The Fearsome Storm
Mark 4:35-41
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Psalm 121 King James Version
121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 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.
5 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.
Message:
Last week we celebrated Father’s Day and I shared what an extra ordinary experience it was for me. To realize that you are a part of new life coming into the world was entirely humbling and profound.
Suddenly you are swept up by an inexplicable emotional experience that goes into your soul. Life made by God is given to you and your wife that is coded with both your genes.
An entirely new person is born into the human family and you are entrusted with its care and development.
It is one of those “Awakening Moments” when we realize how intricately involved God is in detailing the course of our lives. We gasp to take in a fresh breath of air as we are consumed by this new perspective of ourselves, our spouse our child and how God has planned it all.
In a manner of speaking it is a “Born Again” experience.
That dear Saints is the experience that Jesus wants us to have each and every day we live. To feel fully alive, fully engaged and fully involved in God’s expression of love for us all.
Now you don’t have to have babies all the time to tap into that “Born Again” experience. It’s just that the birth experience is that kind of “Awakening” moment that makes you conscious of God’s presence in your world.
Your concept of mortality is exponentially enlarged and your concept of immortality becomes riveted the moment your baby takes its first breath.
Today we look at the flip side of that experience as we see the Disciples in peril as they look into the face of death instead of life. They are caught up in a fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee while Jesus is absolutely zonked out in the stern of the boat in a deep, deep sleep.
Here I want to remind you all that Jesus is fully God and fully man.
As such Jesus experienced what it was to be human. Jesus got tired just like you and me. Jesus got hungry just like you and me and Jesus body was just as prone to pain and suffering like you and me. He felt the heat of the day and the cool of the breeze. However being fully God and fully man Jesus was fully aware even though His human body was resting.
What had so exhausted Jesus took place a few chapters ago as He began His ministry. He had selected His 12 Disciples and then began to preach and teach and heal with them in tow.
Those were very, very long days as multitudes came to see Jesus, hear Jesus and others hoped to be healed by Jesus. As He went from town to town He taught alongside the Sea of Galilee.
Here Jesus stood in a boat a little off shore to use the water as a natural amplifier. Jesus knows science, He gave it to us. It is a scientific fact that sound waves travel further and in fact are amplified as they travel across water.
During this time of teaching Jesus focused on seeds.
The Parable of the Seeds scattered on the Four Kinds of Soils - The Lamp on a Stand - The Parable of the Sower - The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Jesus is not just talking about seeds;
He is planting seeds in the minds, hearts and souls of those listening. The seed is the Word of God and that word is eternal life.
After several long days of this Jesus is ready to cross over the Sea of Galilee to other towns and villages. A chance to rest and refresh so He goes to sleep and lets the Disciples do the sailing.
At least 5 of the Disciples were experienced fishermen and sailors that included Peter, Andrew, James and John and possibly Phillip. Peter was the oldest so it is most likely he took charge of the crew. That left seven inexperienced sailors on board with Jesus.
There are other boats following Jesus boat as they make this short journey. The Gospel of Mark tells us that a “furious squall came up”.
Mark 4:37
A squall according to metrological definition can include driving rain, high winds, waves, thunder and lightning. Maybe some of you have been out on the water in such conditions? I know I have and it is absolutely terrifying.
Jesus on the other hand is still fast asleep despite the rolling waves and claps of thunder and bolts of lightning. Have you ever been so tired that nothing could wake you?
Here we have a group of men who for several days have been eye witness to miracle after miracle as Jesus healed people and exorcised them of evil spirits. They also heard lesson after lesson about how “Faith” is likened to a seed.
Mark 4:3-8 - Mark 4:26-29 - Mark 4:30-32
Now their faith is collectively put to the test. This may have been a test to see if they could apply what they had learned. OR. It was an environmental attack on Jesus and His Disciples by Satan or it was just a natural event. The word of God does not specify.
In the midst of a “furious squall” the waves nearly swamp the boat and the disciples wake Jesus up. Mark 4:38
Notice the “s” on Disciples. Several were involved in waking Jesus up. No names are given but we can surmise that the majority were involved in waking Jesus up.
What they say to Jesus is very telling. In an almost accusatory tone they say…” Teacher, don’t you care if we drown”?
Mark 4:38
The times that seem to “Awaken” us to God’s presence in our lives, are the times when we are closest to life and death.
When our sense of our own mortality is “Awoken” we then recognize God is near us and with us. Why?
Is it that we somehow become more sensitive to God’s presence or is it that we realize we just might be in God’s presence in a millisecond?
We live with the constant knowledge that our lives are a fleeting thing and yet we often treat the experience with such indifference. That is until our circumstances become radically different.
In this case it was an environmental change but it can sometimes be a change in relationships or economics or personal wellbeing. Whatever the focus of the change suddenly we turn to God regarding the course of our lives.
In this case it happened to a group of Disciples supposed men of faith. It can happen to any group friends, to a family, a business, church leadership or governments. The environment around such groups can get very stormy and seem destined to disrupt collective plans.
It is in the face of such storms that we need to realize that God is with us. We are never in this alone. Jesus is in the boat with us and we are in the boat with Him.
Today the church faces such storms coming from all corners of society and even from within her own ranks.
How do we face such fearsome events?
Do we listen to the thunder and cover our ears, do we close our eyes to the bolts of lightning, and do we turn our faces away from the winds?
No we gather our composure and the assurance of our faith and allow our faith to grow in relation to the storm. God is very much aware of our storms.
Closing – Read - Psalm 121
Saints if you are facing a storm in your life as part of a group or as an individual know that you can go to Jesus anytime.
Your prayers will not disturb Him. He is ready to rise up and calm the winds and the rain so that the course of your life will reach the other shore.
Jesus has command over nature, over spiritual foes and over every kind of storm that life can throw at you. Reach out to Him and let Him know you need Him to step in on your behalf with His supernatural power. He knows your every need.
Amen
