Note: The main source of my textual study is Preachers Sermon and Outline Bible on Mark 4:35 - 41
Title: Faith and Fear
Theme: To show how fear can keep us from having faith in God
Text: Mark 4:35 – 41
Introduction
Where have they been? Parables.
Before this Jesus had been teaching parables. It was not uncommon for him to go back forth across this sea from town to town teaching.
Most of the teaching in Mark 4 had been about parables. Jesus wanted to give them some practical training.
Not just hear it but be doers of the Word. Jesus knew that they would face many storms in their life. He wanted to establish something in them so that when there was questions during storms they could look back and say, no I remember what Jesus did in the other storms.
As in the storms in our life, what keeps us going is who God is and what He has done.
Mar 4:35-41
(35) On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."
(36) Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.
(37) And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
At its widest points it was only about 13 miles north to south, and 8 miles east to west. It would not be called a sea today because of its small size. There are several important facts to note about the Lake.
1. The Lake was known by several names: the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18; Matthew 15:29; Mark 1:16; Mark 7:31); the Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1; John 21:1); the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1); and simply the "Sea" (John 6:16-25) or the "Lake" (Luke 5:2; Luke 8:22). In the Old Testament it was called the Sea of Chinnereth (meaning heart shaped, Numbers 34:11; Deut. 3:17; Joshua 13:27) or Chinneroth (Joshua 12:3; 1 Kings 15:20).
2. The Lake was surrounded by some of
The idea in the Greek is something like the fury of a hurricane. Such violent storms were regular occurrences on the Sea of Galilee
"The ship was covered with the waves" (Matthew 8:24).
"They were filled with water, and were in jeopardy" (Luke 8:23).
(38) But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
But note something: while all the turmoil was going on, Jesus was in the back of the ship sleeping. He was, so to speak, at rest—at peace with Himself and with others and with nature itself. He was completely without guilt or shame, completely at peace with God. He rested perfectly in the care of God. Therefore He was able to rest through the storm.
Thought 1. The storms or trials of life often come suddenly and violently. And too often Christ seems to be far away, asleep. What we need during the storms of life are the same rest and peace, trust and confidence in God, that Jesus had.
Cause of the Storm
This is a storm is something that the Jesus knew ahead. This did not take Him by surprise, what is amazing is that He is the one who led them here.
Sometimes the Lord will lead us to and through storms to make us stronger.
Sometimes we don’t know why the storms are happening with just know the storms are there. Actually it is easier to deal with storms that we know have a cause. Even storms that we cause through sin or disobedience, at least we have a reason.
The hardest storms are those we don’t understand.
Jesus was asleep
Not only was they in a storm they did not understand but Jesus was asleep.
There was no response.
Sometimes we feel like Jesus is asleep. We can’t get His attention. We cry, we yell, we claim, we get bold , we still hear nothing.
Yet many times it is not that God is asleep but asleep in us. As He was with the disciples He is with us.
Thought 1. Note these significant lessons.
1) Imminent danger can drive us to Christ, but we need to remember three critical things.
a) We can wait too long. We can die and slip into eternity before we know it.
b) We run a terrible risk in waiting. We overlook something: a person who decides to wait until the last minute is not all that sincere about Christ, and Christ knows it.
c) We waste a lifetime of living - really living in all the fulness of life. Abundant life comes only through Christ—the life that brings unbelievable confidence and assurance, security and self-worth, love and joy, peace and rest.
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (
They thought they were going to perish “die” yet Jesus was not afraid He knows what we can handle.
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13).
(39) Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
Jesus rose and spoke to the wind. The power to calm the storm had always been in the boat. Where Jesus was was not the issue.
It was trusting Him that is the key.
Jesus doesn’t cause every storm to be calm. Yet it is not about the storm it is about the master of the storm.
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18).
"For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).
"He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud" (Job 26:12).
Thought 1. Christ arises when He is called upon. When we really mean what we pray, He arises to His feet in our behalf. He stands and confronts the situation head-on, meeting our needs beyond what we ask, in the very best way possible.
"Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26).
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Ephes. 3:20).
(40) But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"
Thought 1. Note several lessons.
1) Christ was not disturbed with their calling and interrupting His sleep. He was disturbed with their fear and lack of trust. He is never disturbed with our crying out to Him.
2) There is no excuse for a disciple's fear. Of all people, believers are supposed to be the persons trusting Him, knowing that He is looking after their lives. Believers are to know His supernatural strength; they are supposed to walk through all things courageously, even death.
3) The disciples neglected Christ. They could have prevented much of their problem if they had gone to Christ earlier. As pointed out earlier, they were trying to handle the situation by themselves, confident of their own ability. How often we walk in self-confidence, not paying enough attention to the Lord and His care. We always need to be calling upon Him, not waiting until the last moment, expecting Him to step in and meet our emergency (1 Peter 5:7; Ephes. 6:18).
4) Christ rebukes fear and unbelief. Fear and unbelief dishonor Him. It says to the world that Christ is not enough. He is not strong enough and does not care enough and does not love enough to look after us in our trouble and sin. How foolish we are (John 3:16; 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 11:28-30)!
"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1).
(41) And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"
They just got a clearer understanding of who God is. This caused them to have a reverent fear, a humbling fear, a waking up fear.
Matthew 8:27 “they marveled”. They were amazed. Sometimes it’s the storms that help us see how awesome and powerful our God really is.
Conclusion
Isa 43:2-3 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. (3) For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12).
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Ephes. 3:20).
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:9-12).
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7).
