Fear or Faith?

In the recent weeks of our study in Mark’s gospel, we have seen much of Jesus’ words or what Jesus said.  Beginning today and for the month of June, we are going to see Jesus’ works or what Jesus did.

 

Today, we are going to see that Jesus is Lord over disasters, natural disasters.  When I say that He is Lord over, I mean that is stronger than or more powerful than.  In the coming weeks, we will also see that Jesus is Lord over demons and death and disease. 

 

As it relates to today’s text, Mark 4:335-41, the Bible uses stories of storms to encourage the body of Christ about difficulties of life.  Storms of life may include marital problems, problems at work, with your employer, with your employees, with coworkers; problems with family, children at home, children who are grown; loss of a loved one; loss of a spouse; physical ailment; major decisions to be made or financial struggles.

 

A fact of life is that every person in the room is currently in one of three situations.  You are in a storm.  You just came out of a storm or you’re about to go into a storm. 

 

I believe today’s text is from an eyewitness to the situation.  More than likely we are hearing from Peter as he saw all of today’s events unfold.  Only Mark, with Peter’s testimony, tells us about these other little boats in verse 36 and this pillow in verse 38 and includes this verbal rebuke of Jesus at the end of verse 38.

 

 

Exposition

We see from this text that Jesus is 100% human.  4:35 tells us that when evening came, He wanted to take a little trip.  He wanted to go to the other side of the lake.  This is the Lake of Galilee or the Sea of Galilee.

 

4:36 tells us that He and His disciples left the crowd behind.  Why did He want to leave the crowd?  I would say that He was just worn out!  His day had consisted of the following:  3:20-30 says that He was accused of being demon possessed; 3:31-35 was the attempted kidnapping by his mother and brothers; 4:1-34 was His all-day teaching and explanation of five parables: the parable of the soils, the lamp, the measure, the mysteriously growing seed, and the mustard seed.

 

4:36 also tells us that after He was finished with the parables, they didn’t go back to shore.  They went as He was to the other side. 

 

Once they got the boat to the other side, Jesus immediately went to sleep.  Jesus slept.  Jesus got tired, and He slept.  How tired and exhausted was He?  He was so tired and so exhausted that the storm that erupted in 4:37 didn’t even wake Him.

 

 

We see also from this text that Jesus is 100% God.  Let’s look again at this great windstorm in 4:37. The Lake of Galilee or Sea of Galilee is almost 700 ft. below sea level and surrounded on all sides by mountains and cliffs.  Therefore, large and violent storms were common.

 

The NASB says fierce gale of wind.  The KJV says great storm of wind.  The NIV says a furious squall.  Literally, this was a storm of hurricane or earthquake proportions.  The waves were breaking over the bow of the boat to such a degree that the boat was filling up with water.

 

All this time, Jesus was asleep because He was physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted, but He wasn’t asleep for long.

 

4:38 says that the disciples woke Him and rebuked Him.  Did He not care that their lives were in danger?  Did He not care that they were afraid of dying?  Why had He deserted them?

 

4:39 says Jesus got up and demonstrated that He was 100% God by rebuking the wind and saying to the sea, “Peace, be still.”  He literally said, “Be muzzled.”  This is actually the same word He used in Mark 1:25 when He spoke to a demon.  Therefore, this storm may have been a demonic attack.

 

Notice what happened.  Instantly, the wind stopped and the waters became perfectly calm.  Jesus performed two miracles not just one.

 

Then Jesus had some words for His disciples in 4:40. He asked them two questions.  Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you no faith? 

 

After all what had they already seen?  A demon was cast out in 1:25-26. Peter’s mother-in-law was healed in 1:31. There were other numerous healings in 1:34.  A leper was healed in 1:41.  A paralytic was healed in 2:11. A man with a withered hand was healed 3:5. 

 

They had seen no less than six miracles in two days, and yet these fishermen were scared for their lives out on the Sea of Galilee when this vicious storm came up.  By the way, when Jesus asked about their faith, His implication was not that more faith would have removed them from the storm.  His implication was that more faith would have reminded them who was in the boat with them.

 

 

Application & Conclusion

All across the room this morning, there are countless individuals and families experiencing their own storms of life. 

 

Let me share with you two invitations.  First, make sure that Jesus is in your boat.  If Jesus is in your boat, I can promise you that your boat won’t sink.

 

Second, stop being afraid and remember what Jesus promised.  That command not to fear or don’t fear is the most prolific command in the Bible with some 63 occurrences. 

 

Replace your fear with faith in Jesus’ promise not take you out of the storm but never to leave you or forsake you while you’re in the storm.