Growing faith in storms of life
Gospel of Mark: Jesus a life to serve • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 209 viewsDisciples learn more about faith in midst of a storm
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Storms of life
Storms of life
Have you ever felt totally alone, maybe abandoned in the worse times of your life. When there are trials, tribulations, storms going on and you know you don’t have any control over them? Storms are inevitable, storms on the Sea of Galilee were well known and came on quickly and violently at times, but still the storm in our story today brought fear to some seasoned fishermen. So as seasoned Christians when we know there are storms we will face, do we display fear or faith? Or is our faith grown in the storms growing out of the fear into the active faith in our Lord?
________________________________________________________
The disciples are about to be taught another lesson about faith. After all they had seen, heard, been a part of, still more to learn. The disciples wonder where is Jesus in the midst of their storm, today we will look at this passage at Jesus absence and Jesus presence in the midst of a storm.
_________________________________________________________
Though the disciples may have felt alone in the midst of the storm, they were not and we will see more on this as we work our way through the passage, we will see several things, miracle of Jesus walking on water, the miracle of Jesus calming the storm, the miracle of immediately fulfilling the promise made by Jesus, so it was a night of miracles, night of wonder, all this without Mark mentioning Peter walking on water which the other gospels cover at this point.
In Jesus absence
In Jesus absence
You may look at times in your life when you felt the absence of Jesus in your life. But that did not mean He was not with you. Though Jesus was not in the boat with the apostles this time, He is still seeing, still working for them. He still sees and works for us too, even when you don’t see.
Mk6:45-
45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. 46 After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.
47 When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land.
What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
Wonder why Jesus made them get in the boat immediately after feeding the 5000? (Mk6:44; Jn6:14-15, Jn6:17)
Could it be that because of the miracle caused a commotion that was could cause problems?
14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.
The crowd wanted to crown a king, they wanted king Jesus their way. The Apostles are being trained and tried, and they were not ready for this type of thing yet. They were still worldly thinking, too national, too political and not eternal.
Could it be because it was time for another faith lesson? They still needed to grow their faith to be prepared for the mission that was before them when He was gone.
Either way Jesus sent them on their way with a promise, here is the verse again, what is the promise?
45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away.
In John it says
17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
Jn
So they were alone, Jesus was not with them, but Jesus still knew what was going on.
So what was Jesus doing while they were going (v.46)? - Praying
Even in the midst of a busy time, sending apostles, returning apostles from mission trip, to recalling John the Baptist and feeding the crowd, they themselves did not have time to eat (Mk6:30-32) Jesus still made time to pray.
Make prayer a priority, Jesus did (Mk6:46; Mk1:35)
35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.
Jesus set an example of prayer, an example we would be good to follow (Col4:2).
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
So, here are the disciples rowing (v.47) and Jesus is praying, they in a working in a storm, He on a mountain. So how do these link and what can we learn from it? Glad you asked.
Jesus prays while we are working, we are working in a fallen world, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation (Php2:15) where we are working out our salvation (Php2:12) and abounding in the work of the Lord (1Cor15:58).
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
Here is the other verse I just mentioned
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
The disciples were working, toiling, laboring in the storms, we too are toiling in the work of the Lord in and through storms we may face.
Then we have Jesus on the mountain, praying. Today can you picture the Lord on mountain of the Lord (heaven) praying for us?
Jesus is our High Priest (Heb4:14-16); Jesus intercedes for us (Heb7:25; Rom8:34; 1Jn2:1)
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Do you ever feel like you are in a time of need? We can know, we can draw near with confidence knowing that Jesus knows, Jesus intercedes on our behalf even when we don’t know what to pray.
34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
Even when we may create the storm ourselves by sin.
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
So even in the absence of Jesus, physically to the apostles who are working, Jesus was still watching and working for them as He works for us too.
They had come from a spiritual high to a physical strain, many of our spiritual blessings are balanced out by burdens or battles. Previously Jesus was with them in the boat in the storm, this time He is not and He even led them them into the storm.
Jesus is growing them in them being called to have faith, before he was with them, provided the calm in the storm, now, with the same promise, to get to the other side, Jesus is absent but calls for them to have faith in Him. Live by faith, and in their case, row by faith.
While we are in the midst of this stormy world, as we work, labor, toil and it seems at times we may be about to sink, know that Jesus is with us and will intercede for us. In the darkest hour He will come to us and we will reach the shore!
The peace in Jesus presence
The peace in Jesus presence
While they were straining in the storm they were terrified and they cried out, but then with His presence comes peace. His presence brings peace to our lives to in the midst of our storms.
48 Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” 51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished,
Mk6:
52 for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
Have not really asked any real questions today from the scripture so how about now?
What did Jesus see (v.48)?
Jesus saw them straining at he oars (see’s us too when we strain)
Saw that the winds were contrary (see’s when the winds of this life are against us too)
What did Jesus know (v.48)?
He knew it was about the 4th watch of the night (3:00-6:00AM)
What was Jesus intentions (v.48)?
His intentions were to walk on by.
Why you may ask? He wanted them to see Him, to recognize Him, to cry out to Him, and to invite Him to come to them.
What does Jesus want us to do? Cry out to Him, sometimes He intends to grow our faith in storms and waits patiently for us to stop straining under our power and cry out to Him for His power to deliver us to the other side of the storm.
What did the apostles think (v.49)?
They thought they were seeing a ghost
Evil spirits, ghosts were not uncommon
What did the apostles do (v.49)?
They cried out
Why did they cry out? They were terrified, so out of fear
Why do we cry out most of the time? Out of fear, unbelief, trust, the unknown
In the midst of the storm they are in fear and cry out, and Jesus brings them words of comfort (v.50)
50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.”
Jesus did not leave them unattended and walk on by, he heard their cry and responded to their cry immediately.
in NKJV it says “be of good cheer”
In ESV it says “take heart”
Anyway about it Jesus wanted to bring them comfort by His presence
Now, Mark does not give the story about Peter walking on the water, this is not in contradiction to what Matthew says (Mt14:28-31) Mark is believed to have penned from Peter’s testimony and it was not about Peter it is about Jesus.
Now some questions about the results, let me give you the verses, again.
51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52 for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
What did Jesus do after bringing words of comfort (v.51)?
What did the apostles feeling (v.51)
What do we know about the results in (v.52)
The Lord gave them opportunity to trust and learn and they cried out in fear; even in fear Jesus heard the cry and responded. He will to us too.
Now they had been with Jesus with the 5000 and seen the work, they had heard the promise before the other storm and the promise held true, what happened to the faith? They doubted, so as can we, we can doubt, admit it or not, we can. They did not learn, gain insight from the 5000, hearts were hardened due to wrong outlook at the Lord (thought He was a ghost). They forgot the promise; go ahead to the other side (v.45).
Matthew does add an important fact though, they were not without faith at all, they still acknowledged who He is and gave Him praise.
33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”
So did they learn? Of course they did. Do we learn when we go through the storms of life? Jesus has proved provision and protection to them, and has provided that spiritually to us. Even a disciple of Jesus could develop a hard heart if it fails to learn the lessons along the way.
Storm to come
One day there will be the greatest storm ever, and those who are of faith will have peace and joy (2Pt3:10-13; and you can look at Rev21:1-7)
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Let me close with a bit of commentary on this section from The Believers Bible Commentary by William McDonald.
“The church has seen in this miracle a picture of the present age and its close. Jesus on the mountain represents Christ in His present ministry in heaven, interceding for His people. The disciples represent His servants, buffeted by the storms and trials of life. Soon the Savior will return to His own, deliver them from danger and distress and guide them safe to the heavenly shore.”
So while we may struggle, may we not lose site of the presence of Jesus in our lives and know we can take comfort in His promises and that right now He is interceding for us.