I Am Trusting You, Lord Jesus

Introduction: Watch the Experts Reaction

In order to know how to react, its important to watch how the expert reacts. Every parent of little kids knows this. The toddler is running. He stumbles and falls. And he looks right at you. Because he wants to know if he should cry or brush it off. How you react matters! So of course, most of the time, you laugh and make no big deal out of it and everything is fine. But the moment you gasp And rush in saying, “Are you aright?” The toddler will begin crying and screaming. Because he saw you react in that way.

We may smile as we think about how those toddlers act. But in reality, we do the same thing all the time. We are looking to the experts to help us figure out how to react. You go to the doctor and you hear them say a big word that sounds intimidating. And there are two options: You can watch how they are reacting to it. Or you can go to the “Online experts” on google. And you know what will happen if you just google everything, it will lead you to fear and worry. But you watch the doctor. And if they aren’t making a big deal out of it, then it’s probably a good assumption that it isn’t a big deal. But if they begin to make a big deal, then it is pretty clear that you need to take it seriously.

And to be honest, that’s what we do spiritually too. But we don’t always look to the expert, more than the Expert. We don’t always look to see what God has said about this situation or how he is dealing with it. In fact, we get upset, angry, we lose trust and act all afraid because we don’t think that God is acting in our lives.

So today we learn a good lesson from the life of our Savior. He teaches us to listen to him and to watch him. For he is in complete control and he is totally willing to help us. To say it how we speak today, God’s got this.

And through his Word, God creates the humble response in our hearts Just as the hymn writer penned, “I am trusting you, Lord Jesus.”

Our text today comes from Mark 4. Jesus had been teaching and performing miracles. And now that the day is over, he and his disciples get into a boat on the Sea of Galilee to cross over to the other side. Listen the IMark 4:35-41

Mark 4:35–41 (NIV)

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

I am trusting you, Lord Jesus, who is ready and willing to help.

Exposition: Jesus was tired. He knows exactly what it’s like to be exhausted. As truly human he knows that need of sleep, a great sleep, a sleep that can even sleep through the storms. After the day was over, the professional fisherman took him as he was in the boat and started to cross. And Jesus took the opportunity to try to rest. He truly was asleep. He wasn’t faking it. He’s fully human just like us. And as they were rowing and sailing, all of a sudden a great storm came up. A great windstorm sprung up.

This wasn’t unheard of for the Sea of Galilee. This was actually sort of common. Because the Sea was in a low valley with mountains around it, the wind would come rushing down and a storm would come up out of know where. And the people who would know that this was possible were in the boat with Jesus. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were all fisherman who fished the Sea of Galilee. They weren’t just hobby fisherman who would go out on a Saturday morning when they had the time. No, they had made a living from being fisherman, and in fact had done somewhat well for themselves. They knew the sea. They were familiar with boats. They would be the ones you would want in the boat when the storm hit because they would know what to do.

And remember, watching the expert helps us know how to react. How were those fisherman reacting? They were afraid! They were bailing water as fast as they could. They were scared for their lives because they knew that this kind of storm would cause them to lose their life!

If you were watching the scene from another spot on the boat, what would you think?You’d be afraid. At first, you’d be afraid from the storm and maybe it would be lessened as the professIona’s are there. But then, you’d be afraid as you saw them afraid, as you saw the boat fill with water. And when fear comes, worry, doubt, and terror set in.

And that is what happened with the disciples. Eventually when they realized that all their efforts were useless, they went over to Jesus, woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” There Jesus was sleeping in the boat and they could only think that he didn’t care that they were going to lose their life. They, the experts, were afraid and what was Jesus doing? He was sleeping! How could sleep during a great storm like that, with the boat filling with water and the wind and the waves crashing around. Didn’t he care?

You see, the disciples had their eyes on the wrong expert. They were looking to themselves. They really should have been looking to Jesus. They had heard him preach the gospel and the kingdom of God. They heard his promises that they would be fishers of men. They saw him drive out demons, heal the sick, and turn water into wine. There he was, at peace, sleeping in the middle of a great storm. They should’ve seen him and been confident that he was in control.

So Jesus gets up, and he rebukes the wind and waves like a bunch of little children and immediately the wind died down (or got tired) and it was completely calm ( a great calm.) Jesus got up and demonstrated his almighty power. He muzzled the storm, but it wasn’t a wrestling match. IT was the Creator controlling his creation. A great storm in an instant became a great calm. A sea of glass. Everything was at peace.

And Then looking at his disciples he says, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” And his question is what is probing! Why were they afraid! They had God’s promises. They were to be fishers of men, following Jesus to the cross. They were in their Savior’s hands. And they saw he reacted, not in fear, but a sharp rebuke To the wind and wave. But they were afraid. They were afraid that Jesus wanted to help or would help. But they still went to him. This question would be with them and take them back to his Word. And it’s those promises in God’s Word that help keep our eyes fixed on him. And his Word shapes our responses.

Application: This account is useful to us. For we are often in the disciples shoes and we are so like them. We face moments that make us afraid. And we look around in the world and see how people are reacting to the situation. And it causes us to be even more afraid and forgetful of or uncertain in God’s Word.

Our three great enemies want us to look at them. The devil comes to us and says, “Look at me. I’m a roaring lion ready to devour you. Be afraid of me.” And the damage and pain he brings to our life does make us afraid.

Death comes and says, “Look at me. No one has ever escaped me. Be afraid of me.” And we are afraid, it makes us cower.

Sin comes to you and says, “Be afraid of me. I will promise you pleasure but leave you broken, ashamed, guilty, and miserable. Be afraid of me.”

Then, poverty, affliction, trial, sorrow, suffering all clamor in and say, “Be afraid of me!” And we can be and are when they strike and our eyes go to the so called experts who try to get us to depend on ourselves. We take our eyes off Jesus.

But where we need to look is Jesus. The problem is we are like the disciples. They, like us, didn’t doubt Jesus ability to help. I don’t think any of you here, like me, would doubt that Jesus could help in our dilemmas. I think all of us here would readily admit, Jesus is more than able to help. They, like us, doubted that Jesus was willing to help or would help. Isn’t that how we can feel too? We doubt that Jesus cares. And so in the midst of our trial we cry out, “God don’t you care!”

And God’s response is so clear. He does care. He demonstrated it in the most powerful way. Not in stopping a storm in the Sea of Galilee. But at the cross 2,000 years ago, when our Savior took our sin and drove away our fears and our doubts and any temptation to think that God doesn’t care. He died so that you would live. He died and rose so that you would have eternal life! He’s got his foot on the devil’s neck Crushing the serpent. He burst the gates of death. And he’s removed sin. And when suffering comes, he’s powerful to save and present with you. There is nothing to fear.

So when those questions come up. You know the answers! Can God help? Yes. Will God help? He already has. Is God willing to help? Look at his Son on the cross and know what he has given up already to help you! So instead of asking, “God, don’t you care?” Jesus leads us to say, “I am trusting you Lord Jesus. You are with me all the time. You are ready and willing to help.”

Through his Word, we are filled up with confidence. Through his promises we hear that God is always with us even in the trials and afflictions. He will help us even when it doesn’t seem like it. Today’s readings really highlight that. Job who lost it all and was restored. The disciples who witnessed a miracle. But then Paul, who was shipwrecked. God didn’t stop the storm there. Instead, Paul and the companions had to ride it out.

in 2 Corinthians 6, Paul gives a little insight into what it was like for him. He mentions all these really hard things that he went through. He doesn’t speak those things to say, “Woe is me. God didn’t help.” But rather, If God had not been on our side.. If God had not been there, it would have been worse. If Jesus had not been in the boat, the disciples would have perished.

And for you, think about your life If God’s Grace had not been there.

When a loved one died, instead of hope, it would be hopeless.

When sins of your youth or past life flair up, despair and regret weigh your heart down like a brick.

Isolation is a big issue right now, and many Americans are lonely, if God had not called you into a family of believers, where you be?

If God had not been on your side, where would you find meaning in life? In stuff that fades away?

So when we are tempted to ask with the disciples, “God, don’t you care?” Keep your eyes on Jesus and think, “If God had not been on my side.” And when you doubt if God is on your side, Go to the cross and see it. Go to his Word and hear his promises made certain in his resurrection. Hear him say that no matter what happens to you in this life, it will be worked for your eternal good.

Conclusion: Watch and Listen to the Expert who will hold you in his hands.

We are no different than toddlers who need constant reassurance. And like a toddler who knows to look to his parents, you know where to look. To your Savior. To listen to him. And know that as The Expert of this world and universe, he will help you. His word will point you to his promises, his power, his willingness and grace to act. His Word will show you that he cares and it will leave you with one reaction, a simple but joyful confession: I am trusting you, Lord Jesus. Amen.