Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

We’ve come once again to a pretty familiar story in the gospel of Mark.

The story of Jesus calming the sea.

And so, if you have a church background, you are most likely familiar with this story.

It’s also recorded in two other gospels, the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Luke.

Now, think with me for just a second as we remind ourselves of the context and what’s been going on in Jesus’ life throughout the last couple of chapters.

And then ask, “So why this story?”

Keep in mind that the gospel authors are recording only a fraction of Jesus’ ministry here on earth.

John closes his gospel by saying,

John 21:25, “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did.

Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”

And so, the gospel writers were very specific with what stories, teachings, and events they included in their gospels.

And so, what’s Mark trying to get across to his readers?

Well, remember that Mark 1 opens with Jesus saying, “The kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel.”

And so, Jesus is the King and Messiah that was promised to come and set the world right again.

The one who will free creation from its bondage.

The one who will trample over sin and death and make a way for people to be made right with God.

And so the first half of Mark is this march toward revealing Jesus as the promised King and Messiah or Savior.

He’s revealing Jesus as the one who will redeem the world and set it free from sin and death.

And so, we’re seeing in the first three chapters Jesus’ power over the demonic realm, we’re seeing his power over physical sickness and disease, we’re seeing Jesus’ power over sin as he forgives.

In chapter four he begins to teach about the Kingdom of God.

This is what it’s like, this is how it grows and multiplies.

Here’s who belongs to the Kingdom of God.

In the following chapters we’ll continue to see Jesus’ power over demons.

We’ll see in the next chapter Jesus’ power over death.

But it’s here at the end of chapter 4 that Mark tells this story of Jesus and his disciples crossing the sea of Galilee and him calming a storm.

Why this story tucked away here?

As I said, everything in this gospel is marching toward this climax of Jesus’ identity being finally revealed.

And it’s seen in Mark 8 when Jesus is asking his disciples who people say he is.

And they give all kinds of answers.

Some people think you’re the return of John the Baptist or others say Elijah, or one of the prophets.

And Jesus asks them, “But who am I?” “Who do you say I am?” To which Peter rightly says, “You’re the Christ.”

“You’re the Savior, you’re the King, you’re the Redeemer.”

Yes, that’s who Jesus is and the rest of the gospel of Mark is then this march toward the cross, culminating in the resurrection where Jesus’ inauguration as King is finally established.

And so, all that Mark has been pointing out to us in his gospel is, “Do you see who Jesus is?” “Do you see?” He’s King.

He’s the Christ.

He rules over the demonic realm.

He rules over sickness.

He rules over death.

He rules over the religious elite.

And here we see in the text today.

He rules over creation.

We serve and follow a great God and King, Jesus Christ.

A King who is bigger than our minds can comprehend.

A God who breathed the universe into existence.

A God who never worries, never fears, never loses control but reigns sovereignly over His creation.

A creation that listens and obeys His every word.

You see, if this is our God, then what have we to fear?

Main Aim

The point of this passage is to reveal the Lordship, the Kingship, the might and power of Jesus.

It’s revealing Him as King over creation.

And if Jesus can calm a pounding, raging, violent storm with just a few words, then what do we actually need to fear in this life if we are in Christ?

Big Idea

Jesus is King over creation and speaks with supreme authority over all things therefore, there is nothing to fear in life other than God himself.

Problem

How often though do we fail to trust Him?

How often does our fear of circumstances wreck our lives?

You see, like the disciples here, we often fail to truly recognize and rest in Jesus’ true identity as King of kings and Lord of lords, the One who is sovereign over all of life and death.

And not only is Jesus King of kings but He is a loving King, a merciful King, a gracious King, a compassionate King, a kind King.

He’s one we can trust to always do what is good and right but we must trust Him and hold fast to him by the grace of God.

We must see Jesus for who He truly is.

That’s what Mark is seeking to do.

He’s revealing Jesus for who He truly is.

God purposefully orchestrates this moment, this storm in the disciples lives so that they would end up getting this bigger picture of Jesus and with it a right and proper fear which lead to a stronger faith and deeper trust.

I have no doubt that these moments in their lives were pivotal moments, foundational moments that grew them and allowed them to endure years later, horrific suffering for the cause of Christ.

All of these guys on this boat would one day die horrific deaths for following Jesus.

But as they were facing persecution and death in the eye they finally knew that nothing in this world is more powerful that Jesus and if they are in Christ, held secure by Him, then what can the world do to them?

And so, as we dig into this text, this is not ultimately a story about Jesus getting you through the storms of life - He does, absolutely, he’s faithful, but what we’re after here is a bigger picture of Jesus as the One who is sovereign over all and who works in our lives for our good and His glory.

So, through our text this morning I want to identify four “Jesus is...” statements and four “So we...” statements.

Here’s what’s I mean.

Let’s identify the first one in verses 35-37.

Body

Mark 4:35-37, “On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’

And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was.

And other boats were with him.

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.”

Here’s the first “Jesus is” and “so we” statement.

Jesus is always at work in the circumstances of our lives - so we must rest in him.

This has been a very long day for Jesus.

This day, most likely started all the way back in chapter 3 with a large crowd once again pressing in to be near him to see more miracles.

In this one day he’s been accused by the religious leaders of blasphemy and being in league with the Devil.

And so, he confronts their blasphemy with a stern warning.

His own family was trying to whisk him away from the crowds because they think he’s lost his mind.

He then makes his way down to the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee cause the crowds are too much for the home that he was in.

So, he gets into a boat and pushes out a ways and begins to teach in parables until most of the crowd is gone because they didn’t understand and didn’t have any desire to listen.

So, he takes his disciples away with him and begins to explain his teaching to them.

It’s now the end of the day Mark says in verse 35 and Jesus is exhausted.

And so, he says to his disciples, let’s head out and go to the other side of the sea.

But no rest is coming for the disciples because a strong storm is heading their way.

Now, most of the guys on that boat were seasoned fishermen.

They’ve gone through storms before and so for them to react the way they did shows that this was no ordinary thunderstorm.

Both Mathew and Mark’s account of this storm use the word “great” to describe it.

Luke’s account just says a “windstorm” came.

But Luke wasn’t on that boat.

Matthew was, Mark wasn’t, but Mark’s recording Peter’s account in his gospel.

And so two guys that were on that boat described it as “great.”

In fact, the Greek word for great, “megale” literally means, “loud.”

This was no ordinary storm and Matthew and Mark are making sure the readers understand that.

But a question we must ask here is, why is that important to know?

If you have a church background you might be thinking that this story sounds somewhat similar to the story of Jonah.