Text: Mark 6:45-54
Theme: Take Heart
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Intro –   What happens to your heart when you get scared?

“When you’re afraid or stressed, it’s your brain—not your heart—that first responds. The hypothalamus releases epinephrine, commonly known as adrenaline, which triggers the fight-or-flight response many of us recognize. This can cause a quickened heartbeat, an increase in pulse rate and blood pressure, and changes in breathing patterns like shortness of breath or rapid breathing.”[1]

Imagine the disciples out on the sea, scared and experiencing these physical reactions. In the explanation above, we see that “the brain, not the heart, is the first part of your body to respond.” We we feel scared. Understanding this helps us grasp why Jesus invites them to “take heart.”

1. Take Mind

When you’re afraid, your mind responds first. Yet, the mind alone cannot find solutions, especially when your heart is hardened. Mark tells us the disciples’ hearts were hardened, as they couldn’t understand the miracle of the loaves. With a hardened heart, they relied on their minds. Their minds then triggered a “fight-or-flight” response:

• They didn’t recognize Jesus, mistaking Him for a ghost.
• Mark doesn’t tell us, but it is very likely that this is the same episode in which Matthew lets us know that Peter wanted to walk on the water, driven by a desperate mind seeking solutions.

But their brains alone couldn’t provide the answer. They needed something more.

Martin Luther, in his commentary on this passage, emphasizes the spiritual blindness that results from a hardened heart. He notes that the disciples’ inability to recognize Jesus on the water is symbolic of how sin blinds us to God’s presence and power.

R.C.H. Lenski, in his commentary, also highlights the disciples’ fear and their failure to grasp the significance of Jesus walking on the water. Lenski points out that their terror was not just due to the storm but also to their lack of understanding of who Jesus truly is. He writes that faith, not just intellectual understanding, is required to recognize and trust in Jesus.

2. Take Heart

Jesus calls us out in our fear and points us in the right direction: “Take heart.” What happens to your heart when you get saved? Your heart holds onto Jesus and is filled with God’s grace and strength. Courage and good cheer—tharseo—ensue, building momentum in your heart.

The term “tharseo” appears seven times in the New Testament, always in contexts where Jesus encourages His followers:

• In Matthew 9:2 and 9:22, Jesus tells the paralytic and the woman healed from bleeding to take courage.
• In Matthew 14:27 and Mark 6:50, He reassures the disciples during the storm.
• In Mark 10:49, He calls the blind man Bartimaeus.
• In John 16:33, He tells His disciples to take heart because He has overcome the world.
• In Acts 23:11, He encourages Paul to testify in Rome.

Jesus commands us to take heart, to have confidence and firmness of purpose even in the face of danger or testing. He wants us to trust that He is with us, even when our circumstances seem overwhelming.

3. Hearts Set on Him

Now, why don’t we doubt God in good times? Have you ever questioned if something is a blessing before recognizing it as such? Typically, our hearts instinctively respond with gratitude, saying “thanks be to God,” and our brains then confirm this feeling.

But why do we doubt Him during difficult times? The main reason is that our hearts and brains rely on our limited concepts of good and bad, happiness and hardship. Consider the phrase “God created you to be happy.” How many ways can this be interpreted based on one’s idea of happiness?

Reality is, we struggle to believe that even in difficult times—situations not desired by God but resulting from the fallen world—God is still working for our good. As our hearts are set on Him, our lives are lived inside His Grace and Love, even during situations that we don’t label as good. God works for our Good. We can always trust Him.

Now here’s an interesting twist on this plot as we talk about being scared and strengthening our hearts: some studies suggest that being scared in controlled situations can strengthen your heart. “When frightened, the amygdala starts a chain reaction, releasing cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones prepare your body for survival, often referred to as the “fight or flight response.”[2]

However, one thing needs to be noted: those who affirm this are thinking about controlled situations, like horror movies or Halloween scares or even bungee jumping. They are not talking about unpredictable scares that can even put our life in danger.

There are things in life you know already that they are bad. You can therefore cultivate some fear and stay away of them. This is where “the fear of the Lord” has the sense of not only “respecting Him” but also remembering that he punishes sin with death and hell. Whoever believes in Jesus is not judged, but whoever doesn’t believe in Him, is already judged.

Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 ties beautifully into this theme of taking heart. Paul prays for the Ephesians to be strengthened with power through the Spirit in their inner being, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. He desires them to be rooted and established in love, grasping the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love. This divine love surpasses knowledge and fills us with the fullness of God.

Speaking of prayer,  Jesus Himself would take regular time for prayer, remember from the beginning of the Gospel today?  His heart is set on the Father. To take heart, we must ensure our hearts are placed:

• Not in our own strength
• Not in others’ opinions shaped by cultural moods
• Not in following the politically correct all the time

But in God’s Word, which is the source of everything we need for heart, mind and life.

Conclusion – In your fears and anxieties, dear friend Jesus is there, calling your heart to trust him and then shape your brain and mind to understand His Word and follow His Steps. Take heart. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your minds and hearts in Christ Jesus for life everlasting.

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Additional resources

Lutheran Responses to Questions and Doubts that may come from the text of the Sermon

Introduction:

• Question: “How does this physiological response connect to our spiritual lives?”
  • Response: “Understanding our physiological responses can help us see how deeply we are affected by sin and fear, reminding us of our need for Christ’s peace. Our physiological responses show our human frailty and need for a Savior. Jesus meets us in our fear and provides true peace that surpasses understanding.”
• Doubt: “I’m not sure how understanding the brain’s response to fear helps me spiritually.”
  • Response: “It helps us see that our fears are part of our human condition, which Christ came to redeem. Recognizing this can deepen our reliance on Him.”

1. Take Mind:

• Question: “Why did Jesus allow the disciples to struggle with fear on the sea?”
  • Response: “Jesus uses such moments to reveal His divine nature and strengthen our faith. He shows us that in our deepest fears, He is present and in control.”
• Doubt: “Can hardened hearts really prevent us from recognizing Jesus in our lives?”
  • Response: “Yes, sin blinds us to Christ’s presence. But through repentance and faith, God softens our hearts and opens our eyes to His grace and truth.”

2. Take Heart:

• Question: “How can we practically ‘take heart’ in our daily struggles?”
  • Response: “By turning to Scripture, prayer, and the Sacraments, we are reminded of Christ’s promises and His presence with us, which empowers us to face any challenge. In Jesus we find courage and resilience during overwhelming circumstances. The Holy Spirit works in our hearts, reminding us of Christ’s victory over sin and death, giving us true courage and peace.”

3. Hearts Set on Him:

• Comment: “It’s insightful to consider how we doubt less in good times and more in hard times.”
  • Response: “This is true. In good times, we often take God’s blessings for granted, but in hard times, our faith is tested and can be strengthened as we rely more fully on Him.”
• Question: “How do we shift our perspective to trust God even in difficulties?”
  • Response: “By remembering God’s faithfulness in Scripture, recalling His past faithfulness in our lives, and holding onto His promises in Jesus, we shift our perspective to trust Him more.”
• Doubt: “I find it hard to see God’s work in my life during tough times. How can I change this?”
  • Response: “Trust in God’s Word and Sacraments, which assure us of His presence and work in our lives, even when we can’t see it. Faith is believing in what we cannot see.”

• Question: “What does it mean to cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord?”
  • Response: A healthy fear of the Lord means reverence and awe for His holiness and justice, combined with trust in His mercy and love revealed in Christ, and the realization that the wages of sin is death. Fear that leads us to repentance and trust in God’s promises is beneficial. It keeps us aware of our need for God’s grace and helps us grow in faith and obedience.

Paul’s Prayer in Ephesians:

• Question: “How can we practically be ‘strengthened with power through the Spirit’?”
  • Response: “Through regular engagement with God’s Word, prayer, and the Sacraments, the Holy Spirit strengthens our inner being and deepens our faith in Christ.”
• Doubt: “Is it truly possible to grasp the full dimensions of Christ’s love as Paul prays?”
  • Response: “While we may never fully grasp it, the Holy Spirit helps us to continually grow in our understanding and experience of Christ’s love, which surpasses knowledge.”
• Conclusion:

Question: “How can we practically be ‘strengthened with power through the Spirit’?”

• • Response: “Through regular engagement with God’s Word, and the Sacraments, the Holy Spirit strengthens us in a life of prayer, love and action in Christ. While we may never fully grasp it, the Holy Spirit helps us to continually grow in our understanding and experience of Christ’s love, which surpasses knowledge.” Reading Psalms of comfort, praying for God’s peace, receiving the Sacrament of the Altar, and seeking fellowship with other believers are ways to find God’s peace.”

• Doubt: “I’m not sure if turning to God will always bring peace in my anxiety.”
  • Response: “While peace may not come immediately, God’s promises are sure. Continually turning to Him, trusting His Word, and receiving His grace will, over time, bring His peace.”

[1]  https://www.mainlinehealth.org/blog/fear-and-your-heart

[2] https://www.worldpoint.com/mena/blog/can-being-scared-actually-strengthen-your-heart/