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.
THEIR CONFIDENT LAY IN THIS, THAT THEY HAD THEIR MASTER WITH THEM, AND THE SHIP THAT HAS CHRIST IN IT, TOUGH IT MAY BE TOSSED, CANNOT SINK.
THEY AWOKE HIM WITH THEIR PRAYERS, LORD, DO YOU CARE THAT WE PERISH. THOSE WHO WOULD LEARN TO PRAY MUST GO TO SEA.TROUBLE WILL DRIVE PEOPLE TO HIM WHO ALONE CAN HELP IN THE TIME OF NEED.
THEIR PETITION; LORD SAVE US. THEY BELIEVED HE COULD SAVE THEM, THEY BEGGED HE WOULD. CHRIST’S ERRAND INTO THE WORLD WAS TO SAVE. BUT THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN BE SAVED IS THE ONE THAT CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.
THEIR PLEA IS, WE PERISH, IF THOU DO NOT SAVE US.THEIR ADDRES TO CHRIST, MASTER, CAREST THOU NOT THAT WE PERISH. CHRIST MAY SLEEP WHEN HIS CHURCH IS IN A STORM, BUT HE WILL NOT OUT SLEEP HIMSELF.
JESUS WOKE UP, LOOKED AT THE WIND AND SAID DON’T ROAR ANY LONGER. LOOKED AT THE SEA AND SAID PEACE, BE STILL. I DON’T WANT TO HEAR YOU NO MORE. AND THERE WAS A GREAT CALM..
WHEN OUR TROUBLED HEARTS ARE LIKE THE RAGING SEA WHICH CANNOT REST, LET US THINK WE HEAR THE LAW OF CHRIST, SAYING PEACE BE STILL. I am reminded of a story told of a censor taker from Rome, who went to Galilee around 28 A.D. As he entered the region he came upon a man sitting on a donkey.
The man had long hair and a flowing beard.
He wore an old cloak, sandals, and beads.
Pardon me the census taker said, but I am taking a census of Galilee, and would you mind answering a few questions?
Not at all said the man on the donkey
I believe in rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s
Well, then what is your job?
I have no job said the man. Consider the lilies of the field, they toil not and neither do they spin?
Where is your family?
I have no family. I left my mother and father and my brothers and sisters.
Unhuh! Said the censor taker to himself: No Job, no fixed abode.
Now do you belong to any clubs? Are you a mason, or you an Alpha, Sigma, Kappa, Iota, or Omega?
The man said, “No man can serve two masters at one time!
Do you go to school said the census taker?
The man answered and said, “No I don’t go to school, “For which of us taking thought can add one cubit to his stature.
Do you have money or any visible means of support?
The man shook his head; “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and dust doth corrupt, he said.”
Are you registered for military service?
Not exactly you see, for I do not do evil for evil, but I overcome evil with good.
What is your address?
“The foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nest: but I have no where to lay my head.
Who are your friends?
I go among the publicans and sinners.
The census taker wrote down on his sheet what manner of man is this…hippy character, school dropout, no permanent address, no job, a draft dodger, pacifist, conscientious objector, associates with the lowest folks in town…
What manner of man is this?
But sir, before I go, can I ask you one more thing for the record to be straight, what is manner of man are you and what is your name?
The bearded man smiled sadly, looked around and said, ”Some call me the Son of Man. Some call me the Rose of Sharon. Some call me not just Alpha or Omega, but Alpha and Omega! Some just call me Savior, some call me Lord, but some call me Jesus! What manner of man is my Jesus? Do you know Him today?
Don’t fool me now! If you don’t know my Jesus, then you ought to know Him today! What manner of man would leave His home in glory, knew no sin, sacrifice His life, and hang on a cross. What manner of man is this? He died for you. He died for me! What manner of man is this that died on the cross, went in the grave, and got up on Sunday morning with all power in His hands?
HOW EASILY THIS WAS DONE WITH A WORD, CHRIST MADE THE SEA AND HE CAN CALM IT. SONG WRITER SAID LOOK AT THE OCEAN NO MAN CAN TAME IT, BUT THE MAN WHO MADE THE SEA CAN LOOK AT THOSE TROUBLED WAVES AND DECLARE PEACE BE STILL. AND HE TOLD US IF WE NEED HIM ALL WE GOT TO DO IS CALL HIM AND HE WILL COME.
THEN LOOKED AT HIS DISCIPLES AND SAID,’ WHY ARE YOU SO FEARFUL, O YE OF LITTLE FAITH, WHY IS IT THAT YOU HAVE NO FAITH? SOMETIMES WHEN WE THINK WE GOT ALL THE FAITH AND A HAIL STORM COMES, WE FIND OUT WE DON’T HAVE WHAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD.
WHEN THE STORM IS AT YOUR HOUSE I GOT FAITH, BUT WHEN IT GET’S TO MY HOUSE O YE OF LITTLE FAITH ’YA’LL KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.
MATTHEW SAY THE MEN MARVELED. THEY HAD BEEN ACQUAINTED WITH THE SEA, BUT NEVER SAW A STORM SO IMMEDIATELY TURNED INTO A PERFECTED CALM, IN ALL THEIR LIVES
IN MARK IT SAYS THAT THEY FEARED GREATLY. WHAT KIND OF MAN IS THIS; THAT THE WIND AND THE SEA OBEY HIM
I am reminded of a story told by Rev.Johnny Noble of a censor taker from Rome, who went to Galilee around 28 A.D. As he entered the region he came upon a man sitting on a donkey.
The man had long hair and a flowing beard.
He wore an old cloak, sandals, and beads.
Pardon me the census taker said, but I am taking a census of Galilee, and would you mind answering a few questions?
Not at all said the man on the donkey
I believe in rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s
Well, then what is your job?
I have no job said the man. Consider the lilies of the field, they toil not and neither do they spin?
Where is your family?
I have no family. I left my mother and father and my brothers and sisters.
Unhuh! Said the censor taker to himself: No Job, no fixed abode.
Now do you belong to any clubs? Are you a mason, or you an Alpha, Sigma, Kappa, Iota, or Omega?
The man said, “No man can serve two masters at one time!
Do you go to school said the census taker?
The man answered and said, “No I don’t go to school, “For which of us taking thought can add one cubit to his stature.
Do you have money or any visible means of support?
The man shook his head; “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and dust doth corrupt, he said.”
Are you registered for military service?
Not exactly you see, for I do not do evil for evil, but I overcome evil with good.
What is your address?
“The foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nest: but I have no where to lay my head.
Who are your friends?
I go among the publicans and sinners.
The census taker wrote down on his sheet what manner of man is this…hippy character, school dropout, no permanent address, no job, a draft dodger, pacifist, conscientious objector, associates with the lowest folks in town…
What manner of man is this?
But sir, before I go, can I ask you one more thing for the record to be straight, what is manner of man are you and what is your name?
The bearded man smiled sadly, looked around and said, ”Some call me the Son of Man. Some call me the Rose of Sharon. Some call me not just Alpha or Omega, but Alpha and Omega! Some just call me Savior, some call me Lord, but some call me Jesus! What manner of man is my Jesus? Do you know Him today?
MARY A. BAKER-JAMES CLEVELAND PICKED IT UP
Master, the tempest is raging
The billows are tossing high
The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness
No shelter or help is nigh
Carest thou not that we perish?
How canst thou lie asleep
When each moment so madly is threatning
A grave in the angry deep?
The winds and the waves shall obey thy will
Peace, be still
Peace, be still
Peace, be still
Peace, be still
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons, or men, or whatever it be
No water can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and sky
They all shall sweetly obey thy will
Peace, peace, be still
(repeat)
