GOD WITH US BRINGS PEACE
An atheist was out fishing in Scotland one day, when all of a sudden a huge dragon type creature began to come out of the water. With snarling teeth it moved closer towards him. In desperation he shouted, “Dear God, please save me!” All of a sudden, everything stopped moving and the heavens opened and a deep voice said, “Save you? I thought you didn’t believe in Me?” To that the atheist responded, “I know, but give me a break. Two minutes ago I didn’t believe in the Loch Ness Monster either!” On of the things that I have found to be true in life is that our beliefs (our faith) are tested most during trials. It is easy to believe in God and trust in Him when everything is going well, but what about when things get tough?
C.S. Lewis, who wrote the Narnia fiction series for children, wrote after the tragic death of his wife, "Where is God? You go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is in vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double-bolting on the inside. After that, silence." What do you do when life falls apart and God seems distant?
Today we are concluding our series God With us and I want to talk about peace. A couple of weeks ago we talked about the fact that our God is Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our Peace. To find true peace in our hearts we need to make the choice of acceptance, trust and surrender. As we end this year I wanted to once again talk about peace by addressing one of the things that often robs us of our peace, and that is doubt. Have you ever doubted the plan, presence or power of God in your life?
Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened
I am sure that you have heard the story about the man who fell off a cliff, but managed to grab a tree limb on the way down. He shouted out in desperation, "Is anyone up there?" "I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe me?" "Yes, Lord, I believe. I really believe, but I can't hang on much longer." "That's all right, if you really believe you have nothing to worry about. I will save you. Just let go of the branch." A moment of pause, then: "Is anyone else up there?"
In the story that we read this morning, we see that the disciples doubted 3 things;
1. Doubting God’s Plan (vs. 45-46) -
When we face hardships in life we often begin to question why these things are happening to us. We start asking questions like, “God, why is this happening to me? Why are you allowing this to take place?” In this story Jesus tells His disciples to get into the boat and to cross over to the other side of the lake. We are not told what the weather conditions were like that afternoon, but there was one of two possible scenarios;
a. Obeying Jesus when we know the road will be difficult
Perhaps the wind was already blowing when Jesus told them to cross the lake. These men were fishermen, they spent their lives fishing in that lake at night. They knew how to interpret the weather. Certainly there is a good chance that they knew from the signs that they were in for a rough trip across the lake that night.
Has there ever been a time in your life when Jesus told you to do something and you knew that it was going to be very difficult? It was clear that the wind would be against you? Has there ever been a time when you knew that obeying Jesus was going to cost you?
I certainly understand this from my own life. There have been times when God has asked me to do things or go places and I knew that obedience was going to be difficult. I remember when I first felt that God was calling me to go into missions and I was struggling with that calling. What would it mean in terms of my career or finding a wife or dealing with cross cultural stress? It has been said that the only time a missionary feels like they are home is on the airplane, because when they are there they wish they were here, and when they are here they wish they were there.
Perhaps the disciples knew that crossing the lake that night was going to be difficult. But perhaps not…
b. Obeying Jesus when things seem to go wrong
Perhaps there were no signs that there would be a storm that night. When Jesus told them to get into the boat and go to the other side it was a beautiful calm day and they knew that it was going to be a quick and easy trip to the other side. They were just looking forward to getting across and to the warm beds that awaited them. Some time after they had left, the wind came up.
Imagine if this was the case, what would be going through their minds. Didn't Jesus know that there would be a storm? If He did, why did He send us out into it!? Why are we doing this? Why is this happening to us? Why did He not just tell us to wait until the morning?
Maybe there has been a time in your life where everything seemed to be going along just fine and then, all of a sudden, a storm came up. You thought that you were being obedient. You thought that you were following the will of God for your life, but the storm made you question whether you heard Jesus correctly. When things began to go bad, you began to question God’s will. What seemed so right at first can begin to seem the opposite when everything goes wrong. In times like that you can begin to question God’s plan.
Certainly the children of Israel were like that when they left Egypt. God delivered them from captivity, but every time things seemed to get tough they rebelled against God. Every time an obstacle came up they blamed God and questioned His plan. When the Egyptian army threatened to attack them they cried out;
Exo 14:11-12 They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"
They saw God do an amazing miracle by parting the sea to save them, but by the next chapter they were grumbling again;
Exo 15:23-24 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"
The next chapter they got hungry and the grumbling began again;
Exo 16:2-3 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."
The next chapter they are at it again;
Exo 17:3-4 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?" 4 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."
Then they finally make it to the edge of the promised land. They send in spies but they return with a bad report, so what happens?
Num 14:2-3 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?"
When things seemed to go wrong, they doubted. They doubted God’s plan for delivering them. Do you find yourself sometimes doing the same thing? You are just going through life minding your own business and then trials hit and you begin to ask God why it is happening and doubting His plan for your life.
Faith is not a shelter against difficulties, but belief in the face of all contradictions. -- Paul Tournier
2. Doubting God’s Presence (vs. 47-50) -
Notice that it was late afternoon by the time that Jesus had fed the crowds and sent the disciples to the other side of the lake. In verse 47 it says that when “evening” came the disciples were already in the middle of the lake. During the 4th watch of the night they were still rowing. The 4th watch means that it was almost morning. That means that they had probably been rowing for more than 10 hours. That was a very tough night that had followed a very busy day. They must have been absolutely exhausted. Imagine yourself in this boat. After the first hour you start to ask, “where is Jesus?” Then the 2nd and 3rd and eventually the 9th and 10th… Where was Jesus. Does He know what is happening to us? Does He know what we are going through? So where was Jesus?
Mark 6:48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.
Where was Jesus? He was up on the mountain praying. Jesus saw what they were going through, and I am sure that He was praying for them throughout the night. The important thing to note here is that Jesus SAW them. He knew what they were going through. He was not ignorant of their suffering.
No matter where you go and no matter what you go through, Jesus knows and He understands. Jesus sees us. He sees us today in whatever situation we find ourselves in. He is always there. Jesus understands our pain and our sorrow. He sees us. He is with us. Because of that, we do not need to be afraid.
A three-year-old named Mark, accidentally spilled his fruit punch on the floor one day. He decided to clean up the mess himself and ran to the back porch to get the mop. Suddenly realizing it was dark outside, he became apprehensive about reaching out the door for the mop. His mother reminded him Jesus is everywhere -- even in the dark. Mark thought and then, with his face to the door, said, "Jesus, if you're out there, will you please hand me the mop?"
3. Doubting God’s Power (vs. 51-52) -
Jesus saw His disciples struggling against the wind through the night. Eventually He gets up and walks out on the water to them. So here is the important question… why did He not simply do that 8 hours earlier? If He saw that they were struggling and He had the power to walk out on the water and calm the storm, then why did He wait so long to do so? What was so important up on that mountain that Jesus could not have spared His disciples a long night of rowing? Notice again what is says in verse 48:
Mark 6:48 …About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them …
Did you notice that before? He was about to pass by them. He was not actually walking out to the disciples, he was headed for the other side of the lake. It was only when the disciples see him that He changes course and heads for the boat in order to calm their fears. It says in verse 49 that the disciples initially thought He was a ghost. Since it is impossible for a human to walk on water, it was logical that the thing they saw walking on the water towards them must not have been human. They doubted that it was really Jesus that they were seeing.
We read in verse 51 that after Jesus arrived and stepped into the boat that the wind immediately died down and it became calm. They were completely amazed by this. The story ends in verse 52 when it says, “for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.”
What does it mean that “they had not understood about the loaves?” I think that this simple statement really explains everything. The issue here seems to be faith. Jesus had just done an incredible miracle. He had miraculously multiplied the food and fed thousands of people, and yet when the disciples see Him walking on the water they think it is a ghost. In their hearts they still did not understand who Jesus really was, they still did not believe. Time and time again Jesus had to rebuke them for their lack of faith.
If Jesus’ plan was perfect and His presence was with them and He had the power to walk out to them at any time, then why did they have to all those hours rowing? The issue here seems to be a lesson in faith. Jesus was trying to teach them something.
A ship, like a human being, moves best when it is slightly against the wind, when it has to keep its sails tight and attend to its course. Ships, like men, do poorly when the wind is directly behind, pushing them sloppily on their way so that no care is required in steering or in the management of sails; the wind seems favorable, for it blows in the direction one is heading, but actually it is destructive, because it induces a relaxation in tension and skill. What is needed is a wind slightly opposed to the ship, for then tension can be maintained, and juices can flow and ideas can germinate; for ships, like men, respond to challenge. -- James Michener
The gospel of Mark was written by John Mark through the eyes of Peter. It is therefore interesting to note that the Mark account of this story leaves out something that the Matthew account includes – Peter walking on the water:
Matt 14:26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Why does Peter’s account of this event leave out the part about him walking on the water? Because it was a painful reminder of his lack of faith. When I read the story I think “wow, Peter was the only one brave enough to actually step out of the boat!” For Peter, perhaps all he remembered was the words of Jesus “You of little faith.”
There may be times in life where we doubt the plan or presence or power of God in our lives. At times like that it is important to remember that the way to deal with doubt is through faith. Yes, we can trust the will of God for our lives. Yes, we know that whatever we go through in life that Jesus is with us. Yes, the almighty God of creation is able to calm any storm. Nothing is impossible for Him.
Two chapters latter we see that again Jesus feeds a multitude. Afterwards He has had a confrontation with the Pharisees and once again Jesus is in the boat with His disciples crossing the lake. They forget to take lunch with them and begin to argue about that.
Mark 8:17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" "Twelve," they replied. 20 "And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" They answered, "Seven." 21 He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"
The disciples are arguing about not having any bread, when the one who had multiplied the bread twice before to feed thousands of people was sitting there with them. Do you see the problem? “Jesus, we did not bring anything to eat – we are going to go hungry now!” Jesus says, “Trust me.”
Where in your life do you need to hear Jesus say ‘trust me’ this morning?
Jesus, this road you are calling me to walk down is going to be a difficult one. How am I going to make it? Trust me. Jesus, this unexpected tragedy has really changed my life. Why are you allowing this to happen to me? Trust me. Jesus, I am hurting and you seem so distant. Do you even know what I am going through? Trust me. Jesus, I am facing a situation that is too powerful for me to overcome. How am I going to make it through this. Trust me.
Notice that Jesus reassures His Disciples in the present by reminding them of what He has already done in the past. How has God already shown himself to be faithful in your life? His faithfulness in our past builds or faith for the future.
Several years ago, James Eads built the first steel bridge in America. It spanned the Mississippi River at St. Louis, Missouri. No one believed that it would support its own weight. Eads ordered 14 locomotives to stop on the bridge at the same time. The people then trusted the integrity of the bridge. But, its builder already had faith that it would stand and remain standing.
Our day to day walk and experiences show us that Jesus is trustworthy and therefore we should be willing to trust him when things get bad. The best way to learn to accept the big storms of life is to accept the smaller storms with an attitude of grace and acceptance. As we trust God in the little areas of life He can then entrust us with greater and greater things.
The best training is to learn to accept everything as it comes, as from Him whom our soul loves. The tests are always unexpected things, not great thing that can be written up, but the common little rubs of life, silly little nothings, things you are ashamed of minding at all. Yet they can knock a strong man over and lay him very low. -- Amy Carmichael
How about you? Where are you at today? Maybe this message is not really where you are at. The wind is at your back and you do not have a care in the world. You are not wrestling with God’s plan or presence or power.
However, maybe today the wind is against you. You are asking “Jesus, why? Where are you Lord?” Maybe today as we end this difficult year you have been struggling. Whatever the storm you are facing today, give it to Jesus.
A teacher was asked a question by a pupil, referring to Deuteronomy 6:6-- "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts" "Why is it said this way?" the pupil asked. "Why are we not told to place them in our heart?" The teacher answered that it is not within man's power to place the divine teachings directly in his heart. "All that we can do is place them on the surface of the heart so that when the heart breaks they will drop in."
The old hymn Have Thine Own Way, Lord was written by Adelaide Pollard in 1907. She believed the Lord wanted her to go to Africa as a missionary, but she was unable to raise funds to go. In an uncertain state of mind, she attended a prayer meeting, where she heard an elderly woman pray, “It’s all right, Lord. It doesn’t matter what You bring into our lives, just have Your own way with us.” At home that night, much encouraged, she wrote these words;
Have Thine own way Lord, have Thine own way. Thou art the potter I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will. While I am waiting yielded and still.
