Blush - Pt. 2 - Sea Sick Series

Blush

Pt. 2 - Sea Sick

Cheek coloring moments. We all hate them. That instance in which you would like to crawl in a hole. You thought no one noticed and you discover that everyone saw you fall, fail, make a fool of yourself. You find yourself with a blush.

Society likes to portray and paint Jesus as this passive, gentle, and even soft man. Yet, the truth is that He was controversial, confrontational, and had a tendency to ask people questions that would have reddened their cheeks in embarrassment. I told you last week that Jesus asked some questions that were knee bucklers. He would look someone right square in the eyes and pose questions that would cause folks to blush.

So last week we began in Luke 4:46 and we were asked, "Why do you call me Lord, Lord and still don't do the things I say to do?" And out of that we declared that we must become more than followers. We must become obeyers. We must be life locked to Jesus and not just lip locked. Our walk must line up with His talk!

So today let's continue. Let's examine another question that should cause us to blush but more importantly should cause us to change!

Text: Mark 4:35-41

Late that day he said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side.” They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, “Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?” Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith at all?” They were in absolute awe, staggered. “Who is this, anyway?” they asked. “Wind and sea at his beck and call!”

It must have been a rough storm. Experienced fishermen fear for their own life. They are convinced that they are headed to a watery grave. They seem to forget that that have special cargo on board. Jesus is along for the ride. He sleeps through what has terrified them. In absolute terror and desperation they rouse Jesus from His nap and it is as if they try to shame Him or at least rebuke Him for His apparent lack of concern for them . . . oh wait if they go down He goes down with them but they made it all about them. Jesus don't you care about us? Jesus still wiping the needed sleep from His eyes could have simply dealt with the wind and the waves laid back down and said, "Wake me when we arrive!" However, with a simple but stern command He causes the storms to a stand still and the rodeo ride waves to turn into smooth sailing He then turns and although He has quieted the external storm He asks them a internal storm starting, face reddening question . . . "Don't you have any faith at all?" Or maybe even more blush inducing as phrased in the NIV . . . "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

I bet the disciples instantly became sea sick . . . stomachs churning, lunch loosening, and gut wrenching embarrassment. They have just been exposed as faithless faithful followers. They blush . . . we should too.

A. How much proof is needed?

Jesus has just revealed that even the elements are subject to His power. But He couldn't expect them to have enough faith in Him because of that . . . I mean they had just seen that take place. So why does He verbally assault their lack of faith? Why ask if they don't have faith yet? These same disciples have already seen Him turn water into wine, heal a nobleman's son, cast the demon out a man in the synagogue, heal Simon's mother, completely heal an aids patient (leper), a miracle catch of fish, healing the man with the withered hand, and the ultimate demonstration of His power as the Son of God . . . He raises the widow's son from the dead. They have firsthand experience that He has authority over the physical and the spiritual realms. And so He turns to these eye witnesses of His ability, His authority, His Godness and in essence asks them, "How much more proof do you need?"

Stop just a second and tell someone next to you about a miracle that you have experienced personally. Just one. If you can't think of one let me help you . . . you are here this morning. That is a miracle for some of you. You could be dead. You could be lost. You could be in the hospital.