when I sleep, I realize that as much as the environment and the darkness and the quiet helps me sleep, 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:30.639 there's actually one much bigger thing that can get in the way of me sleeping. 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:33.660 Stress and anxiety. 00:07:35.459 --> 00:07:40.879 If I have a fight with a friend, I can lay in bed awake for hours. 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:45.840 Replaying the conversation in my head over and over. 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:47.699 I should have said this. 00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:49.319 Can't believe I said that. 00:07:50.379 --> 00:07:52.980 Next time, I'm going to fix it. 00:07:53.139 --> 00:07:54.280 Next time I see this friend. 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:56.160 Maybe I should give them a call right now. 00:07:56.259 --> 00:07:57.399 No, they're probably asleep. 00:07:57.740 --> 00:07:59.699 Maybe I'll call them first thing in the morning tomorrow. 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:02.819 But then when I call them, what should I say? 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:10.620 And I replay everything in my head over and over and over because I'm stressed and I'm anxious. 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:17.959 And stress and anxiety get in my way of sleeping. 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:25.579 And I think something that we realize when we look at this story is the disciples are stressed and anxious. 00:08:26.419 --> 00:08:27.579 They're running around. 00:08:27.699 --> 00:08:28.379 They're afraid. 00:08:28.539 --> 00:08:30.939 They're trying to save their boat. 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:36.200 And Jesus, in contrast to the disciples, has peace. 00:08:38.019 --> 00:08:43.059 He has rest in the midst of this raging, furious, massive storm. 00:08:43.139 --> 00:08:46.559 If you look at the original language, the word used to describe the storm is mega. 00:08:46.700 --> 00:08:47.600 It's a mega storm. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:52.259 And he's asleep on the boat. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:59.840 Because he has perfect faith in God's provision and protection of him during that time. 00:09:00.560 --> 00:09:04.180 When we were little kids, my brothers and I, we'd sleep in our beds. 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:10.720 And in the middle of the night, if we woke up and we were scared, we would walk down to mom and dad's room. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:14.800 And we'd walk in there and we'd have our blanket and our pillow with us. 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:17.080 We'd lie down on the floor next to them. 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:20.279 And we'd be able to fall asleep. 00:09:21.060 --> 00:09:27.399 Even though it was less comfortable than our beds, we were around the most powerful people that we knew. 00:09:28.580 --> 00:09:35.080 And we knew that the most powerful people we knew loved us and would protect us in that moment. 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:41.540 And so even though we were in less than ideal circumstances, we were on a hard floor instead of a soft bed, 00:09:41.680 --> 00:09:43.080 we were able to sleep soundly. 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:49.400 Because we knew that we were safe and protected in the presence of mom and dad. 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:54.360 And I think that's exactly what is happening with Jesus on the boat right here. 00:09:54.420 --> 00:09:56.060 The disciples are panicked. 00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:58.160 They don't know where God is right now. 00:09:58.220 --> 00:09:59.860 They don't know whether God cares about them. 00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:01.240 But Jesus does. 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:06.340 Jesus knows that God has perfect love for him. 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:12.419 And so he's able to lie down and sleep in the midst of the storm. 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:17.580 While the disciples have a wrong reaction that leads to desperation, 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:21.120 Jesus has a right understanding of God's love for him 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:28.519 that allows him to lie down and get rest in the midst of the greatest storm that anyone on that boat had ever faced. 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:36.860 And this contrasting reaction leads to a confused question. 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:41.759 Because when the disciples look at Jesus' rest, 00:10:42.419 --> 00:10:44.379 they don't see perfect faith. 00:10:45.539 --> 00:10:48.039 They don't see confidence in God's provision. 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:49.120 They see apathy. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:53.299 They look at Jesus and they don't think, 00:10:53.659 --> 00:10:56.419 oh, he's resting perfectly in God's love. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:00.500 They think he doesn't care about what happens to us. 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:04.139 He doesn't care if we die. 00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:06.700 He just cares about his nap. 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:10.740 And they go to him and they wake him. 00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:12.519 And they yell out, 00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:15.440 teacher, don't you care that we're all going to die? 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:20.260 Now this is a ridiculous scenario, just by the way. 00:11:21.180 --> 00:11:22.500 The disciples are fishermen. 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:26.720 They've been on this sea thousands of times. 00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:28.260 They've faced plenty of storms. 00:11:28.400 --> 00:11:30.080 They know what they're doing on the water. 00:11:31.180 --> 00:11:32.900 Jesus was trained as a carpenter. 00:11:34.380 --> 00:11:35.240 And in the storm, 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:37.380 the fishermen on the boat 00:11:37.380 --> 00:11:40.780 come to get the carpenter to help them save the boat. 00:11:40.779 --> 00:11:44.120 If you want a little modern equivalent of this, 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:46.620 imagine that you work on the trading floor at HSBC. 00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:49.720 And you look at your computer screen 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:51.819 and all of a sudden everything goes red. 00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:54.839 And the markets are crashing 00:11:54.839 --> 00:11:57.259 and you have no idea what to do. 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:01.199 And they're going down, down, down. 00:12:01.299 --> 00:12:01.740 And you're like, 00:12:01.939 --> 00:12:03.759 surely they're going to fix themselves. 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:06.059 Any moment now, I hope? 00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:07.419 And they don't. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:09.519 They keep going down, down, down. 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:13.100 And I'm pretty sure in Hong Kong, 00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:14.340 they have a fail-safe, right? 00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:16.179 That if the market goes down a certain amount, 00:12:16.340 --> 00:12:18.319 it's supposed to stop trading immediately. 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:21.259 But you reach the fail-safe point 00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:25.220 and it just keeps going down, down, down. 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:27.019 The market's down 20%. 00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:28.679 And you turn to your neighbor 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:29.919 and you're like, what's going on? 00:12:29.939 --> 00:12:30.899 And they say, I don't know. 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:32.860 And you look back and it's down 30%. 00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:37.879 And you try everything you can figure out 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:39.240 to save your portfolio 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:41.899 as you watch everything that you've been building up 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:42.860 crumble to pieces. 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:45.440 And then you think, I know what to do. 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:47.080 I'm going to call Tobin. 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:50.539 He can fix this. 00:12:51.800 --> 00:12:53.940 That's what the disciples did on the boat. 00:12:53.940 --> 00:12:58.000 The fishermen call up the carpenter 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.440 to come save their boat. 00:12:59.520 --> 00:13:01.200 It's like the banker calling up the pastor 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:04.100 to say, hey, fix this market crash. 00:13:05.800 --> 00:13:06.920 But here's the difference. 00:13:07.040 --> 00:13:09.580 The disciples knew that there was something special 00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:10.340 about Jesus. 00:13:11.640 --> 00:13:13.020 They knew that he was powerful 00:13:13.020 --> 00:13:14.580 in a way that none of them were. 00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:18.520 They knew that there was something unique about him 00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:22.620 that none of them had going for them. 00:13:24.699 --> 00:13:26.819 But you notice when they ask their question, 00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:29.220 they don't actually come to him 00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:30.360 and ask for help at first. 00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:33.480 They don't come and say, hey, 00:13:33.579 --> 00:13:35.840 can you do something about this situation? 00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:38.199 No, they come to him and they ask him 00:13:38.199 --> 00:13:40.559 the much more pressing question on their hearts, 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:42.279 do you even care? 00:13:44.439 --> 00:13:46.079 Jesus, look at this situation. 00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:47.259 We're about to die. 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:49.340 And how can you sleep through this? 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:51.679 We thought you loved us. 00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:55.740 But now we know that maybe you don't. 00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:58.500 Because if you truly loved us, 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:01.980 you'd obviously be doing something right now. 00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:05.139 They misinterpreted his response of faith 00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:07.840 as a response of apathy. 00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:09.740 And because of that, 00:14:10.059 --> 00:14:12.700 they didn't turn to him for help. 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:15.019 They turned to him to find out 00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:17.259 whether he actually cared. 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:19.960 And because they weren't confident 00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:21.379 of Jesus' love for them, 00:14:21.439 --> 00:14:22.539 because they weren't confident 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:25.220 about the fact that Jesus cared about them, 00:14:25.699 --> 00:14:28.799 they were scrambling around in fear, 00:14:29.199 --> 00:14:30.759 anxiety, and stress, 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:32.720 trying to fix the situation 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:34.779 rather than turning to him, 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:36.899 which would have been the simple solution 00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:40.120 if they had known that he cared about them. 00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:44.440 I think the same thing happens to us a lot of times. 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:46.820 Something goes wrong at work. 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:49.419 We maybe say like, 00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:50.539 God, please do something. 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.419 And then we figure, 00:14:52.580 --> 00:14:53.519 he's not going to handle it. 00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:55.399 I got to do this on my own. 00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:57.820 And we go out, 00:14:57.940 --> 00:15:00.659 and we spend 90 hours a week at the office 00:15:00.659 --> 00:15:01.639 for the next couple weeks 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:03.840 to try and fix everything that's just gone wrong. 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:08.980 We don't trust that God's going to be good 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:10.399 and that God's going to care for us. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.060 And we think, 00:15:11.420 --> 00:15:14.259 I have to take everything into my own hands. 00:15:14.300 --> 00:15:15.940 I have to fix it on my own. 00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:18.560 And so we take it into our own hands, 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:20.759 and we don't turn to God to help us. 00:15:21.420 --> 00:15:22.660 We act just like the disciples, 00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:24.860 scrambling in fear and anxiety, 00:15:25.180 --> 00:15:26.899 rather than like Jesus, 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:31.220 learning to rest in God's perfect care for us. 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:34.320 And so the disciples, 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:37.360 because they don't recognize Jesus cared for them, 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:38.120 come to him, 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:40.560 and they ask him the crucial question, 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:43.879 do you even care? 00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:47.620 There's a problem with their question. 00:15:49.800 --> 00:15:51.399 The problem with their question 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:52.680 is that they ignored the fact 00:15:52.680 --> 00:15:54.700 that Jesus was on the boat with them. 00:15:57.300 --> 00:15:58.120 Think about it. 00:15:58.259 --> 00:16:00.180 Jesus is on the boat with them. 00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:03.600 Which means even if we were in some hypothetical world 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:05.000 where he didn't care at all 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:06.920 about any of the other people on the boat, 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:09.720 he still cares about what happens to the boat 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:11.259 because whatever happens to the boat 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:12.639 is going to happen to him too. 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:16.340 By climbing onto the boat with the disciples, 00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:18.899 Jesus has linked his fate to their fate 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:20.519 so that whatever happens to them 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.759 happens to him as well. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:24.960 And he has to care about what happens to them 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:27.480 because he is on the boat with them. 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:32.820 The disciples question whether he cares for them 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:35.159 because they've forgotten the fact 00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:36.500 that he is with them. 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:42.300 They lose sight of the fact that he cares about them 00:16:42.300 --> 00:16:45.200 because they've lost sight of the fact 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:48.200 that he is with them. 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:52.100 You know, if he was standing on the shore 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:53.840 or if he was walking on the water 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:55.500 and this storm hit the boat, 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:58.800 maybe they'd have some grounds for asking if he cared. 00:17:00.660 --> 00:17:02.920 But he's on the boat with them 00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:04.120 when the storm hits. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:06.700 His fate is tied to theirs. 00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:09.500 He has to care about them 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:11.960 because he has become part of them 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:14.500 by stepping on the boat with them. 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:19.220 And so in response to the disciples' question, 00:17:19.660 --> 00:17:20.700 do you even care? 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:25.099 Jesus gets up and he rebukes the wind and the waves. 00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:28.359 He says, cut it out, and they do. 00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:33.640 And it's not just that they slowly, gradually go away. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:34.619 No, it stops. 00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:38.839 The Bible says there was a great storm 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:41.160 and after Jesus says to calm down, 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:45.759 there is a great calm, a dead calm, a mega calm. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:49.779 It's not just that the rain sort of stops. 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:52.080 But the rain stops, the wave stops, 00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:54.460 the sea is as clear as glass. 00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:59.080 You can look down and see your reflection perfectly 00:17:59.080 --> 00:18:00.320 over the edge of the boat. 00:18:04.560 --> 00:18:08.519 And then he turns around to the disciples. 00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:11.940 He says, why are you afraid? 00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:15.579 Have you still no faith? 00:18:17.379 --> 00:18:19.700 Now put yourself in the disciples' shoes for a second. 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:24.079 They were just in a mega storm. 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:27.400 They were confident that they were going to die. 00:18:29.400 --> 00:18:32.460 Fear is the logical response in that situation. 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:36.680 When you see waves bigger than your boat 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:38.359 crashing down on top of you, 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:41.039 fear is the natural response. 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:45.160 And yet the first thing Jesus says to his disciples 00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:46.579 after they wake him up is, 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:48.200 why are you afraid? 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:54.599 I think underneath this is a bigger statement. 00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:57.279 He's telling them, if you knew, 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:01.400 if you only knew that I was good, 00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:05.160 and if you only knew that I cared for you, 00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:08.620 then your response would not have been fear. 00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:12.080 Your response would have been faith. 00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:15.140 Rather than scrambling, 00:19:15.340 --> 00:19:18.280 rather than trying and trying and trying desperately 00:19:18.280 --> 00:19:21.560 and failing again and again and again 00:19:21.560 --> 00:19:22.580 to save this boat, 00:19:23.540 --> 00:19:24.920 you would have come to me 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:27.600 and I would have rescued you. 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.580 If you knew that I was good, 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:32.560 you would have turned to me 00:19:32.560 --> 00:19:34.860 rather than turning to fear and anxiety. 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:40.440 You still haven't learned that. 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.500 Disciples, 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:47.299 when are you going to learn that I care desperately for you, 00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:49.619 that I'm with you, 00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:51.319 and I'm for you? 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:58.019 And I know this story happened 2,000 years ago 00:19:58.019 --> 00:20:02.500 on a sea in a land that's thousands of miles away. 00:20:03.419 --> 00:20:06.119 And that we here today could sit and listen to this story 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:08.379 and think, eh, what does that have to do with my life? 00:20:09.819 --> 00:20:11.720 But the truth is that this story 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:15.659 has a deep continuing significance for our lives 00:20:15.659 --> 00:20:17.779 because this story on a miniature level 00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:21.139 is a picture of what Christ came to earth 00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:21.580 to do. 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.280 Like I said, 00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:25.800 the question the disciples asked 00:20:25.800 --> 00:20:29.259 is one that basically all of us ask 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:31.780 at some point in our lives 00:20:31.780 --> 00:20:33.400 in some way. 00:20:33.860 --> 00:20:34.340 God, 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:37.700 do you actually care? 00:20:39.620 --> 00:20:40.920 You care about me. 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:44.280 You care about the people I care about. 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:48.180 You care about the situations happening to us in life. 00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:52.720 And maybe we don't ask the question in those words. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:57.759 Maybe we don't actually ask or think the question out loud at all. 00:20:59.340 --> 00:21:00.660 But we have actions 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:03.259 that reveal the fact 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:06.740 that we don't believe that God cares. 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:10.559 And so we do things like we calculate out 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:12.359 how much money do I need 00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:15.160 to be financially secure for the rest of my life. 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:19.019 And then we add $2 million to that U.S. 00:21:19.180 --> 00:21:20.680 and stick it in a bank account 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:22.099 just to be safe in case. 00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:26.639 And we think, 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:26.939 okay, 00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:28.579 now I'm safe 00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:30.159 just in case. 00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:34.919 When they announced that layoffs are coming up in our office, 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:38.319 in the weeks leading up to the layoff announcements, 00:21:38.919 --> 00:21:40.439 we lose sleep 00:21:40.439 --> 00:21:42.599 wondering what's going to happen 00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:44.000 if my name is on the list 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:45.339 and I no longer have a job. 00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:47.980 We lose sleep 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:49.159 because we don't believe 00:21:49.159 --> 00:21:51.299 that God cares for us. 00:21:51.419 --> 00:21:52.199 We don't believe 00:21:52.199 --> 00:21:53.240 that he's good 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.839 and he's for us. 00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:58.619 And what's true 00:21:58.619 --> 00:22:00.619 of the disciples 00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:02.220 and of Jesus on the boat 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:04.740 is true of us 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:06.879 in our world today as well. 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.779 Confident 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:10.259 trust 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:12.599 in God's goodness 00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:14.339 and care for us 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.579 leads 00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.740 to rest. 00:22:18.439 --> 00:22:19.199 Confident 00:22:19.199 --> 00:22:19.799 trust 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.639 in God's 00:22:20.639 --> 00:22:21.279 goodness 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.699 and care for us 00:22:22.699 --> 00:22:24.099 leads 00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:24.939 to rest. 00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:26.719 And failure 00:22:26.719 --> 00:22:27.439 to trust 00:22:27.439 --> 00:22:28.199 in God's 00:22:28.199 --> 00:22:28.819 goodness 00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:29.500 leads 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:30.039 to fear. 00:22:35.719 --> 00:22:36.819 If you want 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:37.459 to know today 00:22:37.459 --> 00:22:38.279 how you're doing 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:40.339 at learning to trust in God 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:42.159 or failing at that, 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:44.199 a simple question 00:22:44.199 --> 00:22:45.159 you can ask yourself. 00:22:46.939 --> 00:22:48.059 Is my life marked 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:49.299 more by fear 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:51.399 or by rest? 00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:53.599 If you're a guy 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.599 and you don't like to admit 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:55.339 that you're ever afraid 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:55.799 of anything, 00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:57.159 then you can substitute 00:22:57.159 --> 00:22:58.039 out the word fear 00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:59.219 for stress 00:22:59.219 --> 00:23:00.299 and anxiety 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.240 and concern. 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.500 Is my life marked 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:04.659 more by stress, 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:05.779 anxiety, 00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:06.579 and concern 00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:08.740 or by rest? 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:11.240 Because stress, 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:11.940 anxiety, 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:12.460 fear, 00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:12.980 concern 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:13.839 are all symptoms 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:14.779 of the fact 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:16.339 that we have hearts 00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:17.220 that are failing 00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:18.120 to trust 00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:18.940 in God. 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:24.960 But there's a deeper 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.880 question here too. 00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:28.819 And that question is, 00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:30.120 can we know 00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:32.160 that God cares for us? 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:32.740 Because it's useless 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.920 to know how to respond 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:35.140 when God cares for us 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:36.380 if we can't know 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:37.800 whether he cares for us. 00:23:41.580 --> 00:23:42.460 And the thing 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.200 we need to remember 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:43.800 in response 00:23:43.800 --> 00:23:44.580 to that question 00:23:44.580 --> 00:23:47.160 is that what was true 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:47.940 of Jesus 00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:48.660 and the disciples 00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.280 on the boat 00:23:49.280 --> 00:23:51.160 is also true 00:23:51.160 --> 00:23:51.960 of us today. 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:54.500 That just as Jesus 00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:56.240 was with the disciples 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.100 on the boat 00:23:57.100 --> 00:23:57.740 and therefore 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:59.080 had to care about 00:23:59.080 --> 00:23:59.980 what happened to them 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:02.640 because he was with them. 00:24:04.860 --> 00:24:05.640 That Jesus 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:07.680 is with us 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.279 today. 00:24:10.360 --> 00:24:11.519 Matthew chapter 1 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.259 in talking about 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.559 the Christmas story 00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.839 says that his name 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.660 will be called 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.460 Emmanuel, 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:18.440 which means 00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:20.519 God with us. 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:23.420 In John chapter 1 00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:24.039 it talks about 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.559 the word 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.019 and it says 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:26.000 the word was God, 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:27.059 the word was with God, 00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:28.000 the word was in the beginning 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.500 with God, 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.680 the word made everything 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.940 and then it says 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:32.860 the word became flesh 00:24:32.860 --> 00:24:34.779 and dwelt among us 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:36.220 and we have beheld 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.220 his glory, 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:39.340 glory as of the only begotten 00:24:39.340 --> 00:24:39.940 of the Father, 00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.500 full of grace and truth. 00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:42.060 The word, 00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:43.000 Jesus Christ, 00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:45.080 came and took on flesh 00:24:45.080 --> 00:24:46.080 as a human being, 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:47.380 as one of us 00:24:47.380 --> 00:24:49.500 and he lived among us 00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:53.759 as one of us. 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.960 On the boat 00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:57.580 he had to care about 00:24:57.580 --> 00:24:58.700 what happened to the disciples 00:24:58.700 --> 00:25:00.420 because he was with them, 00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:02.039 because he had linked 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:02.920 his fate to theirs 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.980 so whatever happened 00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:04.400 to them 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:05.779 was going to happen 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:07.019 to him too. 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:09.360 And in the Bible 00:25:09.360 --> 00:25:09.980 it tells us 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:11.039 that we as humanity 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.840 were created 00:25:11.840 --> 00:25:12.799 by God 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.980 for a relationship 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.960 with him 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:16.360 and that each 00:25:16.360 --> 00:25:17.240 and every one of us 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:18.600 rebelled against God 00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:19.319 and said, 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.580 I want no part in this. 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:24.080 But each and every one of us 00:25:24.080 --> 00:25:24.759 said, 00:25:24.840 --> 00:25:25.039 God, 00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:25.940 I'm wiser than you, 00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.819 I'm smarter than you, 00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:27.720 I know more than you, 00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:28.599 I've got this, 00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.439 leave me alone. 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:32.599 And that each and every one 00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:33.019 of us 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:33.779 deserved 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.879 a punishment. 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.419 We deserved 00:25:36.419 --> 00:25:37.960 a great storm 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:39.559 of God's wrath 00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:40.679 against us 00:25:40.679 --> 00:25:42.139 for our rebellion. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:45.779 And in coming to earth, 00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:46.899 Jesus 00:25:46.899 --> 00:25:49.799 perfectly followed 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.740 and obeyed God. 00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.579 As one of us, 00:25:53.659 --> 00:25:54.179 he came 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:55.880 and the Bible 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:56.460 tells us 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.320 that on the cross 00:25:57.320 --> 00:25:58.620 he bore 00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:59.860 the great storm 00:25:59.860 --> 00:26:00.940 of God's wrath 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:02.380 for us. 00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:04.120 The greatest storm 00:26:04.120 --> 00:26:04.880 that any of us 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:06.380 could ever have to face. 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.600 And it wasn't just 00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:09.759 whatever happens 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.240 to you 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:11.360 happens to me also, 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.279 like on the boat. 00:26:13.100 --> 00:26:13.860 But it was one step 00:26:13.860 --> 00:26:14.840 further than that. 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:15.860 It was, 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.860 I am going 00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:17.779 to bear this 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.640 so that 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:20.160 you don't have to. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:23.940 His response 00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:24.380 to us 00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:24.880 when we ask 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:25.519 do you care 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.259 is even greater 00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:27.120 than his response 00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:27.880 to the disciples 00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:28.560 on the boat. 00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:30.640 How 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:31.680 could I not 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.200 care? 00:26:32.860 --> 00:26:33.800 I'm with you. 00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:35.420 I'm one of you. 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:37.040 I faced 00:26:37.040 --> 00:26:37.740 the greatest 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.400 storm 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.240 for 00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:40.019 you. 00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:42.400 Because I love you. 00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:44.220 Because 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:45.460 I care. 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:48.980 because I want you 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.880 to know 00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:51.559 my great love 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.360 for you. 00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:56.579 So what does this 00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.039 look like 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.660 in our lives 00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:58.620 on a practical level? 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.940 For one thing, 00:27:02.360 --> 00:27:03.660 we're going to face 00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:04.059 storms. 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:05.519 If you look 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.160 at this story, 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.740 Jesus actually 00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:09.420 tells the disciples 00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:10.140 to go out 00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:10.900 onto the water. 00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:12.420 He says, 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:13.019 let's get in the boat, 00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:13.500 let's go. 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:15.259 He knew 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.660 there would be 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:15.960 a storm 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.400 that night. 00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:18.099 I don't think 00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:18.460 they did. 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.180 And yet 00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:22.039 he leads them 00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:22.960 into the storm. 00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:24.200 Not because 00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:24.720 he's evil, 00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:25.259 not because 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.960 he's apathetic 00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.359 about what 00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:27.160 happens to them, 00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:29.099 but because 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:29.900 there's some part 00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:30.619 of his character 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:31.619 that he wants 00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:32.380 them to see 00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:33.119 that they will 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:33.859 never see 00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:35.140 unless they go 00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:35.839 through the storm 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.359 with him. 00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:39.160 And so even 00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:40.140 if we're 00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:40.619 with Jesus 00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:41.500 and even though 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.859 he cares for us, 00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:44.299 we'll still 00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:45.000 face storms, 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:46.960 but as we 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:47.720 face storms 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.279 in life, 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.700 he's with us 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:52.279 and he cares. 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.859 And so we can 00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:55.579 have confident 00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.599 rest through 00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:57.220 the storms 00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:57.960 knowing 00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:59.599 that the greatest 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.339 storm of all 00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:01.099 has been faced 00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:01.859 by Jesus 00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:02.980 for us. 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.519 And that in 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.140 these other 00:28:06.140 --> 00:28:06.680 storms, 00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:07.900 that he's with us. 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.680 That he's protecting 00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:10.880 us. 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:11.240 that we can 00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:11.980 turn to him 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.820 rather than 00:28:12.820 --> 00:28:13.800 desperately trying 00:28:13.800 --> 00:28:14.440 to fix it 00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:15.300 all on our 00:28:15.300 --> 00:28:15.640 own. 00:28:19.280 --> 00:28:19.960 So we can 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.680 have rest. 00:28:23.080 --> 00:28:23.960 It's interesting 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:24.500 in this story 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:25.400 that the ability 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:26.060 to rest, 00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:27.520 like Tobin 00:28:27.520 --> 00:28:27.800 said, 00:28:28.080 --> 00:28:28.980 we always assume 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:29.520 that it's based 00:28:29.520 --> 00:28:30.460 on our circumstances. 00:28:32.360 --> 00:28:32.880 But you notice 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:33.740 Jesus and the 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.540 disciples were in 00:28:34.540 --> 00:28:35.400 the exact same 00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:36.020 circumstances. 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:37.640 Both of them 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:38.180 were on the 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:38.660 same boat. 00:28:38.800 --> 00:28:39.220 Both of them 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:39.880 were being tossed 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.480 by the same 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:40.860 storm. 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:42.579 And yet Jesus 00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:43.180 had rest 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:43.480 and the 00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.680 disciples didn't. 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.860 Because Jesus 00:28:47.860 --> 00:28:48.519 knew that God 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.100 was with him. 00:28:50.100 --> 00:28:50.640 And the 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:51.620 disciples forgot. 00:28:54.100 --> 00:28:54.700 And if you 00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:55.440 had asked any 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.019 of the disciples 00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.740 at that moment, 00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:57.620 why are you 00:28:57.620 --> 00:28:58.140 so afraid? 00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:58.600 They would have 00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:58.799 said, 00:28:59.019 --> 00:28:59.319 duh, 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:01.039 look around you. 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.240 How could you 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:03.140 not be afraid? 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.339 We're afraid 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.120 because of this 00:29:05.120 --> 00:29:05.559 storm. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.740 But that was 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.240 a lie. 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:09.240 How do you 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:09.660 know that? 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:10.940 Look at the 00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:11.420 last verse 00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:12.740 of this passage. 00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:15.099 It says, 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.140 after Jesus 00:29:16.140 --> 00:29:17.660 has calmed 00:29:17.660 --> 00:29:18.099 the storm, 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.180 and they 00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:19.720 were filled 00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:20.620 with great 00:29:20.620 --> 00:29:21.059 fear, 00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:21.880 and said 00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:22.160 to one 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:22.460 another, 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:23.019 who then 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:23.460 is this 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.000 that even 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.440 the wind 00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:24.960 and the sea 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:25.500 obey him? 00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:26.680 When the 00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:27.220 storm hits, 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:28.059 they're sure 00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:28.460 that they are 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.059 going to die 00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:29.559 and they are 00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:29.880 scared. 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:30.720 When the 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:31.440 storm stops, 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.359 they know 00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:32.779 that they are 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.400 safe and 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:33.700 they are 00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.339 more scared 00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:34.700 than they 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.200 were during 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:35.680 the storm. 00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:38.920 The storm 00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:39.720 was not 00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.320 what caused 00:29:40.320 --> 00:29:40.860 their fear. 00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:42.660 If the storm 00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.259 caused their 00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:43.539 fear, 00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:44.160 then number 00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:44.460 one, 00:29:44.580 --> 00:29:45.019 Jesus would 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.200 have been 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:45.680 afraid with 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:45.900 them, 00:29:46.100 --> 00:29:46.460 and number 00:29:46.460 --> 00:29:46.799 two, 00:29:46.900 --> 00:29:47.240 their fear 00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:47.500 would have 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.060 stopped as 00:29:48.060 --> 00:29:48.380 soon as 00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:48.779 the storm 00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:49.240 stopped. 00:29:50.080 --> 00:29:50.500 But there 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.100 was something 00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:52.440 deeper going 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:53.120 on in 00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:53.640 their hearts. 00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.100 There was a 00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:55.620 fundamental 00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.580 lack of 00:29:56.580 --> 00:29:57.960 faith in 00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:58.200 Jesus' 00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:58.820 care for 00:29:58.820 --> 00:29:59.080 them, 00:29:59.480 --> 00:29:59.920 an ability 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:00.440 to provide 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:00.920 for them, 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:02.759 and that 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.320 led to 00:30:03.320 --> 00:30:03.660 fear. 00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:05.700 great 00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.600 fear, 00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.680 even after 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.580 the storm 00:30:08.580 --> 00:30:09.340 was gone. 00:30:12.340 --> 00:30:13.040 And so 00:30:13.040 --> 00:30:13.600 our ability 00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:14.940 to face 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:15.360 the storms 00:30:15.360 --> 00:30:15.740 in life 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.440 isn't based 00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:16.900 on our 00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:17.460 circumstances, 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:19.300 but rather 00:30:19.300 --> 00:30:19.700 on whether 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.200 we know 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:21.040 that Jesus 00:30:21.040 --> 00:30:21.720 is in 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.160 the boat 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:22.840 with us 00:30:22.840 --> 00:30:23.480 through 00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.300 every storm. 00:30:25.580 --> 00:30:25.860 And I 00:30:25.860 --> 00:30:26.220 know that 00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:26.860 that's a 00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:27.540 really abstract 00:30:27.540 --> 00:30:28.620 concept, 00:30:29.340 --> 00:30:30.220 so I want 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:30.560 to give a 00:30:30.560 --> 00:30:31.160 couple more 00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:32.300 concrete pictures 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:32.919 as we close 00:30:32.919 --> 00:30:33.159 up, 00:30:33.399 --> 00:30:33.740 of what 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.220 this could 00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:34.659 look like 00:30:34.659 --> 00:30:35.240 functionally 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:35.599 in our 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.680 lives on 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.680 a day-to-day 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:38.720 basis in 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.220 Hong Kong. 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:39.960 And the 00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:40.559 first thing, 00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.279 sleep. 00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:46.240 I know it 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:46.799 sounds simple, 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.359 but I read 00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:49.079 an article this 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:49.740 week published 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.819 in 2011. 00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:51.440 They did a 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:52.659 scholarly study 00:30:52.659 --> 00:30:53.460 of sleep 00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:54.039 habits in 00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.500 Hong Kong 00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.440 and discovered 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:55.980 that almost 00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:57.220 40% of 00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:57.799 people in 00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.359 Hong Kong 00:30:58.359 --> 00:30:59.240 suffer from 00:30:59.240 --> 00:30:59.759 insomnia. 00:30:59.759 --> 00:30:59.799 insomnia. 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:02.440 That's 2.2 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.180 million people 00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:03.720 in the city. 00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:06.359 And they 00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:06.779 found that 00:31:06.779 --> 00:31:07.759 the leading 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.900 cause of 00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:09.420 insomnia 00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:10.039 among the 00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:10.920 people surveyed 00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:12.400 was perceived 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:13.680 stress in 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.220 their lives. 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.500 And a 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.160 really sad 00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:17.839 stat about 00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:18.720 this study is 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.720 they checked 00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.559 some people's 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.359 religious beliefs 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:22.960 to see whether 00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:23.779 being part of 00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:24.279 a religion 00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:25.460 increased or 00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:26.039 decreased your 00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:26.460 chances of 00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:27.099 having insomnia. 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:28.940 And out of 00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:29.460 the Christians 00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:29.920 surveyed, 00:31:29.940 --> 00:31:30.220 the people 00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:30.779 surveyed who 00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:31.160 identified 00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:31.799 themselves as 00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.200 Christians, 00:31:33.120 --> 00:31:33.480 they were 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.220 actually more 00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:34.799 likely than 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.220 the average 00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:35.799 person in 00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:36.259 Hong Kong 00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:36.759 to suffer 00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:37.039 from 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.480 insomnia. 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:39.759 Exactly. 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.519 Now those 00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:43.299 stats would say 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:43.740 that in a 00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:44.259 room this 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:44.660 size, 00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:45.420 maybe about 00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:47.160 80 people 00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:48.200 suffer from 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:48.640 insomnia. 00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:51.860 Most of 00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:52.940 them because 00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:53.759 of perceived 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:55.100 stress in 00:31:55.100 --> 00:31:55.620 their lives. 00:31:55.619 --> 00:31:55.719 things. 00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:57.979 And I know 00:31:57.979 --> 00:31:58.419 there are some 00:31:58.419 --> 00:31:58.959 people who 00:31:58.959 --> 00:31:59.359 have trouble 00:31:59.359 --> 00:31:59.899 sleeping because 00:31:59.899 --> 00:32:00.319 of physical 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:00.679 stuff. 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.179 Like I woke 00:32:01.179 --> 00:32:01.479 up this 00:32:01.479 --> 00:32:01.959 morning with 00:32:01.959 --> 00:32:02.500 my nose all 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.339 congested and 00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:04.500 my throat dry 00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:04.959 and it was 00:32:04.959 --> 00:32:05.579 before my 00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:05.939 alarm went 00:32:05.939 --> 00:32:06.399 off and it 00:32:06.399 --> 00:32:06.919 was a pain. 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:07.739 I'm not 00:32:07.739 --> 00:32:08.239 talking about 00:32:08.239 --> 00:32:08.559 that. 00:32:09.879 --> 00:32:11.239 But after I 00:32:11.239 --> 00:32:12.000 woke up an 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.619 hour before my 00:32:12.619 --> 00:32:13.019 alarm went 00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:14.000 off and I 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:14.559 blew my nose 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:14.939 and I drank 00:32:14.939 --> 00:32:15.399 some water, 00:32:15.639 --> 00:32:16.339 I climbed back 00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:16.899 in bed and I 00:32:16.899 --> 00:32:17.439 lied down to 00:32:17.439 --> 00:32:18.019 try and go back 00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:18.519 to sleep for 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.219 that last hour. 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:21.539 And all of a 00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:22.719 sudden, stuff for 00:32:22.719 --> 00:32:23.299 the sermon today 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:23.859 started running 00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:24.479 through my head. 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.779 and it took 00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:26.319 me a while to 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:26.960 fall back asleep. 00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:27.599 That's what I'm 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:28.160 talking about. 00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:30.519 How many of 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.779 us lie in 00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:32.360 bed at night 00:32:32.360 --> 00:32:33.579 unable to 00:32:33.579 --> 00:32:34.460 sleep because 00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:35.240 we feel like 00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:35.819 we have to 00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:36.559 have control 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.079 of the world 00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.660 in our 00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:38.120 hands? 00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.319 Because we 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:41.220 don't trust 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.900 that God is 00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.720 good and that 00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:44.660 God cares for 00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:44.980 us. 00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:47.240 In the middle 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:47.900 of the great 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.700 storm, Jesus 00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.519 slept. 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.360 I think for 00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:52.079 us, one of the 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:53.360 biggest signs that 00:32:53.360 --> 00:32:54.079 we're starting to 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.799 understand this 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:55.720 concept of God 00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:56.759 caring for us 00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:59.699 will be sleeping 00:32:59.699 --> 00:33:00.799 soundly through 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:01.159 the night. 00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:03.960 The second 00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:05.799 thing, rest. 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:08.480 I know this is 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:09.279 difficult in Hong 00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:09.500 Kong. 00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:10.500 We live in a 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.240 city where even 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.199 when you have a 00:33:12.199 --> 00:33:12.619 day that you 00:33:12.619 --> 00:33:13.119 don't have to go 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:13.539 into the office, 00:33:13.639 --> 00:33:14.839 you're expected to 00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:15.539 constantly be 00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:16.179 available for 00:33:16.179 --> 00:33:17.299 emails, to 00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:18.039 constantly be on 00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:18.699 call to come in 00:33:18.699 --> 00:33:19.240 for emergency 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:20.099 situations. 00:33:20.099 --> 00:33:20.339 situations. 00:33:21.419 --> 00:33:22.000 And even if 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:22.399 your office 00:33:22.399 --> 00:33:23.219 doesn't necessarily 00:33:23.219 --> 00:33:23.859 say that they 00:33:23.859 --> 00:33:24.699 expect it, a lot 00:33:24.699 --> 00:33:25.379 of us just do 00:33:25.379 --> 00:33:26.399 that anyways for 00:33:26.399 --> 00:33:27.139 various reasons. 00:33:27.919 --> 00:33:28.740 And even if you 00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:30.399 don't do that, how 00:33:30.399 --> 00:33:31.199 many of us on our 00:33:31.199 --> 00:33:32.719 day off just have 00:33:32.719 --> 00:33:34.699 our minds full of 00:33:34.699 --> 00:33:35.539 things coming up in 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.259 the office in the 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:36.859 next week? 00:33:37.859 --> 00:33:38.699 Of how we're going 00:33:38.699 --> 00:33:39.259 to handle the 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:40.159 different tasks that 00:33:40.159 --> 00:33:41.099 we have coming up? 00:33:42.379 --> 00:33:43.819 We can't get it out 00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:45.059 of our minds, our 00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:45.440 work. 00:33:45.879 --> 00:33:47.319 It consumes us. 00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:50.460 We're with our 00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:50.879 kids. 00:33:51.179 --> 00:33:52.000 We're playing at the 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:54.220 playground, but we 00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:55.720 have one hand pushing 00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.440 the kid on the swing 00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:57.059 and the other hand 00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:58.599 checking email on the 00:33:58.599 --> 00:33:59.240 phone to make sure 00:33:59.240 --> 00:33:59.819 that we're not missing 00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:00.639 out on anything from 00:34:00.639 --> 00:34:01.139 the office. 00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:04.240 We're with our 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:05.679 friends at the 00:34:05.679 --> 00:34:06.639 coffee shop, but 00:34:06.639 --> 00:34:07.379 instead of being able 00:34:07.379 --> 00:34:08.079 to hang out, we're 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:09.440 just studying because 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:10.779 we have the exam coming 00:34:10.779 --> 00:34:11.880 up so soon and we 00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:13.739 need to be ready. 00:34:15.059 --> 00:34:17.139 And what Jesus wants 00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:18.179 us to learn in this 00:34:18.179 --> 00:34:21.019 story is to rest, to 00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:23.400 truly rest, not just 00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:24.539 to step away but still 00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.799 have our minds consumed 00:34:25.799 --> 00:34:26.719 by everything going 00:34:26.719 --> 00:34:28.920 on, everything stressing 00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:31.420 us out in the world, but 00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:34.099 to learn to let God 00:34:34.099 --> 00:34:34.779 handle it. 00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.299 You notice when the 00:34:36.299 --> 00:34:37.400 disciples come to Jesus 00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:38.880 on the boat, they say, 00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:39.719 don't you care, we're 00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:40.019 drowning. 00:34:40.539 --> 00:34:41.340 He doesn't look at the 00:34:41.340 --> 00:34:42.279 situation and say, oh, 00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:43.119 good job, guys. 00:34:43.179 --> 00:34:44.019 You kept us up for this 00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:44.860 long, but don't worry, I 00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:45.480 got it from here. 00:34:46.720 --> 00:34:47.620 That's not his 00:34:47.620 --> 00:34:48.120 response. 00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:50.559 His response is, guys, 00:34:50.680 --> 00:34:51.079 why? 00:34:51.780 --> 00:34:53.340 Why did you try so hard 00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:54.519 for so long rather than 00:34:54.519 --> 00:34:55.440 coming to me in the 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:56.099 first place? 00:34:57.620 --> 00:34:59.140 Why did you waste so 00:34:59.140 --> 00:35:00.400 much energy on fear 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:02.680 rather than just come 00:35:02.680 --> 00:35:03.240 to me? 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:06.000 I've been here the 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:07.440 entire time. 00:35:08.620 --> 00:35:09.500 I've been waiting. 00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:14.579 So I think us learning to 00:35:14.579 --> 00:35:18.059 rest is a huge, huge 00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:18.840 indicator that we're 00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:19.699 starting to get this 00:35:19.699 --> 00:35:20.019 concept. 00:35:20.179 --> 00:35:21.099 And I know rest looks 00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:21.880 different for different 00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:23.059 people in different 00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:23.820 phases of life. 00:35:24.659 --> 00:35:25.860 Maybe if you have kids, 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:26.940 learning to rest means 00:35:26.940 --> 00:35:27.840 putting away the cell 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.340 phone while you're 00:35:28.340 --> 00:35:28.980 playing with them. 00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:31.239 I know some people get 00:35:31.239 --> 00:35:32.239 the shivers just thinking 00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:32.960 about that idea. 00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:37.320 But is God in charge? 00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:42.539 Maybe for all of us, 00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:43.320 that means putting away 00:35:43.320 --> 00:35:44.380 electronics during our 00:35:44.380 --> 00:35:45.619 time with God, 00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:46.280 reading our Bibles. 00:35:48.420 --> 00:35:49.559 Maybe if you're a student, 00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:50.500 it means learning to 00:35:50.500 --> 00:35:51.720 close the textbooks for a 00:35:51.720 --> 00:35:52.679 couple hours and go do 00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:53.740 something you enjoy with 00:35:53.740 --> 00:35:54.260 your friends. 00:35:54.260 --> 00:35:56.400 You know, I have a 00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:57.480 friend who's doing a law 00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:58.200 degree for fun. 00:35:59.340 --> 00:36:00.180 And I know what you're 00:36:00.180 --> 00:36:00.480 thinking. 00:36:00.600 --> 00:36:01.460 Who does that? 00:36:03.100 --> 00:36:04.360 That's my question too. 00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:06.560 But I was teasing my 00:36:06.560 --> 00:36:07.380 friend about doing this 00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:09.140 law degree for fun because, 00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:10.420 again, who does that? 00:36:11.240 --> 00:36:12.460 And this friend told me 00:36:12.460 --> 00:36:13.180 that they had actually 00:36:13.180 --> 00:36:14.600 gotten a really, 00:36:14.860 --> 00:36:15.820 really grade, like top 00:36:15.820 --> 00:36:18.280 grade in their class on 00:36:18.280 --> 00:36:19.400 one of their entire 00:36:19.400 --> 00:36:19.940 classes. 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:23.220 And so I thought, 00:36:23.219 --> 00:36:24.939 who does a law degree 00:36:24.939 --> 00:36:25.480 for fun? 00:36:25.899 --> 00:36:27.279 And out of those people, 00:36:27.419 --> 00:36:28.579 who outperforms their 00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:29.659 entire class of people 00:36:29.659 --> 00:36:30.699 who want to be lawyers? 00:36:32.199 --> 00:36:33.199 And I was giving my 00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:34.319 friend a hard time, 00:36:34.419 --> 00:36:35.379 understandably, for being 00:36:35.379 --> 00:36:36.119 a bit of a nerd. 00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:38.319 And my friend looked at 00:36:38.319 --> 00:36:39.480 me and she said, 00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:40.279 Eric, you don't 00:36:40.279 --> 00:36:40.779 understand. 00:36:42.359 --> 00:36:43.919 Everyone in that class 00:36:43.919 --> 00:36:46.879 has incredible stress 00:36:46.879 --> 00:36:48.719 because they want to be 00:36:48.719 --> 00:36:49.579 lawyers and they feel 00:36:49.579 --> 00:36:50.480 like the grade they get 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:51.379 in this class is going 00:36:51.379 --> 00:36:52.819 to determine whether or 00:36:52.820 --> 00:36:54.600 not they have a job in 00:36:54.600 --> 00:36:54.960 the future. 00:36:56.120 --> 00:36:57.600 And so every minute of 00:36:57.600 --> 00:36:58.700 studying for them is an 00:36:58.700 --> 00:37:00.300 intense pressure cooker 00:37:00.300 --> 00:37:05.039 of trying to make sure 00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:06.100 that they're secure for 00:37:06.100 --> 00:37:06.539 the future. 00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:07.900 They feel like their 00:37:07.900 --> 00:37:09.640 entire future depends on 00:37:09.640 --> 00:37:11.340 how they perform in this 00:37:11.340 --> 00:37:11.760 exam. 00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:13.720 For me, I'm just doing it 00:37:13.720 --> 00:37:14.059 for fun. 00:37:14.260 --> 00:37:15.820 So I don't care if I get a 00:37:15.820 --> 00:37:16.160 good grade. 00:37:16.220 --> 00:37:16.960 As long as I pass, 00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:17.440 that's fine. 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:20.260 Which means that when I 00:37:20.260 --> 00:37:21.260 study, I'm able to 00:37:21.260 --> 00:37:22.720 actually enjoy it. 00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:24.380 I'm able to have this 00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:26.420 freedom and rest that no 00:37:26.420 --> 00:37:27.179 one else can have. 00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.700 And so when I take my 00:37:30.700 --> 00:37:33.360 exam, I'm having fun. 00:37:33.420 --> 00:37:34.320 I'm enjoying the material. 00:37:35.659 --> 00:37:37.139 And they are so stressed 00:37:37.139 --> 00:37:38.159 that they can't think 00:37:38.159 --> 00:37:38.519 straight. 00:37:39.559 --> 00:37:40.539 And so I'm able to get 00:37:40.539 --> 00:37:41.220 better grades than all 00:37:41.220 --> 00:37:41.460 of them. 00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:44.659 And we laugh. 00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:46.539 And then, you know what 00:37:46.539 --> 00:37:46.900 we're going to do? 00:37:46.920 --> 00:37:47.699 We're going to leave here 00:37:47.699 --> 00:37:48.400 today and we're going to 00:37:48.400 --> 00:37:49.199 go home and we're going 00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:50.199 to stress about the 00:37:50.199 --> 00:37:50.900 upcoming week. 00:37:53.740 --> 00:37:54.940 But God is saying, 00:37:55.139 --> 00:37:55.619 stop. 00:37:56.760 --> 00:37:57.579 Stop stressing. 00:37:57.780 --> 00:37:58.400 Stop worrying. 00:37:58.659 --> 00:38:00.380 Learn to rest because I 00:38:00.380 --> 00:38:01.500 care with you and I've 00:38:01.500 --> 00:38:03.639 proven it by coming to be 00:38:03.639 --> 00:38:04.099 with you. 00:38:04.699 --> 00:38:05.780 That's what the story on 00:38:05.780 --> 00:38:06.659 the boat is all about. 00:38:06.740 --> 00:38:08.199 That Jesus has to care 00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:09.099 because he's with the 00:38:09.099 --> 00:38:09.440 disciples. 00:38:09.619 --> 00:38:10.420 And that's what Christmas 00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:11.300 is all about. 00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:13.179 That God has to care 00:38:13.179 --> 00:38:14.639 about us because he came 00:38:14.639 --> 00:38:16.699 here to be one of us. 00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:20.500 He came here to be with 00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:20.980 us. 00:38:23.300 --> 00:38:24.780 And so when we ask God, 00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:25.320 where are you? 00:38:25.380 --> 00:38:27.000 He says, I'm right there 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:28.199 with you. 00:38:29.159 --> 00:38:31.039 And when we ask God, do 00:38:31.039 --> 00:38:31.519 you care? 00:38:31.579 --> 00:38:33.340 He says, of course I care. 00:38:33.639 --> 00:38:34.519 How can I not? 00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:36.139 I'm one of you. 00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:38.360 If you have any doubts, 00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:39.420 look to the manger. 00:38:39.420 --> 00:38:41.599 Look to the cross. 00:38:43.440 --> 00:38:44.340 Stop stressing. 00:38:44.599 --> 00:38:45.200 Stop worrying. 00:38:45.400 --> 00:38:46.380 Stop being afraid. 00:38:47.980 --> 00:38:48.900 Learn to come to me. 00:38:50.260 --> 00:38:51.440 Learn to sleep. 00:38:52.700 --> 00:38:53.700 Learn to rest. 00:38:56.099 --> 00:38:56.700 Let's pray. 00:38:58.139 --> 00:38:59.559 Father, we thank you for 00:38:59.559 --> 00:39:00.700 your great love for us. 00:39:00.780 --> 00:39:03.280 We thank you for Jesus and 00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:05.180 for the cross. 00:39:05.179 --> 00:39:07.599 We thank you for the boat 00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:08.539 and for the great 00:39:08.539 --> 00:39:09.719 illustration of the fact 00:39:09.719 --> 00:39:12.919 that you care for us. 00:39:13.779 --> 00:39:14.980 Thank you for your power 00:39:14.980 --> 00:39:15.579 to save. 00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:18.719 Thank you for the fact that 00:39:18.719 --> 00:39:20.039 you are with us through the 00:39:20.039 --> 00:39:20.480 storms. 00:39:20.819 --> 00:39:22.339 Even when we can't see you, 00:39:22.440 --> 00:39:23.599 even when it feels like you're 00:39:23.599 --> 00:39:25.059 apathetic, that you care 00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:26.579 because you're with us. 00:39:27.859 --> 00:39:29.399 God, I pray that each of us 00:39:29.399 --> 00:39:31.339 this week would learn to trust 00:39:31.339 --> 00:39:32.339 in your care for us. 00:39:32.340 --> 00:39:34.720 that we would learn to see 00:39:34.720 --> 00:39:35.380 that you're good, 00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:37.760 that we would learn to sleep, 00:39:38.840 --> 00:39:40.240 we would learn to rest, 00:39:41.440 --> 00:39:42.600 that we would learn to stop 00:39:42.600 --> 00:39:44.400 stressing, stop being anxious, 00:39:44.680 --> 00:39:45.460 stop being afraid, 00:39:45.640 --> 00:39:47.039 stop scrambling to try and 00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:48.240 fix everything on our own. 00:39:50.340 --> 00:39:51.600 Instead, learn to see 00:39:51.600 --> 00:39:54.059 that you are a good God 00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:55.500 and a good Father to us. 00:39:56.860 --> 00:39:58.620 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:39:58.620 --> 00:39:58.740 Amen. 00:39:58.740 --> 00:39:58.800 Amen.