Mar 4:35-41 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. (36) And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. (37) And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. (38) And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? (39) And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (40) And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (41) And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Looking at this Scripture portion we observe several "great things" about it:
A great multitude of people v.1
A great company of ships v. 36
A great storm of wind v. 37
A great inundation of the ship v. 37
A great sleep by the Master v. 38
A great accusation by the disciples v. 38
A great rebuke of the wind v. 39
A great calm v. 39
A great lack of faith v. 40
A great fear v. 41
A great Man v. 41
This leads me to exclaim
What a multitude of people hungry for the Word! What a company of ships following the Master! What a storm that filled the ship! What a sleep of the Master in the wet and filled boat! What an accusation by the disciples! What a rebuke of nature! What a resulting calm! What a great lack of faith! What a fear and finally... What a MAN!!!!!
And we should now all ask ourselves the question;
WHAT VITAL LESSON(S) CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS INCIDENT?
Let's look at a few:
Lesson No 1
WHEN GOD GIVES YOU A COMMAND HE MEANS PRECISELY THAT:
YOU CAN HAVE AND EXPRESS COMPLETE CONFIDENCE AND FAITH IN GOD'S COMMANDS
If He said Let us go over then I can assure you that is exactly what He means! You are going OVER NOT under!!!
Jesus was making use of someone's docked ship as a pulpit to speak to the multitude gathered, HUNGRY to hear His doctrine. He was thus able to avoid the crowd pressing in and to communicate unhindered.
Mar 4:1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
After concluding His address, His express command was "Let us go over to the other side." It is vital to note that our Lord Who is Yahweh Incarnate has issued a command which includes those present with Him.
Let US go OVER the other side!
He was not planning on going alone thus the command says US!
He was not planning for them to go UNDER thus the command to let US go OVER!
Having made His intentions and plans clear and giving His WORD concerning it our Lord went to sleep.
It is interesting to note that the Word says in Psa 121:3-4 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. (4) Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
I believe Psalm 121
harmonizes perfectly with this incident! Here in the psalm we see Yahweh does not sleep yet Jesus is reported to be sleeping in the boat. Being manifested in the flesh He can enjoy the ability to sleep but because He is also Yahweh He maintains constant watch and thus is aware of what is happening all the time anywhere, any time! He was therefore aware of the approaching storm...He is aware of the intensity but it is OK because He is right them WITH them. Storm or no storm Yahweh is right there ... for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Heb 13:5-6
You may ask the question,
"Where is God when I am in all my distresses?"
"Where is God when bad things are happening to me?"
Let me assure you that He is right there with you and you may think that He is sleeping and you may be accusing Him of being uncaring, but He is fully aware of all that is happening to you and He will keep you in the midst of whatever is happening to you, What is happening in your home, in your family, at your workplace in whatever situation that He commands REMEMBER He is there! He may not take you out of it but HE WILL KEEP you in the midst of it. TRUST HIM! Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Lesson No 2
DO NOT EXPECT SMOOTH SAILING JUST BECAUSE GOD COMMANDS IT
When God commanded Moses to confront Pharaoh the burden on Israel was increased. But God commanded and He made His Word good in spite of the opposition! Jesus said in John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
In your Divinely ordained mission you can expect devilish opposition but remember God gave the command...publish it loud! When God gave the command concerning Joseph's destiny instead of the ascension one would expect Joseph's life took a downward path into a pit and a prison but note what the Word said...YAHWEH was with Joseph! Genesis 39:2, 21
. Yes! Right there in the midst of all your troubles YAHWEH is with you! The disciples were no strangers to the sea and to storms. Some of them were seasoned fishermen who toiled night after night and had experienced storms but this one made them afraid! Many times we encounter storms in our lives. Divinely ordered families are disrupted due to indiscretions, infidelity, inability to focus on the Word and command of God! We encounter wave after mountainous wave of despair, discouragement, disappointments, depression and dissatisfaction that threaten to engulf us and those we love and shattering our lives forever. At that time we need to step back and asked ourselves: "Is God in this boat?" Then we are going OVER and NOT UNDER!!!
Lesson No 3
GOD EXPECTS YOU TO HAVE FAITH THAT WHAT HE COMMANDS WILL BE!!
Picture the scene: A ship full of people. Several other little ships following. An unexpected and tremendous storm! And...of all things Jesus is sleeping. Why did Jesus continue sleeping? Surely the horribly tossing ship and now swamped interior warranted Him waking up! But He is sleeping. The disciples are terribly scared.
WHY?
Did they expect the vessel to sink with Jesus in it?
Did they expect Jesus would save Himself and leave them to drown?
It is obvious that they had no control over their feelings, and their lack of faith ultimately resulted in the amazing accusation! "Master, carest thou not that we perish?"
What an accusation! Doesn't He care? Hear what He said:
Mat 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Mat 6:28-30 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: (29) And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (30) Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Isa 43:1-2 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. (2) When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
I believe Jesus expected them to respond differently. The disciples, maybe brash, bold Peter at least should have sat back...look the wind in its face,... and then look at Jesus sleeping, remembered Jesus' Word, "Let us pass over unto the other side." then say: I want to see which storm is going to take us under when Yahweh said we are passing OVER!!!
Is God in that family of yours? Is God in that work? Is God in that Bible class, that Sunday School class, that Men's group, that Women's meeting, Whatever it is!
Is God in it?
Then expect Him to be keeping an eye on you. He is not about to desert you! He will not walk away and leave you! He has said so that you can BOLDLY say!
Is Yahweh in that pulpit with you! Then you are going over not under! What He commands WILL be!
I believe Yahweh was aware of all that was happening and He wanted His disciples to learn a vital lesson...that you can sleep calmly in the storm because He is there with you.
You may be called to the ministry in some capacity and you are in a position to influence others for Yahweh. If you have been obedient to Him in getting into the ministry the rest assured that HE is right there with you. Regardless of what and where Yahweh has commanded you He will be with you.
Remember Psa 121:5-8 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. (6) The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. (7) The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. (8) The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
