Faith in the Midst of the Storm
Notes
Transcript
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. 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?” 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?”
Mark 4:34-
Mark intends the reader to understand that all that he has reported in 4:1–34 represents a single day’s teaching on the shore, from which Jesus now moves on to cross the lake that same evening.
Why Jesus wanted to go to the other, presumably eastern, side of the lake is not stated. Perhaps it was to escape the crowd, perhaps to expand his ministry
The Lake of Galilee was—and still is—infamous for sudden squalls. Surrounded by mountains at most points, the lake swirls violently when a strong wind enters. The language may owe something to
Jesus’ sleeping does suggest confidence in God (cf. ; ; ). Furthermore Jesus’ sleeping is one of many indications in Mark of his humanity.
Illustration man in the barrel and crossing the niagra falls.
1. Faith isn’t about quantity but it is all about the object of your faith.
It’s not about how much faith but it’s about who your faith is on?
so often we think if the disciples had so little faith.but we should remember that they had been with him all day listening to his teaching, believing it even when they did not understand it. They had then afterwards gathered about him in private to listen to his fuller explanations, and they were thankful to be favoured with those expositions in which their Lord became their private tutor. I do not question that they each one of them esteemed himself a firm believer in Jesus. How could he tolerate a doubt? But I don’t really know how scanty our faith really is. When trial comes, that is the true test of our faith. After a day of calm service with Jesus a storm came on, and that storm tested their faith, and left so little of it, that Jesus said to them, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” Remember that we have no more faith at any time than we have in the hour of trial.
The storm was the more trying because it came upon them when they were in the path of duty. Their Master had bidden them cross the sea; they were not upon a holiday trip. They had not even followed the suggestion of a brother who had said, “I go a-fishing”; but they were steering under their great Captain’s orders. They were doing right, and suffering trouble in consequence. This has often perplexed good men. I have heard a believer say, “I prospered more before I was a Christian than I have done since. Things went smoothly with me before I knew the Lord. How can these things be? The very fact of my endeavouring to do what is right, and labouring to maintain my integrity, has become the cause of my severest trial.” This is no new thing upon the earth. The living child of God will have to swim against the stream. Not without fighting will he win his crown.
Moreover, it was an item which helped to try their faith, that the storm assailed them when Jesus was in the ship. Had the Lord been absent, they could have understood it; but he was in the vessel with them! How could the sea be so boisterous with Christ in the vessel? If I am out of communion with Christ, I can understand why I am chastened; but if I am walking in conscious nearness and fellowship with him, and I am even then tried and perplexed, how can I account for it? Herein is the test of faith. “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” This we forget, and fancy that trials must mean anger, when, indeed, they may be tokens and tests of love.
God strengthens our faith by telling us in that the crucial issue in accomplishing great things to advance the kingdom of God is not the quantity of our faith, but the power of God. He says, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” By referring to the tiny mustard seed after being asked about increased faith, he deflects attention away from the quantity of faith to the object of faith.
2. Childlike faith . Cry out to God
Your faith is not about how mature you are but how childlike your faith can be ?
Trust Jesus with Unwavering Childlike Trust and Personal Commitment
13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
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3. Faith is all about God alone, it is from above
Your faith may seem like nothing today but know that He is faithful.