Shipwreck!

August 18^th, 2019          “Shipwreck!”       Rev. Heather Jepsen

Summer Sermon Series: The Amazing Adventures of Paul

Acts 27

         This morning we continue our summer sermon series “The Amazing Adventures of Paul.”  All summer long we have been chronicling Paul’s journey throughout the Roman world as told in the book of Acts.  For several weeks now our story has become mired in legal drama.  Like the second half of a “Law and Order” episode, we have been busy reading all about Paul’s many trials at the hands of the Jewish ruling elite and the leaders of the Roman Empire.  I have tried to make things exciting but in many ways these chapters have been a challenge.  Luckily today the adventures return as Paul is forced to travel by boat from the city of Caesarea across the Mediterranean Sea to his trial in Rome.

         (Read Acts 27:1-12)

         It can be hard to imagine the distances involved in this sea voyage and so today I have given you a map as a bulletin insert.  Paul’s journey begins where we left off in Caesarea.  He has been transferred to the care of Julius, a Roman Centurion who will be responsible for getting Paul to Rome for a trial.  The travelers stop in Sidon and Myra where they finally find a sea worthy ship to carry them to Italy.

         The weather is bad and the winds are strong.  A ship at this time has no way of navigating or choosing direction apart from the winds.  The ship tries to stop in Cnidus but the winds keep them from being able to reach the port and so they are swept down to Fair Havens.

         Now it’s time to make a decision.  The writer of Acts tells us that the time of the Fast has already come and gone.  Referring to a Jewish holiday this lets us know that it is sometime between late September and early October.  The shipping lanes of the Mediterranean would be closed at this point on account of the turbulent winter seas.  Paul cautions the community to stop now; they must wait until spring to continue the voyage.  But the crew of the ship is not interested in spending the winter in Fair Havens so they encourage Julius to return to the waters and to try to make port in Phoenix.

         (Read Acts 27:13-20)

         As soon as the ship sails again disaster strikes.  A strong wind comes and blows the ship away from the island of Crete.  The sailors are lost now, floating out in the open sea and unable to control the direction of the boat.  They drop anchor to try to slow the boat’s travel off course and as the ship is pounded on by the violent waves, the men begin to throw everything they can overboard.  From the cargo to the tackle needed for navigation, everything is sacrificed to the storm.  Darkness falls upon the ship, and without sun or stars to navigate their hope is lost.

         (Read Acts 27:21-26)

         Supplies are low and the sailors have stopped eating.  Paul rises now and declares that he has had a vision from God.  He knows that they will survive.  The ship will be destroyed but all the people onboard will live.  Paul encourages the crew, nonbelievers all of them, to be of good courage.  He has faith in God, and his God will keep him and everyone else safe on this perilous voyage.

         (Read Acts 27:27-32)

         At this point the ship has been drifting aimlessly in the sea for over two weeks.  Around midnight the crew begins taking measurements and realizes that they are near land.  The hardened sailors then make a plan to abandon the ship to Julius the centurion and his prisoners.  The crew will escape in a small boat under cover of darkness.  But Paul learns of the plot and encourages Julius and his soldiers to stop the crew from leaving.  Paul can only guarantee the safety of those who stay within the confines of the ship.  The plot is foiled; the ropes are cut, and the small dingy floats away empty.

         (Read Acts 27:33-38)

         Paul realizes that he needs to minister to this lost party on the high seas.  It has been two weeks since anyone has eaten and he encourages everyone now to dine.  In a move reminiscent of the Eucharist, Paul takes bread, gives thanks, and breaks it for all to see.  Even in the midst of these dire circumstances Paul thanks God for all the blessings that he has.  Everyone accepts Paul’s ministry, and though they do not believe in his God, still they break bread together.  After all are full, the remaining food stores are thrown overboard.

         (Read Acts 27:39-44)

         In the morning the sky clears and the sailors can see land and a bay in which they might run the ship ashore.  They cut anchors and make for the beach but run aground on a sandbar instead.  As the waves continue to pound the ship, the vessel begins to break apart.  The soldiers decide to kill all the prisoners for at this point they cannot guarantee that they won’t escape.  But wishing to save Paul, Julius once again steps in and prevents his soldiers from carrying out their plan.  Everyone who can swim jumps overboard and tries to head for land.  Those who cannot swim grab a piece of the broken ship and allow the waves to push them into the shore.  And as promised, though battered and broken, everyone survives to arrive safely on land.

         Today’s reading is an excellent account of Paul’s deep faith in the Lord.  Paul knows that God plans to have him preach the gospel in Rome and so he has faith that he will survive this perilous sea voyage.  After his vision he knows as well that God intends to save the whole company of the ship, all 276 people, though God makes no promises that the ship itself will last the voyage.

         Imagine the faith that Paul must have had.  The trip is a nightmare.  The weather is terrible, no one will listen to Paul’s guidance to wait, and as soon as they head out they are blown off course.  Imagine over two weeks floating in stormy waters, unable to see the sun or stars.  Imagine watching as first the cargo and then the rigging for navigation are thrown overboard.  Imagine not eating for two weeks because they have no idea how long the journey will last.

         If not for Paul all hope would be lost.  Paul is hope itself.  He is so confident in God, he is so sure of God’s salvation, not just spiritually in this moment but actual physical salvation from the storm, that Paul is able to offer hope for everyone.  Paul is the only man of faith onboard the ship and he carries the hopes of the entire crew.  Julius relies on Paul’s faith to keep the soldiers and prisoners safe. 

         As cracks appear in the crew, as folks try to abandon ship, Paul knows he is the one who must keep everyone together.  He breaks bread and he offers hope to everyone on board.  They share a Eucharistic meal which encourages their faith for the journey ahead.  And the next day they crash on an island, the ship breaking up as it runs aground.  It is a complete disaster, except for the fact that no one dies.  Everyone is scared, hungry, and hurt but no one dies.  Paul’s faith is not in vain, and the God he worships rescues everyone from the storm.

         Just like the stories of Jesus on stormy seas, this morning’s reading offers hope to us when we are in the midst of life’s pressures and challenges.  Just like Paul, we are often tossed about on the storms of life.  And just like Paul, we have faith in God’s future for us, even if we don’t know what the immediate future might hold.  Paul knows he will get to Rome, he just can’t see the way there.  He doesn’t understand how a ship lost in a storm could take him to the place God has called him to be, but he does have faith that God will get him there.  So too, we know where God is calling us to be, we just don’t always understand what the path will look like, or what the journey will hold.

         In the voyage at sea, the crew of the ship loses all means of navigation.  They throw their tackle overboard so they cannot steer the ship.  And in the midst of the storm they cannot see the sun or stars so they have no idea which direction to head in anyway.  They are completely lost and without guidance.  But they do have Paul, and Paul has his faith in God.

         The crew leans on Paul and his faith.  Julius the centurion encourages everyone to trust in what Paul has to say.  Paul is guided by a higher power, and he promises to keep the crew safe if everyone simply follows his directions and trusts in his faith.  So too, in our own lives, sometimes we can’t do it alone.  When the storms get really rough, when the way becomes nothing but unknown darkness, sometimes we have to rely on the faith of others to see us through.  If we can’t muster enough faith of our own, we can fall back on the faith of the church community to help us through our dark days.  Paul’s faith kept everyone on the ship safe and alive.  So too, our faith can be a beacon for others.  Or, when we are low, we can hang on to the faith of others to help us through life’s storms.

         The story of Paul in Acts is a reminder that God never promises us an easy road.  From the moment he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus Paul has been suffering for his faith.  God has led him to conflict with religion and government.  God has rescued Paul from mobs seeking to lynch him in the street for the gospel message that he preaches.  And now God sends Paul to Rome via a shipwreck.  The amazing thing about Paul is that even though life with God is so very very hard, he continues to give thanks.  He continues to worship, he continues to have faith, he continues to trust, and he continues to lead others to the way of salvation. 

Paul’s faith in God is truly amazing, and it is an inspiration for all of us.  God does not promise us a life of ease and pleasure, but God does promise to be there with us when the storms of life threaten to overtake our ship.  And on the days when we can’t do it.  On the days when we struggle to muster faith in the midst of hardship, God sends us a Paul.  God sends us a friend whose hand we can hold, who will help guide us through until we land on safer shores.  May God be with all of us in the midst of the struggles of this life. 

And so we leave Paul for today, shipwrecked on an island, lost at sea with nothing but his faith to keep him going.  Next week is our final chapter, so come back then as we conclude “The Amazing Adventures of Paul.”  Amen.