He Calms Our Storms

Mark 4:35-41

Introduction

How many of you remember the beautiful story of the Prodigal Son in the Bible?

Luke 15:11–14 “11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.”

The Prodigal realized quickly that all he had was fair weathered friends. Life was a party until the money ran out. And if we had continued reading and you know the story, he was without anything. All was lost.

The reality is that life can be that way can it not? We wonder where everyone is when the going gets tough.

Let’s face it, life has its twists and turns. In fact, God’s word reminds us of that important principle.

Matthew 5:45 “45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

But far too many times we forget that is in the Bible. Oh my goodness brothers and sisters, our very own Lord and Savior had to experience scourgings, beatings, ridicule, being spit upon, and ultimately the cross and death and we get bent out of shape if our modern-day prosperity gospel is not working for us.

We can be just like Job’s friends in wondering why Job must have been dealing with the hardships and tribulations he is experiencing. He must be doing something wrong. We can even be guilty of asking Lord, what have I done wrong that my world is falling apart?

We will all learn that a true test of our faith is how we respond in our Christian walk when calamity faces us. Our true colors show in such times.

We continue this morning in our study of the book of Mark.

These last few weeks we have addressed the parables and this morning we look at the first miracle of Jesus being God over nature. We study the first of two nature miracles this morning and specifically, Jesus shows compassion for human need. And...Jesus shows His authority over the inanimate part of creation.

Interestingly, we study a miracle where Jesus’ disciples are terrified over a life/death situation or so they thought and Jesus teaches them a life changing lesson.

Turn in your Bibles this morning with me to Mark 4:35-41.

Mark 4:35-41

Mark 4:35–41 NKJV

35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Prayer

Message

1. There is a Certain Reality That Our Circumstances Are Going to Change VV. 35-37

Oh dear friend, there is one constant in life and that is change. It is inevitable isn’t it? By this point in time in our study of Mark, Jesus public ministry was in full bloom. Jesus had been in the boat looking back up on the hillside teaching countless followers in the form of parables that we have discussed over these prior weeks. Jesus had healed many at this point and as they gazed at Him in the boat they were in simple awe of Jesus, the God-Man.

Are you in awe of Jesus? You should be. Do you really understand what this God-man named Jesus is all about? The disciples had been called by Him, followed Him, ministered with Him, ate with Him, traveled with Him and they did not understand who Jesus was.

Look with me at the first verse of the gospel of Mark to understand what Mark is conveying about Jesus:

Mark 1:1 “1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

John 1:1–3 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

Jesus is God incarnate. Messiah means that He is Prophet, Priest and King and He fulfills all of those roles in our lives respectively.

If you do not grasp anything else I say this morning, you need to realize that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

His word says that “when you have seen the Father, you have seen me.”

John 14:9 “9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

The Word Christ in the Greek is the word Christos-meaning the Messiah , the Anointed One.

All that to say, He is our answer for every aspect of life.

You might easily respond to me this morning and say, Brother Luke, that is so fundamental; yes, by all means we understand that.

Do you? Do you really understand that?

The disciples did not comprehend who Jesus really is.

Look with me at Mark 3:9-12.

Mark 3:9–12 “9 So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. 10 For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. 11 And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.”

Notice that the unclean spirits knew who Jesus was.

The disciples thought they had good understanding of who Jesus was

Here is the scene:

The disciples have slept with Jesus, eaten with Jesus, they have seen Jesus heal people, yet from what I gather in this story, at least up to this point in the story, they were fair weather believers.

Fair weather followers if you will.

They were going to witness a side of Jesus they had never seen.

Maybe you cannot relate to these disciples and their insecurity in this moment. They had mastered the sea up until this point. They had fished on the Sea of Galilee especially in the case of Peter & Andrew, James and John probably most of their lives. They had experienced squalls come up on the lake, but they had never seen weather that they experienced that particular night on the Sea of Galilee.

V. 35 “On the same day”

Do you realize that like these disciples your life can take a major shakeup within the same day that all is well. Further the scripture stated:

“when evening had come.”

We are talking about the day shifted from day to night and that is how it can be in our lives sometimes.

When I awakened out of surgery a few months ago to have a stent placed in my pancreas and Dr. Duggam shared with me in recovery, “you have pancreatic cancer.” I was no different than those disciples in that boat. Like those disciples, I’ve walked with the Lord 55 plus years of my life and was raised in the things of God before I accepted Him as Savior. I have preached the Word and Pastored churches over these last 27 years and I will admit I was terrified. When the best medical institution for Cancer in the world told me that I have moved from being curative to simply prolonging my life, I was shaking in my boots just like those disciples. I could have easily been the one on that boat that evening that said, “Lord, don’t you care that I am perishing.”

And your life is not different. You can receive a phone call-your child has been in a terrible accident, or you receive a Doctor’s report and you have state 4 cancer, you respond to a text while driving and you do not respond quick enough to someone in the road and you kill an innocent victim-a young child. Or, you engage with a conversation with your significant other and from the words conveyed in the conversation, your world has immediately turned upside down. Your life is now in shambles.

I have a close friend who has been selling mattresses in the Montgomery area for the last 40 years. He and I went to High School together and have remained friends all this time. His son went to summer break at the beach with friends and was given 20 years in prison for manslaughter-he killed someone in an accident because he was under the influence of alcohol.

As the story continues, Jesus and the disciples were completing a hard day of ministry and Jesus was tired and wanted rest.

Most times we see recorded that Jesus was up at night praying, but in Jesus’ humanity, this is the only occasion recorded in the Bible when Jesus needed rest and was sleeping.

The disciples pushed off from shore and are acting to the request of Jesus.

They embarked on the journey to cross over the Sea of Galilee and the trip would teach them a great truth.

Here is basically what the disciples said to Jesus without it being said.

“Jesus, go to sleep in the rear of the ship” and leave the navigating to us. We know every slough and shallow hump on this lake. We have grown up fishing this lake all of our lives and nothing will throw us a curve ball on this trip. Leave the boating to us.

The disciples are navigating and Jesus is sleeping in the rear of the boat.

The Sea of Galilee is 700 ft. below sea level. Surrounded by a mountain range you would know as the Golan Heights. The cool winds will come over the Golan Heights and swoop down on the warm seas and create great squalls. Literally, in less than minutes the weather can take a turn.

The weather on this particular evening got rough, and I mean real rough. Something rougher than the disciples had ever encountered.

I remind you that 4 of the 12 disciples made their livings on the sea. When white caps on the water were 5-8 feet, for those four it was like Sunday go to meeting. It was just like putting your pants on. No hill for stepper. 8 of the disciples would have needed barf bags and the 4 would be chewing tobacco in the rough stuff.

But, that was not the case on this night. White caps surrounded the boat. In fact, white caps were flooding the boat and the fear of sinking the boat was real. Let me make it as clear as I can, they were scared.

2. Christ Recited a Contract of Commitment V. 35

What they had failed to remember is that Christ had recited a contract of commitment.

In verse 35, read with me the words, “Let us cross over the other side.”

Jesus offered a beautiful promise to those disciples. They either did not catch His words or they failed to understand a very important truth:

I promise guys to get you to the other side, but I never told you would not encounter rough seas on your journey.

I can’t speak for you, but this life has been a blessed journey, but I will never say that I have not experienced some turbulence in my travels.

As we think about that reality, why storms? Why do we encounter trials and tribulation?

Well we all have been born into a fallen world and because of the adamic nature that resides in each of us, we all pay the price.

The Bible doesn’t provide us the source of the storm, but Jesus’ Words., “Peace be still”-means to be muzzled.

The same word was used in Mark 1:25 when Jesus told the demons to be quiet.

Mark 1:25 “25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!””

Some storms we encounter of our own doings. We have made poor choices and participated in bad actions. We do things that get us in trouble and we have to pay the price for our actions.

Isn’t this true for the life of Jonah? God said “Go!” Jonah said, “No!” God said “Woe!” Jonah said, “Oh!” Sometimes we cause our own storms.

Sometimes God sends the Storms. Why would He do that? Sometimes He does it to discipline us and draw us closer to Him.

This was the case when King David sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba and having her husband, Uriah the Hittite murdered.

Sometimes He does it to teach us to trust Him more deeply. This was the case with Job and all that he was forced to endure. When God sends the storm it is always to draw us closer.

Ill. Once there was a little boy who had a boat and he was sailing that boat out on a small pond. As he did, the boat got a little too far away from him. The boat was further away from shore than the boy was able to reach. So, the boy took some rocks and started throwing the rocks just on the other side of his little boat and as he did he created waves and each rock brought the boat just a little bit closer back to him. Eventually, it was so close that he was able to reach out and claim the boat.

Listen to Paul’s words on this matter:

Romans 5:3–4 “3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

God matures us in the storms. Storms are growing experiences in our relationship to Him.

Paul shared in another place in the Bible about a certain infirmity he was dealing with:

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 “9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Are we all in agreement to this point that in this life if we live long enough we are going to encounter storms? I want to make something crystal clear to you. Unless Jesus comes back this morning, there is a 1 out of 1 chance that the person sitting next to you on the pew is going to die.

There are many times in life that we will leave the multitudes as the disciples did on that evening as they set out on the sea. And...we travel into abyss, the dark unknowns of the seas of this life and we interpret that as if no one is with us.

I have lead in many funerals. It all happens so fast that the family, the spouse that is left hasn’t even comprehended the loss until after the visits, the cards, the trip to the funeral home, the visitation, the funeral, then the meal, and then the tail lights of family that leave and the spouse or closest loved one is all there by themselves.

Many of you have walked the journeys I am talking about this morning. Lost loved ones, health difficulties, some have lost a child here; others, financial duress, divorce, teens with addiction, or an addiction yourself. Life presents itself with a multiplicity of storms. We all face storms and dark days.

Commentators say that the other little boats were followers of Christ. But note: Christ was not in their boats. As I think about that I think many times we mistakenly get in the wrong boats of this life. We get in the boats of attorneys or the boats of accountants, or the Psychologist, we journey in the health boats of the specialists, we surround ourselves with family in the boat, friends, or simply that boat where you just man up and face the gale winds on your own, and dearly beloved, they can all be good boats at times, but they are not the best boat. Is Jesus in your boat this morning? And let me explain what I am really asking.

Jesus was in the rear of the boat asleep. He was out of sight, out of mind. I love boating and some of the things in my boat are helpful but they are out of sight, out of mind sometimes is the fire extinguisher or the throw ring to save someone if they fall overboard. Is Jesus your fire extinguisher or throw ring, or is He the one that is the captain and controlling the boat from the driver’s seat of your life?

Notice the placement of Jesus and the predicament of the disciples.

V. 36 “they took Him along.”

Proverbs 16:18 “18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Why did I share this text?  They had an unhealthy confidence about their profession, their livelihood.  “Jesus, I need you for 1 hour on Sunday, but I do not need you in my livelihood.”  “Lord, I need you at choir practice, but I know how to raise my kids.”  “Lord, I need you during my 10 min. devotional, but my marriage is rock solid.”   And the list goes on…”

Now let me ask you an important question. Without any hands raised, can you relate to any of those statements?

If you are honest with yourself this morning and we would define your mindset as a compartmentalized Christian meaning there are compartments of trust in your life you have never turned over to Christ, you can call Him Lord.

For you see, when we call Him Lord, we mean He is Lord over everything. Have you made Jesus Lord over everything in your life?

Oh listen dear church, when we exhibit compartmentalized Christianity which is not Christianity at all and life really gets tough, we turn to everyone and everything but our Lord and Savior.

Or, we live the other extreme and that is the only time we call on Jesus.

I remind you that Jesus Christ made a contract of commitment to those disciples and He does the same for us today, “Let us go to the other side.”

3. Christ Revealed His Control Over Creation V. 39

I remind you that through the raging storm Jesus was asleep in the stern of the boat. Jesus’ posture reveals the peace and rest we find in Christ Jesus.

In Jesus’ own words, listen to His counsel for us:

John 14:27 “27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Matthew 11:28–30 “28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””

Matthew 6:25–34 NKJV

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Paul writes to the church at Philippi:

Philippians 4:6–7 “6 Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.”

Have you ever considered that Jesus appears to be asleep in our lives because we never call on Him?  I wonder if our lack of attention to Jesus lulls Him to sleep?

Do you believe the disciples were guilty of that because they placed Jesus in the rear out of the way of the main activity in their lives at that moment?

This scene paints a portrait of the need Jesus supposedly fulfilled in the lives of the disciples especially in the area of maritime travel. 

And then guess what, let’s see how the Lord responded.   When they came and shook Him and asked Him the question, “do you not care that we are perishing?” 

He stood up and simply said, “Peace be still” and as I shared before He muzzled the storm.

Church, many of us have heard this story numerous times, but do you really understand the revelation these disciples had?  “Who is this that even the winds and the waves obey Him?”

They thought they knew who they were in the boat with, but they didn’t.  They were very fearful that night as the storm was raging that they might die.   They came to greater fear as they realized they were in the presence of God Himself, Jesus. A much stronger fear emerged as they encountered a reverential fear of being in the presence of deity. They finally got it, Jesus held them in the palm of His hands.

Let me ask you an important question this morning?  Are you a fair weather follower or a compartmentalized Christian that renders just a token part of your life, or have you entrusted you very all with Him?  Do you really understand that we aren’t talking about an individual to just bestow stories of moral direction and share a small part of your environment to come and draw encouragement and warm fuzzy’s over?  Jesus, is the Christ, the Son of God and He loves you.  He cares about your life.  He wants to take control of your life and be the captain of your life journeys.  He desires to direct you away from storms, or to be with you in the storm.

There is a song by Ray Boltz entitled “The Anchor Holds.”

I have been young But I am older now And there has been beauty These eyes have seen

But it was in the night Through the storms of my life Oh, that's where God proved His love to me

The anchor holds Though the ship's been battered The anchor holds Though the sails are torn

I have fallen on my knees As I faced the raging seas The anchor holds In spite of the storm

Have you ever surrendered your life to Christ? He wants to be Lord of your life, your totality of your life. Maybe this morning you realize you have been a compartmentalized Christian and you want to offer Him your all today. Maybe you want to join this body of believers today. Lord, Your will be done in this invitation time.

Let’s pray.