Lord Over All

Opening:

There’s a lot of research out there but the general consciences is that the church in America has been on the decline for a number of years, but the church abroad is growing rapidly. There’s a growing category of people who identify as the “Nones” those who would claim no religion or not position on the matter so neither agnostic, or atheist but not christian or buddist. This growing population is the landscape into which we find ourselves planting Liberti Tampa.

There was some research done amongst the Mennonites a number of years back. Which I believe explains a little of where we are today in society. They looked a the faith of multiple generations of the same small sect of Christians and here’s what they found.

The First Generation Embraced the Gospel

The Second Assumed the Gospel

The Third Rejected the Gospel <- We are here

So we want to look at who Jesus is. Who is this Jesus and how does who he is affect us?

The Crossing 4:35-36, 5:1

The crossing of the Sea of Galilee signifies something new that Jesus was doing.

The gospel is not just for the Jewish People. Jesus brings the Kingdom to the Gentiles.

The region of Israel has changed since the time of the Exodus, East of the Jordan (Transjordan region) was Gentile occupied, an area known as the Decapolis, 10 cities

1. Damascus 2. Philadelphia 3. Raphana 4. Scythopolis 5. Gadara 6. Hippos 7. Dium 8. Pella 9. Gerasa 10. Canatha

Jesus has been talking about the Kingdom of God, through his parables. And in 4:10 he mentions that “they may indeed see but not perceive, may indeed hear but not understand, let they should turn and be forgiven.”

And so, by crossing the sea of Galilee and going to the gentiles, Jesus is bringing the good news to those who have been outsiders, and who God is going to give eyes to see and ears to hear.

Its interesting to note, that at the end of his teaching of parables, as evening begins, He leaves the crowds, and at his arrival he the first of the gentile crowds come to him.

The Chaos 4:37, 5:3-5

Both Jesus’ trip to the Gerasenes (Gar-A-scenes) and his arrival there are met with chaos.

First his trip to the gentiles was met with natural resistance.

Storm. Sea of Galilee gets random wind storms based on location/ West mediterranean Sea/ Dessert. In a valley.

The surface of the Sea of Galilee is seven hundred feet below sea level, making it the lowest freshwater lake on the earth

Storm comes in the middle of the night. Dark. Dangerous.

27’ boat. Not large, may all 12 disciples were there on this boat.

Seasoned Fishermen, who fished at night for a living, were terrified for their lives.

Secondly his arrival to the gentiles was met with supernatural resistance.

Jesus has been met with demonic conflict before.

But what we will see here is that this demonic force is chaotic, destructive, untamed.

The first demon Jesus cast out was in a man who was in the synagogue. Tamed, manageable.

This man is living among the dead, as if dead.

“No one could bind him. Remember the “strong man” analogy Jesus uses in CH 3, Here is a real life example of the strong man.

In both of these situations, terror and death seem to be imminent. It would appear that these are forces that are beyond control and beyond hope.

There is a great false teaching that is prevalent in the church today that would lead many to doubt and weakness, possibly leading them to doubt their salvation or want to reject it.

This is the false idea and teaching of suffering.

There is no greater fallacy than to imagine that the moment a man is converted and becomes a Christian, all his problems are solved and all his difficulties vanish. The Christian life is full of difficulties, full of pitfalls and snare. That is why we need the scriptures. -Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones

The Cry 4:38, 5:6-7

So what happens when we are overwhelmed and overcome?

We turn to Jesus, we run to Jesus

It feels as though some, not a lot, but some time has passes where the storm is getting out of control and the men have reached a point where they don’t know what else to do.

During this time of trouble, Jesus is not helping keep the boat afloat, bringing down the main sail, or helping to rid the boat of water, Jesus is asleep, on a cushion in the rear of the boat.

Some commentators think that the storm was not as random as it appeared, that in fact both of these encounters are examples of a heavenly battle that is occuring. That the storm was demonic.

Calvin said this:

Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Matthew 8:23–27; Mark 4:35–41; Luke 8:22–25)

First, it is certain that the storm which agitated the lake was not accidental: for how would God have permitted his Son to be driven about at random by the violence of the waves? But on this occasion he intended to make known to the apostles how weak and inconsiderable their faith still was. Though Christ’s sleep was natural, yet it served the additional purpose of making the disciples better acquainted with their weakness- John Calvin

So the question is, when our faith is tested, to whom will we turn? Will we turn and become our own functional savior or will we turn to the only one who can save us, who can speak peace to the storm, the one who can save to the uttermost.

The Casting 4:39a, 5:8-14

We turn to Jesus, not to ourselves, not to society, or governments, nothing else can bring true redemption, true hope, true deliverance.

Look at 39a, Jesus wakes up from his sleep. (Which to note was well earned after preaching all day)

This also speaks to his humanity, but we’ll address that another week.

He awakes and he rebukes the wind and speaks peace to the waves.

You should try this. The next hurricane...

We turn to Jesus in our helplessness because he is actually the only one who can save us. He’s the one who has the power, he’s the one who spoke this world perfectly into existence, and he’s the one we turn to.

He also speaks peace to the man with the demons

In V8-14 Jesus is dealing not just with one demon, but with a legion of demons

Roman Legion: 6,000 men + 120 Horses

AKA a large number

The havoc that these demons were reeking on this man is incalculable.

Spiritual warfare is real, and I have to be honest, outside of the continent of Africa, I have not hear of more instances of Spiritual warfare than here in Tampa.

These demons knew not just who Jesus was but what their fate was going to be. They begged to be cast into the pigs near by which were a food source for both the gentiles and their roman overlords.

Any they run into the sea.

The Strong man has been bound and he has been delivered.

One thing that i’ve heard from people who’ve I’ve approached with the gospel is that they are too far gone, that they are unredeemable. They’re too broken, corrupted, sinful. Friends, there is no one beyond the reach of Jesus.

The Calm 4:39b-40, 5:15

What does this casting out do? It brings peace.

The Winds stop, not a zephyr, the sea is calm, like glass.

The man with Legion, is sitting down in his right mind.

The Bible calls Jesus the Prince of Peace.

We are always searching for something so many if not all of us, are searching for peace, we pursue success, and wealth hoping that it brings us peace, we pursue relationships hoping that it fills the void in our lives, this next generation is pursuing fame hoping that that will bring about all their hearts desires. Ultimately we want peace, the peace of security, the peace of love, the peace, of rest. We want peace, but we look for it in other places. Jesus is true peace.

The Cowering 4:41, 5:16-17

It’s the reactions to Jesus’ miracles that I think we really need to look at because it’s communicating something about who he is.

Mark 4:40–41 (TNTC Mk): In spite of their lack of faith, Jesus calmed the storm with a word. But the disciples, inconsequentially, still feared; Despite seeing this man that brought chaos to their land, these people wanted nothing to do with Jesus. For those who see and do not perceive, for those who hear and do not understand all they want is a friendly, familiar, human Jesus, not a supernatural Son of God.

Application:

Let me leave you with this. As we consider these things. Why was Mark writing this to us, why did he include this in this writings? I think the answer is at the end of each of these narratives.

What will you do with Jesus? This Jesus, the sovereign over the winds and waves Jesus, the casting out of demons Jesus, the one who claims to be God, that Jesus. We cannot simply look at Jesus as a historical figure who’s existence is inconsequential on your life, or the life of your neighbor or coworker, or your children. “Who is this who even the wind and waves obey?” You have to at the very least ask that question, and approach it with intellectual honesty.

Secondly, are you allowing the discomfort or inconvenience of material or relational loss to blind you from honestly dealing with the truth claims of Jesus. The the pig farmers didn’t want to deal with who Jesus was because they were so distracted by their losses. If Jesus is the Son of God, as Mark is trying to over and over again communicate, that truth has eternal implications that we must deal with now.

Since Jesus is the Son of God and this testimony is true, then what is in this book as major significance for your life today and your eternal future. My hope, my prayer, is that you would trust and believe it.

Benediction:

Because the one who is Lord of All, has power over the wind and waves, over the power of hell, I charge you therefore in the name of Jesus to repent and believe the gospel, for it is power of salvation for all who would believe.

English Standard Version Chapter 13

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.