Miracles - Nature - Sea

I’m With HIM!

When Joelle was little, we took a trip to the shore.

I remember, at first, she was afraid to go into the water.

She saw the waves came up onto the shore, and she didn’t want to go into the surf.

Then I took her hand, and we walked into the surf.

We felt the water try to push us around and wash the sand from beneath our feet.

But as long as she had my hand, Joelle was willing to brave the surf.

Because I was there.

That memory always reminds me of a miracle of Jesus in a boat.

While all three synoptic gospels share this story, today I want to look at Mark’s version.

Mark 4:35–36 NKJV

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.

This shouldn’t be much of a problem,

After all, Jesus’ disciples included several fishermen.

They would have been familiar with a boat on the water.

Mark 4:37 NKJV

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

How many of you have been on open water?

Not just a lake, but a sea or the ocean?

While I’ve been on open water a few times, even during some rough water,

I’ve never been in an open boat, at sea, in a storm.

I can’t believe it’s much fun.

Especially with the boat filling with water.

But that’s OK, they have Jesus with them, don’t they?

Mark 4:38 NKJV

But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Two things catch my attention immediately.

First, how many of you are reminded of the story of Jonah?

Jonah 1:4–6 NKJV

But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

In both cases, we see someone sleeping during a storm at sea.

And in both cases we see someone waking them up, incredulous that they were asleep at such a time.

Second, look at how Jesus disciples respond to this peril.

They don’t shake His shoulder and say “Excuse me, Jesus, but can you do something about this storm?”

Or maybe, “Jesus, this would be a really good time for one of those miracles of yours.”

No, the accuse Him of not caring that they were about to die!

How often, when we’re in trouble, do we accuse God of not caring?

We claim that we trust God can and will take care of us, but as soon as that is put to the test, we act like God doesn’t care.

Mark 4:39 NKJV

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

Jesus gets up, tells the sea off, and everything is fine.

This would leave any of us in wonder.

But remember, these disciples have been with Jesus a while,

They’ve seen miracles before.

Could that be why Jesus responded with:

mk 4 40

Mark 4:40 NKJV

But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

It’s one thing to say you have faith, quite another to live that way.

We tend to act as if, when things get tough we’ll rise to the occasion.

But if we are not faithful in the little things, how can we be faithful in the big one?

When the big things of life arise, will you be faithful or fearful?

Walking on Water

In another instance, we see Jesus sending His disciples out on the water ahead of Him

Matthew 14:22–24 NKJV

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

Another boat, another storm,

But this time, Jesus wasn’t with them.

Matthew 14:25 NKJV

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.

It was during the fourth of four night watches when Jesus went to His disciples.

Maybe taking a boat was too mundane?

Or maybe there wasn’t a boat available?

So Jesus went to them walking on the water.

Matthew 14:26–27 NKJV

And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

Sometimes, we like to point back at those silly disciples as if we wouldn’t have done the same thing.

Let’s face it, if you are in a boat, in a storm, in the middle of the night.

And you see what appears to be someone walking on water,

Your first thought wouldn’t be “Oh look, Jesus is doing something new”.

You’d be scared as well.

Matthew 14:28 NKJV

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

Peter does have a reputation of speaking and doing without thinking first.

So when he sees someone walking on the water,

Someone who sounds like his Rabbi,

What does Peter do?

Jesus, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.

A rather bold request.

He does have a bit of an out.

If Jesus doesn’t say come, Peter will not go.

Matthew 14:29 NKJV

So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

Jesus calls Peter, and there he is, walking on the water.

A rather spectacular site, no?

When I was younger, and did something impressive, I wanted to show it off.

I can’t tell you how many times I had called out “Look Ma!, No hands!”

Or something equally foolish.

But just like the parable of the sower, the worries of the world are about to get in the way.

Matthew 14:30 NKJV

But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

There have been plenty of sermons on this miracle.

Most noting that while Peter was focused on Jesus, walking on water was no big deal.

But as soon as he look around at his situation, Peter began to sink.

Sure, it begs the question, what could we do if we kept our eyes upon Jesus?

More than that, think about how many opportunities we missed out on because we never asked Jesus to call us to something in the first place?

Peter was in trouble, not simply because he took his eyes of Jesus,

But because he was willing to step out in faith in the first place.

Sure, you may never need to be rescued if you never ask Jesus to command you to do something special,

But what have you missed out on by not stepping out in the first place.

Matthew 14:31–32 NKJV

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Yes, Jesus admonished Peter for his doubt and lake of faith,

But it was his faith and trust that got him in the middle of the sea in the first place.

And not just the walking on water, but following Jesus was an act of faith.

What I see here is the fact that the life of a disciple is full of moments,

Moments of faith, and moments of distraction.

Moments of accomplishment and moments of failure.

But even in those moments of distraction and failure, Jesus is there to catch us.

Conclusion

What do we see in these two miracles?

Yes, they both involved stormy seas.

And as disciples, we should expect storms in our lives.

Both involved Jesus calming those seas.

And as disciples, we can expect Jesus to calm the storms.

But you know who didn’t encounter these storms?

Those who stayed on the shore.

Matthew 7:21 NKJV

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

There were multitudes who followed Jesus,

But only twelve who were called His disciples.

Matthew 7:22 NKJV

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

There are many today who do good works in the name of Jesus.

But not all of them will enter the kingdom of heaven,

And even fewer will be called His disciples today.

There are plenty who will follow Jesus on a calm and sunny day,

Some may even be willing to get in the boat and set sail.

But how many will still be willing to go forward into the storm?

How many are willing to step out of that boat if called?

How many are even willing to ask Jesus if they should step out of the boat?

I believe God tells us of these miracles not to merely show us of our failings, or our need to depend upon Him.

But to remind us that we will have troubles, trials, and tribulations.

John 15:19 NKJV

If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

If there are not times of storm tossed seas in your life,

If the world does not hate you,

Then maybe that is because you are still of the world.

Maybe it’s time to ask Jesus to call you out of the boat.

And trust that, even if you cannot keep your focus on Him,

He is there to save you.