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.
So perhaps the question they faced is a question we should be asked as well.
He healed you. He rescued you. He protected you. He provided for you. He loved you. He moved heaven and earth to meet your needs. He has lavished gifts on you. He has opened doors. He has closed doors. He has guarded you. He has guided you. He has comforted you. He has granted you peace. He has heaped blessings on you.
So how much more proof do you need before you will have faith? Why doubt? Why get nervous? Why take matters into your own hands? Why even question? Why look for answers elsewhere? Why turn to others?
Why don't we have faith yet? Hasn't He done enough to prove His faith worthiness?
B. Do we have more faith for others than we do for ourselves?
I think there is another question that this account forces us to ask. Do we have more faith for others than we do for ourselves? The disciples apparently had no issue knowing Jesus could heal others, rescue others from death, demon possession, and hunger. Yet for some reason they couldn't or didn't have enough faith to believe that Jesus would watch out for them! I wonder how many of us are sitting here have no problem believing that God can provide for so and so's family, and can heal so and so's marriage, and can give so and so a better job, and can heal Sister Suzy's sickness. But then at the same time have absolutely no faith for our own needs. I believe for your miracle but can't believe for my own. I challenge you that when we come to that place we are really admitting that we think Jesus cares more for everyone else more than me. We are really admitting that even though we have been told that God is no respecter of persons we think He plays favorites. What we are really revealing is that we have a trust issue. We haven't come to the place where we trust Jesus to deal with us out of love. Instead we think He is more willing to quiet everyone else's storm but has abandoned us in the midst of our own.
I am glad you have faith for my storm but you have got to develop faith for your own! I am thankful you have faith for my answer but do you have faith that He will answer you?
C. Is His Word really enough?
I think as we read this account we often focus intently and strongly on the storm aspect because we can relate to stormy seasons. But I wonder if our intense focus causes us to miss a question that must be answered?
Notice that prior to the first boat swamping wave and prior to the first sail filling breath of wind Jesus said to the disciples, "Let's go over to the other side." In that simple statement He has already revealed the plan. He has already revealed that they will make it to the other side. If His word was strong enough to wake the dead, then His word was surely strong enough to take them across. The disciples failed to take Him at His word. They in essence doubted the truth of God's promise and word. Their doubt was established prior to the need for a miracle. Their doubt was in place before they were ever faced with fear!
What has He told you that you have failed or forgotten to believe? What has He said you would get through that you now wonder if you can overcome? What has He declared would be in your life that you are now uncertain will come to pass? He said the other side. He didn't say half way and then sink. He didn't say partial crossing. He said the other side. Some of you have doubt established before you have ever even faced a struggle or an obstacle. He said He would be with you and yet you are worried about being alone. He said He would strengthen you but you are worried about not being able to pull it off. He said He would provide and you are freaking out as you watch the bills accumulate. Is His Word really enough?
So my question to you is simple . . . "Do you still have no faith?" After all the faithfulness and concern He has shown for you do you still lack faith to believe that He will come through? Are His promises still alive in you?
