Faith Check

Introduction

Today as we continue our study in the book of Mark, we come to one of my favorite stories. Well, I guess I could say that about a lot of the stories in God’s Word.

If you have your Bibles I want to encourage you to turn to Mark chapter 4. Yes, we’re still in chapter 4. And we’ll begin reading with verse 35.

Over the past several weeks we saw Jesus teaching the people by parables, which we said were “Earthly stories that convey a heavenly message. When we come to verse 35, the scene changes.

Mark 4:35–36 NIV84

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.

Now remember, Jesus has been sitting in a boat just a little bit off shore teaching the people. Look back at verse 1 of chapter 4.

Mark 4:1 NIV84

Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge.

Now, He tells His disciples that He wants them to take Him to the other side of the lake.

Now, according to verse 36, they cast off and began to sail across the Sea of Galilee. Notice it says, “just as he was, in the boat.” This phrase could also be translated, “They took him in the boat in which he was sitting.”

So they left the crowd that was standing on the shore—and began to sail to the other side. Now the boat that Jesus had been sitting in must have been a pretty good size boat, because at least the 12 disciples were in the boat with Jesus.

Another tidbit that Mark gives us is that other boats went with them.

Mark 4:37 NIV84

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

The Storm!

This is hard for many people to understand. How could such the Sea of Galilee turn from calm to horrible without warning. Well, if you look at the topography of the area it makes sense.

The Sea of Galilee sits at the base of two mountains to the north. When cold fronts move in from the West, they often come down the valley of these mountains to the North, and create vicious, unexpected storms on the Sea of Galilee.

That is how it is this evening. Without warning, a furious squall blows in. It is a huge storm that the disciples—many of whom are seasoned fishermen, and boaters—believe the boat is going to sink, because it is being swamped with water!

But Jesus!

Now I love this part of the story. I love it because in the midst of the storm, Jesus is asleep. Look at verse 38.

Mark 4:38 NIV84

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?”

“Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.” After a full day of ministering to people, Jesus is physically exhausted. I love this picture, because it demonstrates the full humanity of Jesus! Throughout the day, He had given to the people. Now, as they begin to sail across the sea, He lays down on one of the benches and a cushion in the back of the boat, and goes to sleep—sound asleep!

Fear & the Disciples!

Yet the second part of verse 38. “The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drowns?’” Did you catch what the disciples actually said? They rebuke Jesus—and accuse Him of not caring for them.

QUESTION: Have you ever faced a storm in your life when you questioned Jesus’ care for you?

Jesus’ Response!

I love Jesus’ response! Look at verse 39!

Mark 4:39 NIV84

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 gets up off the cushion, and rebukes the wind and waves! He tells them “Quiet! Be still!” Now get this, Jesus rebuked the wind—this suggests that the wind may have been caused by demonic activity. The Greek for “Quiet” could be translated, “Be muzzled!” Sometimes, weather events, storms, and “natural events” could be part of demonic attacks!

But here’s the key! Natural events—like weather etc., or demonic attacks, Jesus is still control! The wind and the waves NEVER would have been able to destroy Jesus and His disciples! Because God’s plan for Jesus and Jesus’ disciples was not finished!

Jesus Response to the Disciples

The wind is calm! The waves have stopped. Now there is an eerie still across the Sea of Galilee. At this point Jesus turns to His disciples and asks them two questions. Look at verse 40.

Mark 4:40 NIV84

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Why has fear gripped your heart? The disciples looked at the circumstances around them! They saw a violent wind blowing. They saw the waves breaking over the sidewalls of the boat. They saw the boat taking on water. They believed they were going to die! In the moment, fear gripped their hearts. Jesus says they are behaving cowardly.

QUESTION: Have you ever faced a storm in your life, where fear gripped you? Where panic was all you could feel? When you are in this situation, Jesus asks you, “Why are you so afraid?” “Why are you cowardly?”

Do you still have no faith? Jesus asks them about their faith in Him. Their fear demonstrated a lack of faith, ultimately a lack of belief in Him.

QUESTION: How is your faith? When you are afraid, when all seems hopeless, how is your faith in Jesus? In that moment Jesus is asking, “Do you still have no faith?

The Disciples Answer

The disciples don’t realize that they are answering the two questions that Jesus just asked them. But they answer it loud and clear in verse 41.

Mark 4:41 NIV84

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Let’s look first question Jesus asked:

Why are you so afraid? They were afraid, cowering from the wind and waves, but now they were terrified. The Greek here actually says, “to fear with great fear” or “they became very much afraid.” This is juxtaposed to the cowardliness they experienced by the winds and waves. That means that the disciples were less fearful of the wind and waves that they thought were threatening their lives—and far more afraid of Jesus, the man who speaks to the winds and waves and they obey!

Do you still have no faith? The disciples answer this question with a question of their own. “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey him!” They still do not understand who Jesus really is!

SO WHAT?

From our passage this morning there are several questions each of us must answer for ourselves! As we walk through life, each of us must come to grips with how we answer these questions.

WHEN THE STORM COMES:

How will you react?

Will you be bold or timid? Will you be bold or cowardly?

Will you trust Jesus and His plan for your life? Or in that moment, will Jesus ask you, “Do you still have no faith?”

How is your faith, today? We serve the same great and mighty Jesus! Everything in this world still bows to Him today! And He is still worthy of our trust today!