Embracing Divine Holiness: Fear, Vulnerability, and Grace
Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the paradoxical nature of Jesus Christ's life and the reactions He evoked from those around Him. Despite His universally acknowledged integrity and compassion, Jesus faced hostility and was ultimately executed. This raises the question: why would such a loving figure provoke such extreme reactions? We delved into the story from Mark's Gospel, where Jesus calms a storm on the Sea of Galilee, demonstrating His divine authority over nature. This event left the disciples more afraid after the storm was calmed than during it, highlighting a profound truth about human nature: we often fear the holy more than the natural forces that threaten us.
The narrative of Jesus calming the storm serves as a metaphor for the human condition. We often project our fears onto nature, inventing gods to negotiate with the impersonal forces that threaten us. Yet, when confronted with the true power and holiness of God, as the disciples were, we are faced with our own unworthiness and sinfulness. This encounter with the divine holiness can be unsettling, as it exposes our inadequacies and compels us to confront our need for grace.
The sermon also touched on the human tendency to hide our vulnerabilities, fearing judgment and betrayal. However, in Christ, we find a safe space where we can be truly vulnerable and accepted. The essence of the Christian faith is not self-righteousness but grace and gratitude. We are invited to come into the presence of a holy God, not through our own righteousness, but through the righteousness of Christ, which is freely offered to us.
Key Takeaways:
- The integrity and compassion of Jesus are universally acknowledged, yet His life provoked extreme reactions, leading to His execution. This paradox invites us to reflect on the nature of holiness and why it can be both attractive and intimidating. [03:10]
- The story of Jesus calming the storm illustrates the human tendency to fear the holy more than natural threats. The disciples' increased fear after the storm was calmed reveals our discomfort with divine holiness, which exposes our own unworthiness. [15:51]
- Human beings often project their fears onto nature, inventing gods to negotiate with impersonal forces. However, true peace comes from recognizing the power and presence of the one true God, who commands even the winds and the sea. [11:19]
- Vulnerability is often avoided due to fear of judgment and betrayal, but in Christ, we find a place where we can be truly open and accepted. The Christian faith is rooted in grace, not self-righteousness, and invites us to embrace our need for divine mercy. [29:35]
- The righteousness of Christ is offered to us as a gift, providing peace with God and access to His presence. This alien righteousness silences the storms of divine wrath and allows us to stand forgiven and accepted before a holy God. [31:05]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:33] - Growing Hostility Towards Christianity
[01:46] - Integrity of Jesus
[03:10] - Why Was Jesus Killed?
[04:05] - Jesus Calms the Storm
[06:40] - Disciples' Fear and Human Nature
[09:22] - Projection of Fear onto Nature
[11:19] - Personalization of Nature
[13:26] - Encounter with Divine Holiness
[15:51] - Fear of the Holy
[18:04] - Vulnerability and Human Nature
[20:31] - Presence of the Holy
[23:46] - Uncomfortable in Holiness
[28:56] - Invitation to the Holy
[31:05] - Righteousness in Christ
[32:27] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Mark 4:35-41
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the initial reaction of the disciples when the storm arose on the Sea of Galilee, and how did their reaction change after Jesus calmed the storm? [15:02]
2. How does the sermon describe the disciples' fear after Jesus calmed the storm compared to their fear during the storm? [15:51]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the human tendency to project fears onto nature and invent gods to negotiate with these forces? [09:22]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus sleeping during the storm, and how does it relate to human reactions to fear? [06:40]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might the disciples have been more afraid after Jesus calmed the storm than during it? What does this suggest about human reactions to divine power? [15:51]
2. How does the sermon explain the paradox of Jesus' integrity and compassion leading to extreme reactions, including His execution? [03:10]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that vulnerability is avoided due to fear of judgment, and how does Christ provide a safe space for vulnerability? [29:35]
4. How does the sermon describe the concept of "alien righteousness" and its role in providing peace with God? [31:05]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt afraid of something beyond your control. How did you respond, and how might recognizing God's power change your reaction in the future? [15:51]
2. The sermon discusses the human tendency to hide vulnerabilities. What are some areas in your life where you struggle to be open, and how can you find comfort in Christ's acceptance? [29:35]
3. Consider the paradox of Jesus' life provoking extreme reactions. How do you see this paradox in your own life or in the world today, and how can you respond with grace? [03:10]
4. The sermon mentions projecting fears onto nature and inventing gods. Are there areas in your life where you rely on something other than God for peace? How can you shift your focus to trust in God's power? [09:22]
5. How can you embrace the concept of "alien righteousness" in your daily life, and what steps can you take to live in the peace and acceptance it offers? [31:05]
6. Think about a situation where you felt uncomfortable in the presence of holiness or righteousness. How can you use that discomfort to grow in your faith and understanding of God's grace? [20:31]
7. Reflect on the idea of being invited into the presence of a holy God. How can you cultivate a sense of gratitude and humility in your spiritual journey? [28:56]
Devotional
Day 1: The Paradox of Holiness
Despite Jesus' integrity and compassion, His life provoked extreme reactions, leading to His execution. This paradox invites reflection on the nature of holiness and why it can be both attractive and intimidating. Holiness, in its purest form, challenges the status quo and confronts the darkness within human hearts. Jesus' life and teachings were a direct challenge to the religious and social norms of His time, which is why He faced such hostility. His presence exposed the hypocrisy and sinfulness of those around Him, prompting a defensive and often violent response. [03:10]
Isaiah 6:5-7 (ESV): "And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!' Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.'"
Reflection: Consider a time when you felt challenged by the holiness of God. How did it make you feel, and what was your response?
Day 2: Fear of the Divine
The story of Jesus calming the storm illustrates the human tendency to fear the holy more than natural threats. The disciples' increased fear after the storm was calmed reveals our discomfort with divine holiness, which exposes our own unworthiness. When Jesus demonstrated His authority over nature, the disciples were confronted with a power that was beyond their understanding. This encounter with the divine left them more afraid than the storm itself, as it revealed their own limitations and the reality of God's holiness. [15:51]
Job 37:22-24 (ESV): "Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty. The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you felt overwhelmed by God's power. How can you learn to trust in His holiness rather than fear it?
Day 3: True Peace in God's Presence
Human beings often project their fears onto nature, inventing gods to negotiate with impersonal forces. However, true peace comes from recognizing the power and presence of the one true God, who commands even the winds and the sea. In a world filled with uncertainties, people often seek control by attributing power to natural forces or creating deities to appease. Yet, the story of Jesus calming the storm reminds us that peace is found not in controlling our circumstances but in trusting the God who is sovereign over all creation. [11:19]
Psalm 65:5-7 (ESV): "By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are trying to control outcomes. How can you surrender this to God and find peace in His presence?
Day 4: Vulnerability in Christ
Vulnerability is often avoided due to fear of judgment and betrayal, but in Christ, we find a place where we can be truly open and accepted. The Christian faith is rooted in grace, not self-righteousness, and invites us to embrace our need for divine mercy. In a world that values strength and self-sufficiency, admitting our weaknesses can be daunting. However, Jesus offers a safe space where we can be honest about our struggles and receive His grace. This vulnerability is not a sign of weakness but a pathway to healing and transformation. [29:35]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: Think of an area in your life where you feel vulnerable. How can you bring this to Christ and experience His grace and acceptance?
Day 5: The Gift of Righteousness
The righteousness of Christ is offered to us as a gift, providing peace with God and access to His presence. This alien righteousness silences the storms of divine wrath and allows us to stand forgiven and accepted before a holy God. Unlike human efforts to achieve righteousness, which often lead to pride or despair, the righteousness of Christ is a gift that transforms our relationship with God. It assures us of His love and acceptance, freeing us from the burden of trying to earn His favor. [31:05]
Romans 5:17 (ESV): "For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Reflect on the concept of righteousness as a gift. How does this understanding change the way you approach your relationship with God?
Quotes
I spoke with a gentleman the other day who had delivered a message on a college campus, and in the midst of his address he was heckled by hostile students. He was talking about Christ, and in the midst of his speech, somebody hollered out, "Who cares?" And he went on to explain to me -- he said, "Whew!" he said, "the audience was hostile," and that more and more it seems that there's a growing hostility in our nation towards the Christian faith and a growing sense of militancy from pro-Christian and anti-Christian forces. [00:08:00]
I find exceedingly rare is someone who publicly will criticize the integrity of Jesus. I think, for example, of a comment that George Bernard-Shaw once made where he was being critical of Jesus. He was not a Christian, and Shaw said of Jesus when he criticized His behavior, he said, "There were times when Jesus did not behave as a Christian." I thought there was some irony in that -- that when George Bernard-Shaw wanted to criticize Jesus, he could think of no higher moral standard by which to criticize Him than the standard of Christ himself. [00:99:03]
The world is so complimentary about Jesus the question I am left with is why, if He was such a wonderful person and so loving and kind and compassionate, ministering to all kinds of sick people and outcasts and sort of a Mother Theresa of His own generation, and then some -- why was He killed? Not only was He executed, but the masses were clamoring for His blood. What was it about Jesus of Nazareth that enflamed people's passions either for Him or against Him? [00:183:00]
The disciples were seasoned fisherman. They had been out on that lake a thousand times, and one of these violent tempests break out in the middle of the night, and the waves are in gigantic proportions. The wind is howling, and at every second the boat is in imminent danger of capsizing and killing the fishermen. And all the while Jesus is sleeping in the boat. I hate people like that. I've seen them on airplanes. I've been on airplanes where the stewardesses were screaming in panic, where the plane was dropping a thousand feet at a time in violent turbulence, and the guy next to me is sound asleep. [00:338:70]
The disciples were afraid. Now there's nothing particularly fascinating about that, but I want to apply that to something. When I was teaching in the seminary in Philadelphia years ago, I taught a course on academic atheism, where the students were required to read the primary sources, the writings of the most articulate atheists of western history. I made the students read the objections of David Hume and of John Stuart Mill. I made the students read the works of Nietzsche and of Ludwig Feuerbach. [00:411:14]
Freud said the first step was the personalization of nature. Why? A very, very fascinating theory -- the idea is this: that there are all kinds of things out there, ladies and gentlemen, that threate my existence -- cancer, fire, flood, war, other people -- but I have learned as a human being how to survive, at least this far, the hostility of other people. When you come at me, and you're gritting your teeth, and you're angry, or you're reaching for a gun, I've learned how to deal with that. [00:585:54]
The disciples of Jesus terrified because of an encounter with the destructive forces of nature. Their lives are in jeopardy because of the tempest arising at sea, and the Bible says that they are frightened. And what do frightened people do in the midst of a crisis? They immediately go to their leader, and so they came to the back of the boat, and they shook Jesus awake, and they said, "Master, do something, or we perish!" What did He do? He looked around and appraised the situation, and then the Lord God Incarnate, the Creator of heaven and earth issued a verbal command, not to men but to the impersonal forces of nature. [00:806:60]
The response of the disciples when Jesus removes the clear and present threat of nature? Does it say they throw their souwesters in the air and rejoice and say, "Oh, we knew you would do it"? No. The text tells us that at that moment they became very much afraid -- that is, rather than having your fears assuaged and ameliorated, their fears now became intensified. The thing that Freud didn't understand is that, ladies gentlemen, there is something within the human heart that we fear more than any of the impersonal forces of nature, and that is the power and the presence of a person who is holy. [00:902:88]
The disciples saw Jesus, and they -- their computers went haywire, and they said, "Wait a minute. We don't have a category for this man. We've never encountered one who is so other, so different, so separate, so apart from normal humanity that He could command the sea, and the sea obeys." In other words, ladies and gentlemen, what terrified the disciples, ladies and gentlemen, was that suddenly they realized that they were in the presence of the holy, and their fear was increased. [00:1200:75]
The worst-kept secret in the whole world -- it's well-kept, but it's a horrible thing that it has been kept -- is that we are invited to come to the presence of a holy God. Sartre said in his writings that the last thing that he ever wanted to do was to be submitted to the unremitting gaze of a holy God, and yet David, after he was subjected to the scrutiny of God said to God, "Oh Lord, search me and know me." The secret the Christian carries around with him is the knowledge this is the one place where we can really be vulnerable, the one place where we can be comfortable, the one place where we can be naked without fear is in the presence of Christ. [00:1728:84]
There is a righteousness that God has provided for you in Christ that is not your own righteousness. It's an alien righteousness. It's a foreign righteousness. It is the righteousness of Christ that is freely offered to you if you will submit to the lordship of Christ. All that He has, and all that He has done becomes yours, and the worst storms of divine wrath that you could imagine are silenced forever, and God declares peace. [00:1865:62]
To be a Christian is to be forgiven. The essence of the Christian faith is grace. The essence of the Christian ethic is not arrogance but gratitude, and forgive us if you are an unbeliever if we have presented ourselves to you as self-righteous because I guarantee you that there's no Christian in this room who is righteous in and of themselves. [00:1920:76]
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