1. Mark 4:35-41 35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

2. Mark 4:35-41 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.

3. Mark 4:35-41 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

4. Chaos and Creation Rick Wright Church of the Nations 4 th Sunday of Pentecost (B)

5. Natural and Moral Evil 1.Storms continue to move through Texas and Oklahoma... with tornadoes and heavy rains that lead to deadly flooding. Authorities in Oklahoma say four people have died because of storms (three weekends ago). Four other people were killed during bad weather in Texas. At least 12 people are missing. 2.Nine people were shot to death at Emmanuel AME church in Charleston South Carolina on Wednesday night. Authorities have arrested a suspect in the shooting.

6. Mark 4 Jesus says to them, Let us go to the other side. They leave the crowd... take Jesus with them in the boat... just as he was (= already in the boat). A great storm* comes up... the waves are beating against the boat... the boat is filling with water. And Jesus is in the back... asleep. Greek lailaps = chaos, whirlwind (= Job 38!)

7. Chaos 混亂 or 混沌 ? Genesis 1 (and 6-8) World = dark ball angry water Spirit of God moves -> creation Creation ex nihilo (Latin = out of nothing) Also order from chaos So God still creates (brings order from chaos) Creation ~ Salvation

8. Creation and chaos Creation and the Persistence of Evil - The Jewish Drama of Divine Omnipotence by Jon Levenson Creation (in Bible = Old Testament) not just out of nothing Creation also shalom (peace and wholeness) from chaos When order appears where disorder used to be... justice replaces injustice... disease and death give way to health and life... this is the creation of something out of nothing.

9. Book of Mark Central thesis = (1) kingdom of God (2) present in Jesus Christ So what does that mean? 4 stories in Mark 4-6 1.Jesus calms storm (natural) 2.Heals man with evil spirit (mental-spiritual) 3.Heals woman with bleeding (physical) 4.Raises girl from death (? Ultimate?) Chaos… evil… death?

10. Mark 4 Jesus leads his followers into this storm! Jesus is with us in the storm (= chaos) Jesus sleeps… during the storm – Deep trust in God his Father Jesus rescues them from the storm – Peace! Be still! Chaos we experience is no match for Jesus Who is this? Do I trust him?