A Powerful Lesson on Faith
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Introduction
Introduction
Work through Luke- NB passage.
Luke records for us an incident on… who is Christ?
And what is the requirement of His disciples.. in light of who He is?!
As we live out our lives… what is our perception of Jesus…
Who is he?
Where is He?
This is an important lesson on faith....
Remember… context… parable of the sower…
Luke is presenting this Gospel truth for his readers…
And the question will be raised for his reader.... Where is your faith?
The question will also be raised… Who is this man, Jesus?!
And so the questions must be in our minds...
1. A Very Powerful Threat (vv.22-23)
1. A Very Powerful Threat (vv.22-23)
The account before us begins with something of a typical day / event in the lives of Jesus and his disciples.
They would not have anticipated what was to take place. It was simply an ordinary day of following Christ and learning from Him as he went from town to town, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom.
As part of these missionary journeys, we read in verse 22...
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out.
The sea that they were setting sail (the lake referred to) is none other than the Sea of Galilee.
Capernaum, where Jesus was based in terms of most of his teaching ministry, was situated on the banks of the Sea of Galilee.
What’s important to understand about this Sea is that it was situated in a valley, surrounded by hills.
It was situated some 210m below actual sea level. But there were these hills around the sea, particularly high on the Eastern side.
Storms were not uncommon on the Sea of Galilee. As the cold air would rush through the hills, it would collide with the warmer air in the valley, and would create no small amount of stormy weather on the surface of the water.
This was quite normal… but obviously there were storms, and then there were storms.
One more point that is worth noting at this stage is that at least 4 of Jesus’ companions were seasoned fishermen, who had made a living off of fishing in this very lake.
The fact is, they knew the Sea well… and they knew the potential conditions very well.
And so that is the scene that we have.
Jesus - who by this time has performed numerous miracles in front of his disciples, such that the crowds were flocking to him - says to his disciples… let’s go over to the other side.
And so they do… they step into the boat, and begin crossing over the waters.
23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The first thing we see is that Jesus fell asleep.
A picture of Christ’s humanity!!
We have already considered that Christ was inundated with people flocking to him, wanting to be healed.
in that one account in Capernaum, he had driven out a demon from a man in the synagogue…
After returning to the house of Simon, and healing his mother-in-law.... later that evening, the entire town came to that house with their sick, and those needing healing… and he attended every one...
And the next morning, he arose before sunrise and went out to a quiet place to pray...
Those scenes give us the idea that Jesus was superhuman… never needing rest!!
But that was not the case. Jesus grew tired. he needed rest like any other person needed rest.
And so at this point, he finds a place on the boat, and lies down and falls asleep… quite a deep sleep if we consider the other Gospel accounts of this event. He even slept with the waves tossing the boat around!!
Notice the extent of the storm.
Luke writes… “A squall came down...”
This was a powerful storm that arose on the water, which came about without warning… very suddenly
The extent - the boat was being swamped!!!
The disciples at this point were beginning to be filled with fear.
They were in a position, in the middle of the Sea of Galilee… away from the safety of solid ground.
And they were terrified!
I want us to understand the significance of this… particularly in terms of our own contexts...
The reality was, their fear was not unjustified!!
Luke even records for us… “they were in great danger...”
Their very lives were at risk.
This was an exceedingly powerful threat that came upon their lives.
It was real.... it was not imagined… as we sometimes dream up threats to our own lives, when really they are only potential struggles in life.
Here was a place where they could very well have perished in the storm.
We need to consider this context before we move on.
There will come moments in life where we may be overwhelmed with the reality of what’s taking place.
The Scriptures are replete with examples of people who faced threats to their lives, or real danger within their circumstances.
We can think of David… Saul chasing him.
We can think of David… As Goliath threatened Israel’s army
We think of Daniel… as He refused to obey the command to worship false gods...
We think of Daniel’s three friends…
We think of Peter in prison..
We think of Paul, beaten and assaulted for his faith...
The exmples are plentiful. They are there to remind us that this life is bound to present us with troubles… and our lives here are not secure, as we like to think they are.
But we must remember the one that is with us through this life...
That leads us to our second main point...
2. A Very Present Help (v.24)
2. A Very Present Help (v.24)
In the midst of this tumultuous storm and that was a powerful threat to the lives of the disciples, we find a very present help with them...
24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.
The frantic outcry...
As we consider this verse, we must see that the response of the disciples was in one sense correct. They cried out to their Master!!
And they acknowledged Him as master.
They called Him by this term.. They were in effect saying, you are our master and teacher.
With that said, we need to recognise that their cry was not one of faith in the master, but rather it was one of a deep lack of faith in the master.
In Luke’s account here… “We’re going to drown...”
There is the basic evidence of their lack of faith in the master.
They may call him master, but do they truly believe and trust in him?
In Mark’s account of this event, he records different words that were spoken by them.
(Keep in mind… different disciples would have been crying different things in the distress of the moment…)
“Master, don’t you care that we’re perishing…?”
Here was the thought in their minds!!
They felt that their end was near, and that their Master was oblivious to their deep need of surviving...
Some important considerations...
One one hand… what disciples had already witnessed...
The disciples had witnessed countless miracles of Jesus by this stage...
He had cast out demons
He had healed the sick of whatever sicknesses they had.
Just about the entire town of Capernaum had come to him, and their sick were healed.
He had healed a leper of his leprousy.
Depending on the extent of the chronological nature of Luke… he probably had healed the centurion’s daughter…
And he’d raised the widows son from the dead.
But irrespective of which of the miracles had taken place… there were many!!!
On the other hand… what Christ had called them to...
Further to this - consider who Christ was training these men to be…
They were under his teaching and training. They were being prepared by him for a purpose.
Although he hadn’t clealy told them the full extent of the work that they were being trained for… at least they had some notion...
He had told them that they would be fishers of men (Luke 5:10)
They had followed him knowing that they would be fishing for people.
They also knew that Christ was proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom…
Even at this stage, they believed that Jesus had been sent from God, and that he was doing the work of God…
They would have at least had an incling that this was the Messiah… certainly many other people did...
But they knew… the work that he had come to do, and that he had called them to be a part of this work.
But in this moment… in the heat of terror… in the midst of the storm that was upon them…
What they knew intellectually was not being lived out by faith practically...
We’ll return to that...
The powerful miracle...
At this point, Jesus proves himself to be a very present help in trouble.
As the disciples cry out in fear.... (remember, he was lying down sleeping) he looks up at them, stands up.
And he then turns his attention to the wind and the waves, and he rebukes them!
The word used there indicates that there is a sternness… Jesus was speaking very firmly to the wind and waves, as if telling them off for their misbehaviour!!
We must not read into this that there was some satanic attack involved here.
We have no indication from any of the accounts that Jesus was speaking here to some demons acting in order to cause the disruption.
Rather, this is a natural phenomenon, and Jesus speaks to and rebukes the wind and the waves.
He is addressing the elements.
What is of particular note is his authority as he speaks.
Immediately he speaks, the wind and the waves obey.
There is no delay in obedience!!
Our text says that the strom subsided, and all was calm!!
At peace!!
Link to Psalm 46:1-3 - Christ was giving a practical demonstration of the truths of this Psalm...
The context of Psalm 46 - more to do with Israel, and nations around…
BUT - so relevant in this situation.
Christ proved himself to be that very present help in trouble.
See also Psalm 107:23-31…
Again… God was the one in the OT…
Notice exhortation Psalm 46:10...
Are we not called to be inwardly still, knowing that Christ is God.
This leads us to third point...
3. A Very Pertinent Question (v.25a)
3. A Very Pertinent Question (v.25a)
At this point, Jesus addresses his disciples with a question…
This really gets to the heart of the teaching moment… and it’s really important for the believer to be
The New International Version (1984) Jesus Calms the Storm
“Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
I’ve already outlined some of the important context...
Christ was not being unreasonable… was not lacking in sympathy towards his disciples…
But he is here very clearly teaching them an important lesson.
Based on what they had already observed concerning His power and authority...
Based on what they already knew to be the truth about the work to which he had called them...
Based on these facts, it would have been entirely appropriate for them to trust him deeply.
Clearly, they did make the connection in the moment.
And so Jesus puts forth this mild rebuke to his disciples… where is your faith?
It’s not that this storm should not have produced in them some sort of concern.
BUT - did they cry out in the right manner?
Did they cry out with faith?
We need to consider the question of Christ with respect to our own lives...
This is the question that each of us must ask ourselves.
Where is our faith? What is the extent of our faith?
Life is going to throw us troublesome situations.
Life is going to present us with challenges that overwhelm us, and we may be tempted in the moment to think that this is it!!!
And the reality is that sometimes, those situations go far beyond what we believe to be safe for ourselves...
And it’s very possible that we cry out… but it’s important to consider how we’re crying out, what we’re crying out, and what we’re believing in the moment when we cry out!
A few things to consider...
Nature of faith...
People arise in difficult situations because they have not understood the nature of faith.
This does not mean not Christians...
A person may be genuinely saved… they have the gift of faith given by God...
But they fail to understand the nature of faith.
We must distinguish between the gift of faith that leads to salvation, but then we need to continue with the exercise of faith in our day to day life as a Christian.
Cry with Trust
As we cry out, it must be with deep trust in His Sovereignty
Christ was always in control of the storm.
In fact, was it not Jesus who asked the disciples to get into the boat in order to go across the lake?
Jesus was in control of the chain of events
Elaborate… our lives are no different today.
We think that the events taking place around us are random… we believe that we’re in the wrong place… Bad decisions have led me here.
Perhaps they have!!!! But the fact that you’re where you are is YET by the divine sovereignty of Almighty God.
You are not somehow outside of God’s will, and now you need to find your way back to His ways (which we often equate with a much more easy life…)
God uses every circumstance… every single one… to transform his children into his image.
The question is, will we live in obedience to God, will we submit to God through obedience to His word?
Remember Christ’s Presence with you...
It’s in the midst of the storm that we think that God has abandoned us!
When you enter into a time of turmoil… do you imagine that God has forgotten you?
Do you think that God doesn’t care?
We need to remember… God does not abandon his children.
Account of Joshua…
Moses passed away… Joshua was put in charge to lead ISrael.
Joshua 1 - a beautiful account of God speaking to Joshua… telling Joshua to be courageous…
5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
The point is not that we must go up and claim victory against everyone and everything…
This was a particular calling by God upon the life of Joshua...
And as Joshua would go forward in obedience, God promised his presence with him.
And so he said.. Be strong and courageous....
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
God would go with Joshua into the promised land, and he would ensure that Joshua was successful, because he had promised, and he would bring his promises to pass.
Bring that into the context of the local church… And even the personal lives of believers...
When a person repents of their sin, places their faith in Christ, Christ indwells that person by His Spirit.
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
God’s presence is with us… And God will never leave us or forsake us.
The writer to the Hebrews confirms this...
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
6 So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?”
This leads us to our fourth / final point...
4. A Very Perplexed Response (v.25b)
4. A Very Perplexed Response (v.25b)
The New International Version (1984) Jesus Calms the Storm
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
The fear that was in the disciples for the storm is suddenly redirected… they now experience a sense of fear and awe for their Master.
This is striking...
This was not the first account of Jesus performing wonders in front of or for his disciples.
Recall that even as he called his disciples… Calling of Simon Peter… let down nets - previous night caught nothing - became so full that the nets began to break.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”
They had seen him perform the miraculous…
But still, they were slow to understand the extent of the power and authority of their master.
They were filled with both fear and amazement…
Notice their question… “who is this…? - He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him...”
They still lacked a deep sense of the power and authority of Jesus.
They were still learning… their faith needed to deepen in order to appreciate the true nature of Christ.
Very important point… Deity of Christ!!
If we fail to recognise who Christ truly is, we will not trust in Him as we ought.
yes, he was human… slept in the boat…
But he was God the flesh!!
In our context...
How sad that very often we fail to appreciate what manner of man, what manner of person, Christ is!!
Application / Conclusion
Application / Conclusion
Martin Lloyd Jones spoke about how grateful he was for the disciples, and how grateful for the records in Scripture of their blunders and their shortcomings and their failures.
The reason…? He sees himself in all of their shortcomings..
Indeed,
Deep down, our worry and anxiety are rooted in a lack of trust…
We don’t like to see it this way… but it’s true.
We are not called to stoicism… But, we are called to exercise faith in God in the midst of the trials of life.
We must acknowledge God’s presence, and His power, even as we cry out to Him.
The words that we speak should be those that contain expressions of faith in God, even though the storms are assaulting us!
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.