Peace Be Still

Scripture says, “Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan” (Mark 1:9). Then Jesus spent the next forty day in the desert being tempted by Satan. Then he begins his ministry in Galilee. After John was put in prison, Jesus went about the country proclaiming “the time has come, repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:14:15). Jesus’ preaching efforts brought forth followers. He called forth four fishermen to follow him. He called Simon, Andrew, James and John. Jesus and his small group traveled on to Capernaum and he began to teach in the synagogue.

People never heard anyone teach like Jesus taught. The people loved him because he taught with authority. It was unbelievable that Jesus could call forth an evil spirit from a man who was possessed. Now Jesus really had the attention of the people and his popularity spread quickly over the country.

After Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, his popularity became even greater. People were bringing the sick and demon possessed to Jesus for healing. Jesus healed the man with leprosy (Mark 1:41) and the man paralyzed who was brought to the house and lowered down in front of Jesus through a hole in the roof of the house (Mark 2:4-5).

Jesus called forth another man named Levi. Levi was a tax collector and tax collectors did not have a good reputation. Jesus ate with sinners. This act upset the Pharisees. Jesus responded to the Pharisees saying, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17).

At this time, Jesus was gaining followers, but he also made some enemies; namely, the Pharisees. The Pharisees questioned Jesus concerning fasting and healing on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were really jealous of Jesus’ popularity. They were more concerned about their change font size:

standing in the community and their personal gain. Jesus was concerned about people everywhere.

IT WAS THE SAME DAY, WHEN THE EVENING WAS COME. WHEN HE HAD BEEN LABORING IN THE WORLD AND DOCTRINE ALL DAY, INSTEAD OF REPOSING HIMSELF, HE EXPOSED HIMSELF. THE END OF A TOIL MAY PERHAPS BE A BEGINNING OF A TOSS.

CHRIST HAD GIVEN SAILING ORDERS TO HIS DISCIPLES, LET’S GO OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE. HE PROPOSED TO GO TO SEA AT NIGHT, BECAUSE HE WOULD LOSE NO TIME, HE HAD WORK TO DO. CHRIST WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD, AND NOTHING SHOULD HINDER HIM.

HE CHOSE TO GO BY WATER, IT IS A COMFORT TO THOSE WHO GO DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS, AND ARE OFTEN IN PERILS THERE, TO REFLECT THAT THEY HAVE A SAVIIOR TO TRUST IN AND PRAY TO, WHO KNOWS WHAT IT IS TO BE AT SEA, AND TO BE CAUGHT UP IN A STORM.

HIS DISCIPLES FOLLOWERED HIM; THE TWELVE KEPT CLOSE TO HIM. THEY AND THEY ONLY WILL BE FOUND THE TRUE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, AND THEY ARE WILLING TO GO TO SEA WITH THEM, TO FOLLOW HIM INTO DANGER AND DIFFICULITIES

MANY WOULD BE CONTENT TO GO THE LAND WAY TO HEAVEN, BUT THOSE THAT WOULD REST WITH CHRIST HEREAFTER MUST FOLLOW HIM NOW WHEREVER HE LEADS THEM, INTO A SHIP OR INTO A PRISON, AS WELL AS INTO A PALACE.

THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM MUST COUNT UPON DIFFICULTIES.

THERE AROSE A GREAT STORM;THIS STORM WAS FOR THEIR SAKES. CHRIST WOULD SHOW THAT THEY WHO ARE PASSING WITH HIM OVEER THE OCEAN OF THIS WORLD TO THE OTHER SIDE, MUST EXPECT STORMS BY THE WAY.

THE STORM WAS SO GREAT; THAT THE SHIP WAS FULL OF WATER. THE SHIP BEING LITTLE, THE WAVES BEAT INTO IT SO THAT IT WAS FULL. THERE WAS WITH HIM OTHER LITTLE SHIPS, WHICH, NO DOUBT , SHARED IN THE DISTRESS AND DANGER.

CHRIST WAS A SLEEP IN THE STORM. WE NEVER READ OF CHRIST SLEEPING, BUT AT THIS TIME. THIS WAS A SLEEP OF HOLY SERENITY AND DEPENDENCE UPON THE FATHER. HE HAD NO GUILT, NO FEAR WITHIN TO DISTURB HIS REPOSE.

THOSE THAT LAY THEIR HEADS UPON THE PILLOW OF A CLEAR CONSCIENCE, MAY SLEEP QUIETLY AND SWEETLY IN A STORM. CHRIST WAS ASLEEP IN THIS STORM. IT WAS IN THE HINDER PART OF THE SHIP, THE PILOTS PLACE, HE LAY AT THE HELM. NOTHING BUT A PILLOW;

AND HE SLEPT TO TRY THE FAITH OF HIS DISCIPLES AND TO STIR UP PRAYER. HE SLEPT TO SEE IF THEY WOULD TRUST HIM WHEN HE SEEM TO SLIGHT THEM. WHEN HE SLEEP HE DOTH NOT SLEEP FOR THE PSALMIST SAID, THAT HE NEITHER SLUMBER NOR SLEEP.

THE POOR DISCIPLES THOUGH USED TO THE SEA, WERE IN A GREAT FRIGHT, AND INN THEIR FEAR, CAME TO THE MASTER. WHERE ELSE COULD THEY GO. SONG WRITER SAID WHERE COULD I GO BUT TO THE LORD.