Stormy Weather

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!”

What do we learn from this account in the Gospels?

I want to show you three very important lessons that can have an immediate impact on your life right now!

Christians will have stormy weather

Mark 4:35–37 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.

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As Christians we cannot expect for every thing to be smooth on our journey to Heaven

Storms not only happen in our lives when we disobey, like Jonah. They also happen when we obey, just like the disciples.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: The Servant Conquers! (Mark 4:35–5:43)

Did Jesus know that the storm was coming? Of course He did! The storm was a part of that day’s curriculum. It would help the disciples understand a lesson that they did not even know they needed to learn: Jesus can be trusted in the storms of life.

How do you react when life gets messy for you?

How would your attitude change if in the middle of the storm, Jesus told you that its OK because He knows you are in a storm and that He is with you in the storm?

This is how a christian can react differently than a non beleiver: Peace in the middle of a Storm.

REMEMBER: No Storm is permanent-all of them come and go. ALSO...

Jesus is the Son of Man and the Son of God

Mark 4:38–39 NIV

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.

We see Jesus’ humanity in his fatigue-his body is just like ours:

it gets hungry, it gets tired and it needs sleep.

There is nothing you and I experience in this world that Jesus did not expereince as well.

We can have comfort in knowing that in any situation He cam sympathize because he heas expeienced it too.

We see that Jesus is human, but he is also God!

Specifically, He was the creator!

John 1:1–3 NIV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

If he is the creator, this means he also is the controller.

When he said to the Sea and the wind and the waves “Quiet! (Peace) Be still!

What happened? there was complete peace! From raging waves to a sheet of glass!

So when we say that Jesus is with us, we can know that this is significant because he cntrols all creation, including every man woman child, rock terr situation, issue disease, pain relationship, job, etc.

But eventhough he is God and we are so sinful and weak in faith...

Jesus is patient when we panic

mk 4 40-41

Mark 4:40–41 NIV

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!”

We see ourselves here in the thoughts and actions of the disciples, don’t we?

Weak faith, giving in to the worst fears (were gona die! but Jesus is in the same boat!)

They forgot Jesus’ miracles.

We ignore the Word of God and all its witness to us of the truth of Jesus.

We act as if Jesus is weak or worse, he isn’t real or if he is real, he is not paying attention to our peril.

But what is his reaction?

As his children he does not punish us or pour out the wrath in us that we deserve.

Rather

He is patient and gentle.

ps 103

Psalm 103:13 NKJV

As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

Expository Thoughts on Mark Mark 4:35–41: Storm on the Sea of Galilee Miraculously Calmed

He does not deal with believers according to their sins, nor reward them according to their iniquities.

He sees our weaknesses, is aware of our faults, knows our short comings yet bears with us through them all.

He loves us to the end and his love knows no boundaries.

We learn that storms will come.

We learn that Jesus can sympathise with us through storms and whats more can overcome our storms.

We learn that Jesus never gets fed up with our weaknesses, but loves us enough to give us opportunities to grow our faiths.

The quality of our faith is more important to him than our comfort, and one day we will thank him for the storms he used to strengthen our faiths.

Take this with you...

Three lessons:

We learn that storms will come.

We learn that Jesus can sympathise with us through storms and whats more can overcome our storms.

We learn that Jesus never gets fed up with our weaknesses, but loves us enough to give us opportunities to grow our faiths.

Remember:The quality of our faith is more important to him than our comfort, and one day we will thank him for the storms he used to strengthen our faiths.

When your faith is weak, Jesus will treat you the same way He treated the disciples.

Because He does not change.

We are commanded to treat our bothers and sisers the same when they are weak.

With Patience and compassion.

We have to learn that our weakness can be turned to strength when we turn to Jesus.