Genesis 2.4b-9, 15-end; Revelation 4; Luke 8.22-25

Contrast our first two readings.

In the passage from Genesis two, we see a very intimate process going on as God creates human beings. God takes dust from the ground and fashions a man, and then, in that most intimate of actions, breathes life into him through his nostrils.

Anyone who has given birth will know the wonder of the life that has been created. And others too can share in this sense of amazement at the beauty and wonder of what has been made.

I’ve not had a child of my own, but my oldest cat Sophie had a poor start in life. She was born to another of my cats, and at first was ignored by her mother. She arrived limp and not breathing and the mother cat did not administer her care as is normal. So I became involved.

Fortunately I had a book which told me what to do. I took the poor, limp kitten, not yet breathing, and rubbed her in my hands. I placed her in warm water, still rubbing and dried her carefully afterwards. Somehow through my ministrations, this tiny kitten came to life. And from that moment on, she became very special to me.

When it came to the point of finding new homes for my kittens, Sophie was the one I couldn’t let go of. And now, ten years later, she still has a special place in my heart.

Something about the process of helping to bring life to Sophie made her very special in my eyes.

And as I reflect on that, it suggests to me, that there is something in that of what God might feel at the creation of human beings, you and me, and all who have lived and all who are to come. How special we are because of the work of creation that went into our coming into being.

And once God had made the man, he desired to provide for all his needs - giving him food and water, a fruitful land and a partner.

Then we move to our reading from Revelation. Here, we see God in all God’s glory. The sense of intimacy has gone. What we now see is a powerful king, seated on a throne, surrounded by a rainbow and 24 other thrones, all containing elders with robes and crowns.

We don’t see that sense of gentleness that appeared in our first story of God breathing life into Adam’s nostrils, but a God surrounded by the power of thunder and lightning, living creatures and ceaseless singing. We see the 24 elders bowing down before God and offering worship and honour.

Two very different pictures and yet both represent God.

But, both pictures of God remind us that God is creator, as do the words of this morning’s Psalm (65).

If we didn’t know better, we might be tempted to think that these two stories were about two totally different Gods.

In Jesus we see both aspects reflected. Our Gospel reading starts with a human Jesus in a boat with his friends, crossing the lake to the other side. And Jesus falls asleep - a very human thing to do, if one is tired.

But something one is only likely to do if one feels at ease with the situation in which ones finds oneself. Fear certainly is not conducive to sleep.

And, we also see in Jesus the powerful God. Only a creator can rebuke wind and waves and expect a response. 

It left the disciples wondering - Who is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?

They had spent time with the human Jesus; only occasionally did they come face to face with the powerful God.

In days gone past, the Church was very aware of the judgmental and powerful God who will decide our future fate - eternal life or not. Fire and brimstone were preached across the land and the fear of God was instilled in many people.

Nowadays, we tend to focus much more on the human Jesus, the man who can relate to what it means to have human needs and emotions, the Jesus who will bring comfort and hope.

But, if we are to have a true image of God, we need to hold both images together. This gospel story provides us with an epiphany - a revelation. And, Jesus provided a revelation for the disciples as well.

On one side of the lake, they thought they knew who he was. By the time they reach the other side, they have had to readjust their ideas - who is this?

We generally think of epiphany as only connected with the coming of the wise men. But the word itself means a “to reveal”. The wise men revealed Jesus to the world as king. An epiphany is when the veil is drawn and we get glimpses of who God really is.

The disciples “Who is this?” is an epiphany moment because they suddenly feel that they didn’t really know Jesus before, a whole new light has been cast upon this travelling teacher and miracle-worker whom they have been following. They have gained a whole new picture of who Jesus is.

And this new insight came about because they had been in a place of fear and risk. The storm must have been pretty bad, since among the disciples were experienced fishermen used to the storms of Galilee.

When they turned to Jesus in the midst of their fear, though he was obviously a last resort in their minds, they received that precious gift of new insight into who Jesus was. They didn’t fully understand but they did have a glimpse of God’s power.

And they started asking questions about what they had experienced.
What do we do when faced with a sense that we are experiencing God in a new way? And who do we rely on when we’re really facing fear and in a risky situations?

The disciples at this point only experienced Jesus in this new way because in their fear they became reliant on him. I wonder where we put our faith and trust.

It strikes me that our society and culture puts trust in anything that is not God and then perhaps wonders why God seems so absent. Things that are not long-lasting are given high value. I’m struck by the V&A putting on an exhibition about Kylie Minogue. I’ve nothing against Kylie as such but there is a suggestion that what she stands for is worth celebrating and giving honour to.

A far cry from the Psalm which is a hymn of praise to God for his provision.

The disciples only glimpsed God’s power once they had reached out to Jesus in their storm. It’s hard to reach out for something we cannot see; they at least had Jesus with them in the boat; but it’s a risk worth taking.

May God give us the faith to trust in his power and might. Amen.