There are two prisoners shackled to a deep dark dungeon. Spread-eagled, they are securely lashed by manacles and chains and actually hanging suspended, side by side, a few feet above the dungeon floor. There is only one small window high above their heads, maybe thirty, or forty feet up. They are immobile and alone, pinned inexorably to the wall. One prisoner turns to the other and whispers, “Here’s my plan”.
That is the kind of mentality we need when enduring opposition!
Arnold Palmer was invited to a convention of blind golfers. The golfers told how they were able to know what direction to hit the ball. One blind gofer explained that the caddy went out ahead of him with a little bell. Arnold asked how well it worked, and the blind golfer said that it worked so well that he was willing to take Arnold on for a round of golf; and just to make it interesting, he was willing to bet $10,000 that he could beat Arnold. Arnold said, OK. What time do we tee off? And the blind man said, “10:30…. Tonight!”
We can overcome adversity through Christ!
35On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38But 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?” 39Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” Mark 4:35-41
In order for us to endure opposition, there are a few things that we should know.
I. Opposition occurs when we follow Christ. (35-36)
Have you ever noticed that when you do the right thing someone always opposes you? You become labeled as a “do gooder”, or a “goody two shoes”. If it were easy to do the right thing, wouldn’t everyone do it all the time? I have come to the realization that when I stand up and do right, more often than not I will be persecuted. Jesus said it this way, 24“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25“It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 26“Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Mt. 10: 24-26.
We see here that they were doing the right thing. They were following Christ’s leading. Notice who followed, “They, being the disciples, took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.” This move didn’t just affect the disciples and their boat, it affected others and their boats as well.
He said in my paraphrase, let us go to the other side. They didn’t ask questions. They didn’t want to know why. They didn’t form a committee to discover what was on the other side, or if it were financial wise. There aren’t any recordings of the people questioning, “What purpose does this serve?” You don’t see anyone looking out for themselves saying, “how can this trip best serve me?” They just simply followed. I don’t read of anyone trying to get into someone else’s boat to be closer to Christ. I don’t read of anyone trying to lure someone else into their boat proclaiming that they have “all of Christ” or something similar.
What do we have today that is similarly made out of wood and nails that people come and sit in? A church. Christ used a boat often in His day. I believe one of the things that He uses today are churches. If Christ didn’t have one big boat that everyone should get into, why do we think today that one denomination or building might have all of the answers? Instead of putting down our brothers and sisters of another denomination, we should edify them. We should work together to do His kingdom work!
But you see, what does this cause? Opposition! I don’t believe…. Let’s agree to disagree, and work with the One that matters most. Our first priority should be seeing people saved, and then seeing the same people grow in Christ!
II. Opposition tries to sink our boats. (37)
The wind tried to prevent them from going the direction God had told them to go. The water was filling their boats and it appeared that the boats would sink. Isn’t this exactly what happens we you get people moving in one direction together! The wind starts whipping up. Winds of gossip, “Did you hear what so and so did.” Or “Pastor made a unilateral decision and I just don’t like it.” What does this stir up? Waves! Sin. Look out, here comes a wave of jealousy crashing in, “John thinks he knows it all.” Look out, here comes another wave of doubt. “Well we don’t have the money”. Look out, a wave of fear, “what will the people in our community think if they hear that we are doing…”. Look out a wave of control, “I just don’t understand HOW we are going to do this.” We must not forget who causes confusion. God is not the author of confusion. So when we are getting confused, who are we listening to? Let’s not forget that we do have an enemy out there. When he sees us mounting together, of course he is going to try to create a diversion. And ultimately it is these waves that fill our boats and cause it at least to look and feel like we are going to sink. Let’s realize this on the forefront, and allow Christ to do what only He can. What do we need? We need our Savior to speak peace to this storm.
III. Opposition causes us to question Christ. (38)
He was in the back asleep. There was a great windstorm that caused the waves to beat and fill the boat. It appeared that the boat was about to sink! How could He be sleeping at a time like this? It appeared as if He didn’t care. The appearance of rejection and facing death spurned the question, “do you not care?” Lord, do you not care! How many times have we asked this? How many times have we doubted God’s love for us? We are proficient readers of circumstances. We too often confuse Truth with circumstance. Therefore, we doubt His love.
However, from God’s perspective, He settled this issue years ago at Calvary. Think about it for a moment. How many of you would sacrifice your child? Now you had better contemplate this. God didn’t sacrifice His child for just a particular group of people that He favored. He didn’t sacrifice His child for people who would say, “Thank you Lord. You are so good to us”. He did sacrifice His son for ALL. That is what “whosoever” means is John 3:16. Romans 10:13 tells us that “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”. Here is what I am trying to say, God sent His son to die for us with the understanding that we can choose to reject Him.
Yes, that is why people have the freedom for now to trash Christianity. That is why Christians are persecuted. How many of you would let your son die? Little on, let him die for people who would not appreciate his death. This is the love that God has for you, for the whole world. He doesn’t want to see any lost! However He still gives us a choice. But one day the opportunity to choose will no longer exist. The bible says, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
With that said, we should see opposition in a new light. It isn’t a reflection of God’s love. For He has proven His love. So, we should no longer question God’s love, but be firmly embraced by it in spite of our circumstances.
IV. Jesus uses opposition to strengthen our faith. (39-40)
He tells the wind and the waves to be still. Now if that doesn’t strengthen your faith what will? Can you imagine what the disciples felt? They really thought that they were going to die. They saw the waves, and felt the wind. They say the boats around them experiencing what they were. They saw their boat going under and believed that it really was going to sink! And all of a sudden, Jesus stands up and speaks. The three words that He says are about as extraordinary as what happened. “Peace, be still.” What a message for us. In the midst of turmoil, Jesus wants peace. That is His message for us today. He later questions, “where is your faith”. Is this not incredible?
But listen, this gives us insight. Where there is a storm, there should be faith. If you are in a storm, don’t panic. Recognize God is the God of all, including this storm. With God you always find peace. That is how Christ could sleep.
The storm obeyed! The words were/are incredible, but the results were enormous! There was a calm after He spoke. No wind, no waves, no more water coming in the boat. Isn’t that always the case? Think about your life. When God speaks to you, what happens? Peace. No wind, gossip doesn’t bother you. People expressing themselves doesn’t impede you. No waves, your sins are forgiven. They can’t hinder you any longer! And ultimately, you know that God is in control!
He uses this opportunity to remind them of their call. Jesus Himself had directed them. If He directed them (37), would He not also make sure that they get to where they are going? Should they not know that God is going to do what He says? Sometimes we need to be reminded that Jesus is directing our lives, and our call. What better way to prove as well as show His authority than to allow a storm? This reinforces hope and faith. It girds our heart with the belief that we can because He is with us! This is also why Christ could lay His head down and rest. He knew God’s will. Are you having trouble sleeping at night? Could it be that you don’t know God’s will? If you do know His will, could it be that you aren’t trusting Him?
Do you see other churches experiencing the same trouble that we are? The same storm is raging in their lives. We should begin praying that the God of the storm will speak His peace to us all.
V. Jesus uses opposition to prepare us for our calling.
Part of the reason the wind and the waves tried to prevent them from getting where they were going is because of where they were going. There was someone on the other side that needed help. Jesus used this storm to prepare them for the next assignment they were going to face. If He could calm the storm, surely He could set free this man! If they saw and experienced the storm and Him calming it, surely they could believe that He could set the man free, and ultimately that Christ could set them free as well.
Isn’t that the way Christ works? He overcomes a smaller issue, storms, to build faith for a larger issue, people. What if they chose not to go? The man might not be set free. Christ knows that when He directs there will be a storm. However, what is on the other side of the storm is so valuable, that He is willing for you to go through the storm just so that you can get there. And in the process, have your faith stretched and your calling assured.
What is on the other side of your storm? A person! A person that God loves so much that He is sending you to them! You have the answer that they need. Jesus is the answer! Jesus, the Truth, will make them free! Jesus, the light, will shine in their lives and erase the darkness. Jesus, the lamb, will free them from the chains of sin. Jesus, the Lion, will establish His kingdom and protect them from danger. Jesus is the answer!
Are you willing to go through a storm? Are you willing to experience Christ in His fullness? Are you willing to become the mission minded person that He is calling you to be?
Are you going through a storm right now? Would you like the church to pray for you?
