FOUR GREAT QUESTIONS OF JESUS II
A Series of Devotional Sermons
Second Great Question:
“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
(Mark: 4:40)
The context for this question was this: After a long day of ministry, Jesus suggested to his disciples that they go over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee to get some rest.
During their crossing of the large body of water, a storm came up and tossed them about as waves crashed into the boat and drenched those on board.
During all of this, Jesus was lying in the stern of the boat – sleeping. You might say that the disciples became furious because their Master was sleeping during the storm. So, they woke him up and shouted, “Don’t you care if we drown?”
Well, Jesus got up and rebuked the wind. “Peace! Be still.” And guess what? The wind died down until the water was completely calm.
As Jesus laid back down to resume his nap, He asked a great question that we would do well to ask ourselves: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Apparently, these guys, at this point in their journey with Jesus, still did not know who Jesus was. In fact, after relating the occurrence of this miracle, Mark reflected upon that terrifying experience, remembering that his fellow disciples had looked at each other in amazement and asked, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
This of course is a wonderful story because it describes one of the many miracles of Jesus. Indeed, we marvel at the power of the man named Jesus who caused a storm to cease. But if we see it as “just another story” about Jesus, we do this miracle an injustice.
For, you see, there is far more to the stilling of a threatening storm by the presence and power of Jesus than meets the eye.
I ask you to see in this story the symbolic significance of this once in a lifetime event as it pertains to you and me.
When the disciples realized that it was the presence of Jesus that calmed the storm, they immediately understood the importance of having Jesus with them wherever they went.
So, from then on, they knew that no matter where their journey took them - no matter what their situation might be - to have Jesus with them was to experience peace – even during the storms of life.
Whereas the stilling of the storm on the Sea of Galilee happened once in their lifetime, and would never happen again, it became apparent to the followers of Jesus that the peace Jesus gives could happen repeatedly.
It is as true today as it was then that the presence of Christ in our lives makes a difference for the better. It is something which does happen and which can happen for us. In the presence of Jesus, we can have peace - even during the bitter storms of life.
Our Lord gives us peace in the storms of sorrow. When sorrow comes to us, as come it must, He tells us of the glory of the life to come. He changes the darkness of death into the glorious thought of life eternal. In the midst of our sorrow, the presence of Jesus reminds us of the love of God.
There is an old story of a gardener who, in his garden, had a favorite flower which he loved very much. One day he came to the garden to find the flower gone. The absence of the flower aggravated the gardener and angered him until all he did was grumble.
In the midst of his resentment, he met the master of the garden and hurled his complaints at him. “Hush!” said the master, “I picked the flower for myself.”
In the storm of sorrow Jesus tells us that those we “lost” went home
to be with the Lord; and He gives us the certainty that we shall one day meet again those whom we have loved and lost for awhile.
Notice I said, “lost for a while” – not “forever” - not “for eternity” - “for awhile.”
In one of his books, Dr. Vance Havner, an old-time evangelist and author, illustrates from personal experience his reaction to folks who speak of having “lost” a loved one.
Shortly after his wife died, the beloved author-evangelist decided to go ahead and preach an already-scheduled series of revival services. One evening when he had finished preaching, the grieving evangelist tells about a well-meaning man who came up to him and said, “Dr. Havner, I’m so sorry you lost your wife.”
Dr. Havner quietly responded, “Sir, I have not lost my wife; I know exactly where she is.” Yes, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, gives us peace in the storms of sorrow.
Our Lord gives us peace when life’s problems involve us in a tempest of doubt and uncertainty.
There come times in life when we do not know what to do . . . when we stand at the crossroads and do not know which road to take. During those times, the only thing I know to do is to turn to the Lord and say to Him - seriously, to say to Him, “Lord, what will you have me to do?”
When we do just that, the way will either become clear and plain to us, or we will not be afraid to WAIT until the way becomes clearer. When into one’s life rain falls, wait awhile, and the skies will become clear!
Terrible tornadoes ripped their way through two states and left in their wake a path of destruction and devastation. The next day, the skies were clearer and bluer than ever. An elderly gentleman, tears streaming down his cheeks, considered the television camera and calmly said, “Today the skies are blue; that tells me God cares; it gives me hope to carry on.”
The real dilemma for most of us is not that we do not know what to do or which way to turn, but it is that we fail to talk about it – with a friend who cares, and with our heavenly Father who cares even more so.
There is no therapy more effective than to talk about the way you feel with someone who really cares.
If you feel furious about your situation, as did the disciples in that boat, tell the Lord about it. He will calm your spirit and give you peace.
He gives us peace when life’s problems precipitate anger, doubt and uncertainty. Ask Him to help you; be willing to accept His answer; you will experience His peace during storms of life.
Our Lord gives us peace in the storms of anxiety. Did you know that your greatest enemy is worry? We worry about ourselves . . . the unknown future . . . those we love. Most of the time we worry needlessly – the very reason why Jesus said, “Do not be anxious for your life.”
Most of us worry needlessly, but Jesus speaks to us of a Father who will never cause His child a needless tear; He speaks of a love beyond which neither we nor those we love can ever drift. In the storms of life, He is with us - and His presence gives us peace! All we need to do is ask Him to stand by us, and He will!
A great gospel song expresses the refuge we have during times of storm was composed by Charles Albert Tindley, known as one of the “founding fathers of American Gospel music.”
The son of slaves, he taught himself to read and write at age 17. He was a driven young man, working as a janitor while attending night school, and earning his divinity degree through a correspondence course.
In 1902, he became pastor of the Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia – the church where he had earlier been the janitor. At the time of Tindley’s death, his church had 12,500 members. One of his songs was the basis for the famous civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome”.
Of his 47 songs, the one that is so fitting in response to the great question we have considered in this message is the gospel song entitled “Stand by Me.” “When the storms of life are raging, stand by me . . .” Amen.
