“Nonplussed”
I know. A funny word. You probably have never used that word in a sentence.
From it Latin roots nonplussed means “not more,” as in “not having any more words to say.” Ever been somewhat speechless– when surprised or bewildered in the moment? In being perplexed, you are nonplussed. That’s the historical meaning of the word.
Language changes over time. Nonplus then took on the meaning to be “unruffled or unconcerned.” As an example, “Twelve-year-old Mikey Barker remained nonplussed yesterday despite the attention and congratulations that he was receiving for having won the Peninsula’s Soap Box Derby.” As Mikey appears unconcerned; he is nonplussed.
More to our benefit, Jesus and His disciples were nonplussed upon the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35-41).
Jesus directs the disciples to disembark and sail away, straight across from west to east. Reclining in the back of the boat, together with the rocking of the waves – He falls asleep. While He rests the weather changes. Mount Hermon lies to the Northeast. Westerly winds came off this mountain and collided with the warm air over the lake. This caused a sudden violent storm. Waves crash against the boat. It takes on water. It’s going down.
The disciples rouse Jesus. “Do you not care that we are perishing? The disciples do believe Jesus can help. This is to their credit. Perhaps in hindsight: “Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.” (Psalm 44:23)
But in that moment, engulfed in waves faster than they can bail it out, do they believe in who Jesus truly is, what He is truly like, and what is He about? When facing the storm, were they nonplussed?
Upon the Sea of Galilee, who awakes nonplussed – unconcerned? Jesus. His heart is not racing. There is no shortness of breath. His stomach is not tied up in knots. Muscles are not trembling. He stands and faces the wind and the waves. As if he is talking down to an angry giant, he shouts: “Quiet! Be still!” And, there was a great calm.
From the psalmist the disciples would recall: “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.” (Psalm 107:28-29)
This, the disciples knew of the Lord God – their Creator. Now, who is nonplussed? Bewildered, perplexed – they stare at Jesus and ask the question, to which, they are speechless in knowing the answer. “Who then is this; that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” This is the reign and rule of God on earth.
What of the storms we face? As with the disciples, storms blow upon us. One minute – all is calm and serene. The next moment – all is disturbed and upsetting. Winds of doubt rock us. Waves of fear engulf us.
Taking on water; faster than we can bail it out. Hardly staying afloat. Listing onto our side. Going down. Perishing in fear. We believe, and yet the waves of doubt engulf us. For want of rescue and deliverance, we grow skeptical. Is God’s silence nothing more than His sleepy indifference?
Sometimes the storm is of our own doing. It was our hand upon the rudder. Not that we chose to sail into stormy seas in being sadistic or insensitive, but we still get in the way. Either by ignorance, foolishness, or a momentary lack of indiscretion – we sailed into the storm.
Are we then nonplussed in the middle of this storm? You may be asking: “Which way?” Perplexed or unconcerned?
Obviously, at first, perplexed, because we are being tested. And, in that test we have come to the end of ourselves. And, to us, Jesus speaks to us as to the disciples: “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
While in the storm, we do not have the faith to be like Jesus – nonplussed to confidently follow Him, whether facing hell or high water.
And, our Savior knows this. He then comes to our storms. He chooses to be with us in the middle of our storms. He doesn’t reject us. He is neither asleep nor indifferent to the storm we are facing. Actually, He faced our greatest storm in going to the cross for us. By that act of rescue, Jesus shuts up and muzzles every storm we face. He continues to reign and rule.
We can only have faith LIKE Jesus when we have faith IN Jesus. We can then do everything through Him who gives us strength. (Philippians 4:13) That is how we become nonplussed – rock solid to face any storm. Jesus is the object of our faith. To trust in Jesus, nothing bad can ultimately happen to the person who is with Him. •
— By Pastor Neil Stern
St. Peter’s Leduc