Peace in the Chaos: Advent Week 2

Introduction – When Life Feels Like a Storm

Have you ever noticed how life can shift from calm to chaos in a matter of moments?

One phone call, one diagnosis, one loss—and suddenly the waves rise, and the winds roar. You thought you were sailing peacefully along, but then a storm hits that you never saw coming.

That’s where we find the disciples in Mark 4. They weren’t doing anything wrong. They were following Jesus—literally obeying His command to “go to the other side.” Yet obedience didn’t spare them from the storm.

That’s important for us to hear today. Being close to Jesus doesn’t mean we’ll never face storms. But it does mean we’ll never face them alone.

Mark 4:35–41 NIV

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 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?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

The Storm Rises (vv. 35–37)

After a long day of teaching by the sea, Jesus turns to His disciples and says, “Let us go across to the other side.” Exhausted, He gets into the boat, and they set sail across the Sea of Galilee. Then suddenly—without warning—a furious storm breaks out.

Now, storms on the Sea of Galilee were nothing new. The sea sits nearly 700 feet below sea level, surrounded by mountains and valleys that act like wind tunnels. Storms can appear out of nowhere, and even seasoned fishermen can be caught off guard.

This was one of those storms. Mark says the waves were breaking over the boat so that it was nearly swamped. These are men who made their living on the water, and yet even they were terrified. That’s how bad it was.

And where is Jesus? “Asleep on a cushion.”

That detail says everything. He’s not pacing the deck. He’s not panicking. He’s asleep—resting fully in His Father’s care. It’s not that Jesus doesn’t know what’s happening; it’s that He’s at peace even in the storm.

The Savior Sleeps (v. 38)

The disciples can’t take it anymore. They wake Him up with one of the most honest questions in all of Scripture: “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re perishing?”

That’s a question many of us have asked. When life falls apart—when the diagnosis is bad, when the prayers go unanswered, when peace feels impossible—our hearts cry out, “Lord, don’t You care?”

But here’s what we learn from this moment: Jesus’ calmness wasn’t carelessness. His peace wasn’t indifference—it was confidence.

He could rest because He knew who was in control. He trusted His Father’s will. He wasn’t ignoring the storm—He was above it.

What the disciples interpreted as indifference was actually an invitation: to trust the same peace that was keeping Him still.

The Power of His Word (v. 39)

Then Jesus stands and rebukes the wind and says to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And immediately, the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

The same voice that spoke creation into existence now speaks to the chaos—and the chaos obeys.

Mark uses the same language here that he used when Jesus rebuked demons. It’s as if the storm itself was under the influence of evil—an attack meant to shake their faith. But Jesus silences it with a word.

“Peace, be still.”

Those are not just words for the wind and the waves—they are words for every fearful heart. Jesus doesn’t just calm storms around us; He calms the storms within us.

Faith or Fear? (vv. 40–41)

Then Jesus turns to His disciples and asks, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

That might sound harsh at first, but it’s actually deeply revealing. The issue wasn’t the size of the storm—it was the size of their trust.

They had seen His power, heard His teaching, and witnessed His miracles. Yet when the storm came, fear replaced faith.

And before we judge them too harshly, we have to admit—we do the same thing. We trust God when the waters are calm, but when the winds start to blow, we panic and question His care.

Jesus wasn’t scolding them for waking Him—He was inviting them to wake up their faith.

Mark tells us that after the sea grew calm, the disciples were “filled with great fear.” Literally, “they feared a great fear.” They were in awe—not of the storm, but of the One who commands it. “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Their terror was replaced with wonder. Their panic was replaced with worship. That’s what happens when you encounter the Prince of Peace.

Peace in the Chaos

Peace isn’t the absence of storms; it’s the presence of Christ in the middle of them. The disciples wanted calmer circumstances. Jesus wanted deeper faith.

We spend so much of our lives praying for God to change our situation when He’s trying to change our hearts.

The same Jesus who calmed the storm that night is with you today. You might not see Him, but He’s in your boat. You might not hear Him, but He’s not asleep on you—He’s sovereign over you.

And sometimes, before He stills the storm around us, He speaks peace into our hearts first.

The Prince of Peace doesn’t always remove the chaos—but He always reigns over it.

Next Steps – Be Still

When Jesus said, “Peace, be still,” He wasn’t just speaking to the wind and waves. He was speaking to every anxious, fearful heart that would ever face a storm.

Whatever chaos you’re in today—whatever waves are threatening to overwhelm you—hear His voice: “Peace, be still.”

Peace isn’t found in the absence of problems. Peace is found in the presence of Christ.

And when you know who’s in your boat, you can face any storm with faith instead of fear.

Listener Notes – “Peace in the Chaos” (Mark 4:35–41)

Theme: True peace comes not from calmer circumstances but from Christ’s presence. Advent Candle: Peace

Introduction – When Life Feels Like a Storm

Life can shift from calm to chaos in moments. Even when we follow Jesus, storms still come—but we never face them alone.

1. The Storm Rises (vv. 35–37)

The disciples obeyed Jesus and still encountered a sudden, violent storm.

Obedience doesn’t shield us from life’s chaos.

Jesus was asleep, fully at peace, resting in His Father’s care.

His rest reveals His perfect trust in the Father, even in danger.

2. The Savior Sleeps (v. 38)

The disciples cried out, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re perishing?”

Jesus’ calmness wasn’t indifference—it was confidence in God’s control.

What they saw as neglect was actually an invitation to trust.

Faith is not the absence of fear; it’s choosing trust in the middle of fear.

3. The Power of His Word (v. 39)

Jesus rebuked the wind and spoke, “Peace! Be still!”

Creation obeyed its Creator—His authority is absolute.

The same voice that calmed the sea still speaks peace to our hearts today.

Jesus not only stills the storm around us but also the storm within us.

4. Faith or Fear? (vv. 40–41)

Jesus asked, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

The issue wasn’t the storm—it was their trust.

When fear rises, faith fades; when faith rises, fear fades.

The disciples were filled with awe—turning fear into worship.

Peace comes when we recognize who Jesus truly is: the Lord over all creation.

Conclusion – Be Still

“Peace, be still” wasn’t just for the sea—it’s for every heart overwhelmed by fear.

Peace isn’t found in the absence of problems, but in the presence of Christ.

When you know who’s in your boat, you can face any storm with faith instead of fear.

Bibliography

Cooper, Rodney L. Mark. Vol. 2 of Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.

Dubos, Rene. Only One Earth: The Care and Maintenance of a Small Planet. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1972.

France, R. T. The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans; Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 2002.

Higgins, Thomas J. Perfection Is for You. Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing Co., 1953.

McKenna, David L., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. Mark. Vol. 25 of The Preacher’s Commentary Series. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982.

Woods, Ralph L., ed. World Treasury of Religious Quotations. Including Goethe, J. W. von. Faust (1790).

Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV) and New International Version (NIV).

Bible Study Companion – Peace in the Chaos

Text: Mark 4:35–41 Theme: True peace comes not from calmer circumstances but from Christ’s presence. Advent Candle: Peace

Day 1 – When the Storms Come

Read: Mark 4:35–37 Reflection: The disciples were obeying Jesus when the storm hit. They weren’t off course or disobedient—they were right where He told them to be. Yet they still faced waves that threatened to sink their boat. Following Jesus doesn’t mean smooth sailing; it means safe arrival. Sometimes God leads us through the storm so we can learn to trust His power, not our skill.

Word Study – “Great Windstorm” (Greek: λαῖλαψ μεγάλη / lailaps megalē): This phrase literally means “a violent whirlwind.” It describes not a passing breeze but a life-threatening storm. The disciples’ panic was natural—but Jesus’ peace was supernatural.

Application: When life’s storms hit, do you question God’s presence or cling to it? Ask the Spirit to help you see storms as opportunities to grow in faith rather than fear.

Prayer Prompt: “Lord, when storms rise suddenly, help me trust that You are still in control. Teach me to rest in Your presence, even when I can’t see the calm.”

Day 2 – The Peace of Christ

Read: Mark 4:38–39 Reflection: While the disciples panicked, Jesus slept. His rest wasn’t carelessness—it was confidence. He wasn’t ignoring the storm; He was resting in His Father’s will. When He spoke, “Peace, be still,” creation obeyed. The same voice that spoke galaxies into existence spoke calm into chaos.

Word Study – “Peace, be still” (Greek: Σιώπα, πεφίμωσο / siōpa, pephimōso): The first word means “Be silent.” The second literally means “Be muzzled.” Jesus speaks as one silencing a hostile power. His authority is total—whether over demons, disease, or storms.

Application: What storms in your life feel beyond your control right now? Speak Jesus’ words of peace over them. Trust that the One who commands the wind and waves can calm your soul.

Prayer Prompt: “Jesus, speak peace into my chaos today. Silence the voices of fear and help me rest in Your authority.”

Day 3 – Faith or Fear?

Read: Mark 4:40–41 Reflection: After calming the storm, Jesus asked, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Fear and faith can’t occupy the same space—they compete for our hearts. The disciples’ fear of the storm was replaced by a greater awe of Jesus. True peace comes when our reverence for Christ outweighs our fear of the circumstances.

Word Study – “Afraid” (Greek: δειλοί / deiloi): This word carries the idea of cowardice—shrinking back in fear. Jesus was not rebuking their emotion but their unbelief. Faith doesn’t eliminate fear—it redirects it toward awe-filled worship of God.

Application: Think of a time when fear silenced your faith. How might awe of Jesus—the One whom the wind and waves obey—restore your peace today?

Prayer Prompt: “Lord, increase my faith. Help me see Your power more clearly than I see my problems.”

Day 4 – Peace in His Presence

Read: Philippians 4:6–7 Reflection: Peace is not the absence of problems but the presence of Christ. Paul reminds us that the “peace of God” surpasses understanding—it guards our hearts and minds when we bring everything to God in prayer. When we rest in His presence, even the fiercest storm can’t shake us.

Word Study – “Peace” (Greek: εἰρήνη / eirēnē): Derived from the verb eiro, meaning “to join” or “to make whole.” God’s peace is not just calm feelings—it’s the restoration of wholeness that comes from being united with Him.

Application: In this Advent season, where do you need Christ’s peace to make you whole again? Invite His presence into that place of fear or unrest.

Prayer Prompt: “Prince of Peace, fill me with Your presence today. Make me whole where I am broken, and calm the storm within my heart.”

Optional Group Discussion / Reflection Questions

Why do you think Jesus allowed the disciples to experience the storm instead of preventing it?

How does Jesus’ peace differ from the world’s version of peace (John 14:27)?

What does this story reveal about the relationship between faith and fear?

How can believers today embody the peace of Christ in a chaotic world?

YouTube

Title: Peace in the Chaos – Advent Week 2 | Pastor Ryan

Description / Hook: Life can change in an instant. Storms arise when we least expect them, and fear often overwhelms even the strongest among us. But what if true peace isn’t about calmer circumstances, but about the presence of Christ in the midst of the storm?

Summary: In this message from Mark 4:35–41, Pastor Ryan explores the story of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. When the disciples panicked, Jesus slept, fully at peace in the Father’s care. Through this powerful account, we learn that peace is not found in the absence of danger, but in trusting the One who commands the wind and the waves. This Advent, let us discover the deep, abiding peace that comes only from Christ’s presence.

Scripture Reference: Mark 4:35–41

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