Fear or Faith? Jesus’ Authority Pt. 1

Introduction

Anakin Skywalker. . .

Great potential, great power, great talent.

Master Yoda

Jedi’s could not get married because any attachment could lead to the darkside.

Must have a single-minded devotion to serving the republic. . . relational attachments could lead to fear of losing loved ones.

“Fear is the path that leads to the darkside” -yoda.

Anakin did not submit to or trust in his master.

He pursued a relationship with Padme. . .

When confronted with this, Anakin forsook faith in his master and gave into fear of losing Padme. . . and they were secretly married.

Instead of peace and prosperity. . . it led to chaos, disorder, and destruction. . .. and eventually, the Darkside of the force.

In his anger, he ended up killing Padme, the love of his life, and the one he was afraid to lose.

How do we respond when our lives are turned upside down?

How do we reply to others when we are stressed and overwhelmed?

How do we react when we are faced with a dilemma or a decision that seems contrary to our desires?

Like Anakin, I think we are prone to revert to fear instead of faith.

We are susceptible to doubt the teachings of our master, Jesus, and instead of submitting to and trusting in him, we trust in our own authority to make things right.

The disciples faced the same dilemma in Mark 4:35, when a great windstorm came upon them.

When their lives were turned upside down. . . would they respond in fear or in faith?

Key Point: Jesus’ authority to bring peace to the storm reveals his identity as God and provides grace to remove our fear and replace it with faith.

In the next four stories, Mark examples of Jesus’ authority over nature, demons, sickness, and death.

We will look at those first two stories this week and next. . .

So tonight, in Mark 4:35-41, there are three themes I want us to look for and see:

Jesus’ Authority. . . specifically over nature.

Fear

Faith

Jesus’ Authority Over Nature (4:35-41)

Jesus’ Authority (v. 35-36)

Read v. 35-36

Mark 4:35–36 ESV

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.

Jesus is the one who initiates this journey to the other side of the sea of Galilee.

After teaching his disciples about the Kingdom of God and the need to depend upon him, he wanted to test his disciples to see if they would be both doers and hearers of his word.

In his omniscience, he knew a storm would come, and this would be the perfect test for his disciples to see if they would have fear because of the storm or have faith in him.

“Christ’s service do not exempt his servants from storms.” -JC Ryle

Read v. 37-38

Mark 4:37–38 ESV

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

Jonah Excursus: Now, this passage in Mark is very similar to the story of Jonah. . .

Jonah 1:4–6 ESV

4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

Jonah 1:11 ESV

11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous.

But the difference is that Jonah was running away from the Lord and Jesus was bringing people to God. . . remember this connection as we will see how Jesus fulfills what Jonah could not do. . .

The “Great” Storm (v. 37)

Jesus’ Authority (v. 38a)

The gospels demonstrate Jesus is both fully God and fully man (he was asleep).

Look at the details Mark gives from Peter’s eyewitness testimony. . .

It was evening (v. 35), there were other boats with him (v. 35), Jesus was in the stern asleep on a cushion (Only Mark points out this detail).

These details had nothing to do with the story. . . why would these details be given if this story was made up?

See the “but” that contrasts the great windstorm with Jesus at peace asleep on a cushion. He was not afraid of the storm.

Jesus is not affected by the outward circumstances of life because he perfectly trusted in the Father who kept his mind in perfect peace.

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

The Disciples’ Great Fear (v. 38b)

In contrast to Jesus, the disciples were afraid of the storm.

The disciples were incapable of calming the storm. . . its strength was too great for them.

Key on this theme, it will come up in our other story as well. . .

They doubted Jesus’ love and care for them and had rejected the teaching he just gave them on the Kingdom of God and their need to depend on and trust in him.

They took their eyes off Jesus and placed them on their circumstances.

We are often tempted to doubt Jesus’ love and care for us when our lives are turned upside down.

Read v. 39-42

Mark 4:39–41 ESV

39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Jesus’ Authority (v. 39-41)

Jesus demonstrates that he does love and care for the disciples in their distress through calming the storm.

Jesus does not treat us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:13).

He bears with us, is patient with us, continues to have mercy and compassion on us despite our sin and faithlessness.

Sometimes he does not immediately calm our “storms” when we want to. . . but wants to test us to see how we will respond.

He rebukes (muzzles) the sea and calms the wind with the power of his word.

Notice the “great windstorm” was made into a “great calm” by Jesus.

The wind and the waves obey Jesus and submit to his authority.

The same Word that created the wind and the waves at creation is the same word that has the power to subdue them on the boat.

The wind and the waves listen to his voice because they know their master.

Jesus makes himself equal with God, performing works that only God can do (HANDS)

Psalm 107:28–29 ESV

28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

The Disciples’ Fear (v. 39-41)

Jesus gives a mild rebuke to the disciples and asks them why they are afraid. . . which implies they have no reason to be scared. . . because they should have faith in him.

The word “afraid” means “coward” or one who lacks confidence.

The disciples did not have confidence in Jesus.

The disciples respond to Jesus calming the storm with “great fear” instead of “great faith.”

The storm made them afraid. . . but Jesus’ actions filled them with greater fear. . . they were more in awe of Jesus than the great windstorm.

“The presence of God is far more frightening than the most destructive forces of nature. One can take your life. the other can claim your soul.” -Danny Akin

They questioned in their hearts how Jesus could command the winds and seas if he was just a man.

After listening to his teaching and seeing his miracles. . . they were still unsure of Jesus’ identity.

The identity of Jesus is an issue that we all must settle.

Notice that Mark contrasts the storm with the disciples.

The storm responded by submitting to Jesus’ authority. . . and when it did, there was great peace.

All of creation submits to the authority of Jesus except his disciples. . . except people made in his image.

Mark contrasts the submission of nature with the rebellion of the human heart.

Demonstrates the fickleness of the human heart.

Application:

Mark wanted his audience to be reminded of the authority of Jesus and to trust him in the midst of the wind and waves of their persecution. . .

. . .and for us, it is the same.

We should not doubt Jesus’s love and care for us even as it seems like the “waves are crashing in on us” but know Jesus has all power and authority over our enemies to help us in their time of need.

Response

Our hearts are fickle and fearful, but Jesus’ faith is perfect and steadfast.

Jesus is our savior and representative.

remember, He had perfect peace on the boat

He lived a perfect life of faith in every part that we failed.

He died for our sin and imperfect faith on the cross.

This ties Jesus back to Jonah. . . “something greater than Jonah is here.” (Matt. 12:41).

He is the true Jonah who was consumed by the sea of God’s wrath as he hung on the cross. . . He endured the storm so we could find peace and be saved.

Jesus calmed the only storm that could drown us, God’s wrath and judgment. . . he went down in the storm only to emerge three days later as the one who stilled the just and righteous wrath of God against sinners.

He rose from the grave, conquering sin and death, and now sits at God’s right hand interceding for us.

We must submit to and trust in Jesus because he has all authority over the storms of our lives. (Submit to and Trust in Jesus)

We cannot conquer the storms of our life in our own strength. . . we need the one who is greater. . . who is stronger.

We must relinquish all control. . . and submit to King Jesus.

“Where else can we go Lord. . . only you have the words of eternal life! (John 6:68)

If I have time. . . personal story of trusting God with my desire for marriage.

“There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out all fear” (1 John 4:18).

Jesus Brings Peace, Even in the Storm.

Mark Contemporary Significance

The miracle of the storm does not teach us how to endure adversity patiently

Mark Contemporary Significance

One cannot expect a miraculous intervention that will calm all the storms in life. Storms are a part of life from which no one escapes. There are no stormless seas, and all sailors must learn to expect the unexpected

This story helps us to learn to trust in Jesus who does not deliver us from storms but through the storms.

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:6–7 ESV

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

We must not have great fear, but instead, we must have great faith, for Jesus can bring great peace even in the midst of a great storm.

If time permits, close with the story of schadrach, meschach, and abendago.