“A Sleeping Savior”
Mark 4:35-41
MK 4:35 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!"
MAIN TEXT
MK 4:37 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?"
INTRODUCTION
• This morning, I am going to talk about those times when we seek to cross over to “the other side” spiritually and then encounter a storm.
• I need to be very honest with you this morning and let you know that there will be times in your journey with Jesus that you will encounter some very stormy times.
• This morning, let’s take a close look at this Scripture and see what happens when hard times blow in as we cross over to the other side.
I. CRISIS {vs 35-37}
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.
1. Take a look at THE BEGINNING of this storm
2CO 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
Jack Hayford
On January 17, 1994, ten thousand freight trains seemed to be thundering through our house as the Northridge earthquake hit Los Angeles. When it was over, our family was safe and our home virtually untouched. Yet in the days following the disaster, I was gripped with a fear I had never known.
After four days, I desperately sought God in prayer. "Lord, I can’t understand myself! I am not afraid for my life, and I am not in doubt of your presence and protection. Is there something wrong with me?"
Instantly, I sensed an inner whisper: My son, there is nothing wrong with you. I allowed you to experience the depth of the trauma and fear that has gripped multitudes so that you might comfort them beyond their fears.
It was the words of 2 Corinthians 1:3 and 4. God uses his children who have endured difficulty to become strength to others experiencing the same trial. We comfort others not from the foundation of our superior faith, but from the commonality of our mutual struggles.
• No where is the devil mentioned in this passage…if you want the straight truth, Jesus LED them to this storm.
2. Take a look at THE BRUTALITY of this storm
• This was a very severe storm!
The Sea of Galilee is about 690 ft. below sea level and surrounded by hills. Mt. Hermon, just to the north, stands over 9,200 ft. above sea level.
From May to Oct., strong winds often sweep through the narrow surrounding gorges into this valley causing extremely sudden and violent storms.
The Sea of Galilee is very large, but very shallow. Just a little wind can
make waves that are 6 feet high. This storm probably had waves at least 10 to 12 feet high. In this case, it was a storm so severe it took on the properties of a hurricane.
It was such a bad storm, that the disciples, some even professional fishermen on this very lake, thought they were going to die.
• Sometimes, the battles and storms we face come with no warning at all, we get a little wet and our boat seems to be nearly swamped!
• Friend, don’t be afraid or surprised when the storms hit you when you have decided to cross over to the other side.
For two years, scientists sequestered themselves in an artificial environment called Biosphere 2. Inside their self-sustaining community, the Biosherians created a number of mini-environments, including a desert, rain forest, even an ocean. Nearly every weather condition could be simulated except one, wind. Over time, the effects of their windless environment became apparent. A number of acacia trees bent over and even snapped. Without the stress of wind to strengthen the wood, the trunks grew weak and could not hold up their own weight.
II. CLOSENESS {vs 38}
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?"
• Friend, let me ask you a few quick questions this morning:
Did Jesus bail out of the boat when the trouble came?
Was Jesus all of a sudden gone and that resulted in a storm coming?
Had Jesus been washed overboard?
• The presence of a storm does not indicate the absence of a Savior!
• If you are facing a battle today, Jesus is still in the boat with you!
• Jesus is more concerned with your CHARACTER than He is your COMFORT!
III. COMPLAINT {vs 38}
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?"
• Did you catch the prayer they prayed? Not “Jesus, please make the storm stop!” or “Jesus, save us!”
• The disciples, people who were closer to Jesus than any other people, actually asked Jesus if He cared.
• I am so thankful for Jesus’ reaction to them…He didn’t punish them or decide not to act
• Friend, you can be very much reassured today that you have the liberty to be completely honest with Jesus this morning!
IV. CONTROL {vs 39}
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.
• Please keep in mind that Jesus was in complete control and was completely calm through this whole storm
• The Lord does not panic when we panic. Nor does He get worried when we face battles and storms.
V. COUNSEL {vs 40}
36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.
• Some of us would be very content with the end of the storm and just move on; but, Jesus had something to say to them.
• Friend, don’t be so content when the rain ends that you miss a chance for Jesus to speak to you personally!
• You see, going through a storm doesn’t BUILD character…it REVEALS character!
RESPONSE
• Since making the decision to go to the other side, have you faced a storm in your life?
• This morning, call upon Jesus and let Him speak peace into your life and to your storm!
