Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Introduction: “Why are you so Afraid?”
Response to Fear:
Fight or flight
Freeze: Shakespeare: “Extreme fear can neither fight nor fly.”
Boat:
Fight?
Fists up!
Flight?
Jumping out of the boat isn’t really an option.
Freeze:
In a frozen voice: WHO IS THIS GUY?
Is this guy safe to be around?
Jesus picks this up and asks the question: “Why are you so afraid?”
The storm is gone.
The sea is calm… But the disciples are actually more terrified staring at Jesus then they were facing death in the storm!
“Why are you so afraid?” is the question we will wrestle through this morning:
Part I: Why are you So Afraid?
Part I: “Why are you so Afraid?”
Mark 4 begins with Jesus teaching beside the sea.
- Such a large crowd that he has to get into a boat as a stage.
Parable of the Sower
Parable of a Lamp under a basket
Parable of the Growing Seed
Parable of the Mustard Seed
Evening, Jesus comes up with the idea: “Let us go across the other side.”
v. 37: MEGA Storm came swooping in
Waves broke over the boat.
Boat: “Nearly swamped” with water
Where was Jesus?
Asleep on the stern.
Love this detail: “asleep on a cushion.”
“Teacher, do you not care what we are perishing?”
Quite the question, isn’t it?
“Teacher, savior who came to remove my sin and provide the way to eternal life… Do you not care that we are perishing?”
Most inappropriate question in the entire Bible!
“Peace!”
NOT “Shalom”
“Quiet!” “Silence!”
“Be still”
Word used to describe placing a muzzle over an animal.
“Put a muzzle on it!”
For those of you who have a barking dog:
Same deal: Stop it!
With your relationship with your dog, who’s in charge?
You “OWN” a dog!
Jesus owns this ferocious squall
Fascinating story up to this point:
Fear of death!
But this story forces us to take a look at the deep fears.
This is a story that helps steers us towards bigger ticket fears.
What are we made of when we face death itself...
This passage forces to put our big boy and girl pants on!
When the rubber hits the road, what will we do?
Will we experience silence from the stern below as abandonment?
Will we see Jesus calm in the storm as apathy towards our cause?
Will our cries to Jesus drip with accusations or with professions?
For example: Elizabeth Alexander:
Post from Nov 20, 2022: This weekend has felt dark and heavy for me.
As the beginning of chemo looms large tomorrow, my mind and heart have gone to dark places.
I've dreaded particular potential side effects and how I might physically feel this week.
I've pictured my precious little family without me in it - becoming a picture on the bookshelf or mantle, missing the moments, Caleb not remembering me as he gets older.
This is devastating and heavy to consider this possibility.
I know this is a natural fear, and it's not where my heart and mind need to rest long.
Cancer or no cancer, we are not guaranteed a tomorrow.
We are not guaranteed a tomorrow indeed!
Part II: “Have you still no faith?”
Connection between Fear and Faith
Mark 5:35-36 “35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead.
Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.””
That question is literally translated, You don’t yet have faith?
Similarities between Jonah and Mark 4
Jonah 1
II.
Similarities
Leaving ‘Safety Zone’ by Boat
- Leaving God’s land and heading out into Gentile territory.
- Tarshish=Spain
- Other side of the Sea of Galilee= Decapolis
Main ‘Character’ is Soundly Sleeping
- Jonah= trance
- Jesus= Sleeping on a pillow
- Only reference to Jesus sleeping in the Gospels!
Mega Storm
Jonah 1:4: God sent a GREAT Storm
‘Mega’ Storm
Divine intervention
- God sent the storm in Jonah
- But Jesus ‘exorcises’ the Sea
Mark 1.25: “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly.
“Come out of him!”
Mega Fear:
Jonah 1:5 “5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god.”
- “Feared a Great Fear”
- What do you think?
Mega fear!
More fear after the sea is calmed!
Sailers after the Miracle:
Jonah 1:16 “16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.”
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