Jesus Calms the Storm

JESUS CALMS THE STORM

Mark 4:35-41 Key Verse: 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.”

There is a Hollywood film, ‘Forrest Gump.’ It is a story about a young man Forrest Gump with learning difficulties who happens to be a very successful and wise man. Forrest Gump has a famous catchphrase that is, “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” That is true. Life is so unpredictable. We don’t know what surprises lie in store for us from day to day. Sometimes, good things in life take us by surprise. But some other times difficulties and hardships strike us when we least expect them. In today’s passage, the disciples encountered a furious squall all of a sudden on the lake and their lives were in danger. Jesus calmed the storm and sea and rescued the disciples. Through this event Jesus helped them to know who he was and to grow as people of faith. Having faith means knowing Jesus deeply and personally and trusting in him. As we study this passage, let us learn who Jesus is and overcome our own kinds of storms and grow in faith.

First, Jesus rebukes the wind and waves (35-37). Jesus had been teaching the crowd by the lake. It seems that Jesus had been teaching from the boat all day long. Jesus and his disciples were tired and the sun was setting. It was now time to have dinner and take rest. More than that, Jesus wanted to have personal time with his disciples. He wanted them to grow as great spiritual leaders through knowing him more personally and deeply. So Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Knowing that it’s time to take rest, the disciples might have said in unison, “Yes, Sir!” Look at verse 36, “Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.” Since Jesus was in the boat, they immediately rowed, leaving the demanding crowd behind. Darkness fell on the lake. Tired after hard work, Jesus lay fast asleep in the rear of the boat. Jesus’ sleeping in the boat reveals his humanity. He was exhausted and tired and fell into sleep in the uncomfortable place in the boat. Because he was fully human, he understands our weakness and sympathizes with us.

While Jesus was sleeping, the disciples were happily rowing the boat. The night lake was beautiful and peaceful. The numerous stars were sparkling in the night sky and the boat glided through the calm water. Although they were tired they were happy to be with Jesus and to follow him. They might have sung a hymn together, “There’s a peace in my heart that the world never gave…constantly abiding, Jesus is mine; constantly a biding rapture divine! He never leaves me lonely; whispers, O so kind, ‘I will never leave thee.’ Jesus is mine.” But this peaceful and joyful moment did not last long. Look at verse 37. “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.” The Sea of Galilee is 686 feet below sea level and surrounded by mountains. It is susceptible to sudden storms. Winds sweeping across the land come up and over the mountains, creating downdrafts over the lake and resulting sudden, violent storms even today. The disciples’ joyful sailing hiking on the night lake came to a sudden halt because of a furious squall. Huge waves crashed into the boat. The boat was rocking and reeling. It was full of water. The disciples could not see where they were or how close they were to the shore since it was night. They were bailing frantically in fear of drowning.

This event simply shows us the fact that everyone can face storms suddenly. Even the disciples who were with Jesus in the same boat faced the storm. Being Jesus’ disciples didn’t protect them from storms. The storms of life strike us suddenly and unexpectedly. No doubt we all have experienced small and big storms of life already. Terrible accidents, sickness, school study failure, loved one’s death and many other things can strike us suddenly and without warning. These storms make us fearful because we can see that they are beyond our control. Many people in the midst of the storm respond in fear and doubt, “Why me?” These storms cause us great anguish and pain. However, they can also make us examine our life fundamentally and turn our hearts to God. David in the Bible had faced these storms many times such as King Saul’s murderous hatred toward him, his exiled life in the land of the Philistines, his oldest son Amnon’s murder, his sin of adultery and murder, his son Absalom’s rebellion and many other things. But through all these storms, David threw off his sins and false hopes and became very mature spiritual man, a man after God’s own heart. So Paul says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” The storms of life come to everyone. Even Jesus encountered the storm literally and figuratively. So when storms come to us, instead of complaining to God saying, “Why me?” we come to Christ Jesus, overcome the storm and experience Jesus’ help and grow mature. Those, who have overcome storms of their lives, can overcome the world and do something great for the glory of God.

One of the greatest presidents of America is Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was the 32nd president of the U.S. (1933-45) and his presidency lasted for four terms. In 1920 he was nominated for vice president. The next year he was stricken with polio and was unable to walk. This was an unexpected, serious storm of life to him. Still he did not give up his nomination to the presidency and was elected as the president in 1932. In his inaugural address to the nation, he pronounced that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." With the strength with which he overcame polio, he led American people to overcome the Great Depression. He also fought against Hitler in World War II and led it into victory. Let us not become paralyzed with fear. Let us overcome fear by having faith in God.

Second, Quiet! Be still!” (38-41) Look at verse 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?’” Many people suffer from inability to sleep at night. But in the midst of the storm, Jesus fell into peaceful sleep. The squall and violent waves could not bother him. Jesus is the God of peace. While the disciples were full of fear Jesus was sleeping in the stern of the boat. What a contrast! Most people think that we can have peace where there is no war, trouble, problem or exam. We may think that we can obtain peace only when we don’t quarrel against each other or fight one another. But peace is not absence of conflict, trouble or problem. True peace is unshakable inner contentment and serenity even in the midst of troubles and problems. How can we get true peace? True peace is a precious gift of our Lord Jesus to his people. This peace comes from heaven when we have a right relationship with God.

Right before being arrested and crucified, Jesus gave this peace, saying in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jesus encountered the most difficult storm of life as he was going through the way of the cross. But Jesus gave them his peace that nothing in the world, even death could not disturb it. In Jesus, the God of peace, we can have the peace of God that transcends all human understanding (Php 4:7). We don’t know what storm of life will happen to us tomorrow. Only God knows. Storms of life may strike us tomorrow. But we can have a peaceful sleep like Jesus when we have Jesus the prince of peace in our hearts. So let us trust in his love deep in our hearts and live by faith.

When the disciples encountered the storm, however, at first they wrestled hard with their own strength. Soon they recognized that they could not handle the waves and sinking boat. After losing all hope of saving themselves from the storm, they could finally see Jesus and woke him. They said to Jesus, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” They were accusing Jesus of not caring about what they were facing. Here we see the disciples’ doubt about Jesus’ care. But their accusation was completely false due to their misunderstanding of Jesus. Jesus cared about them. Jesus didn’t care about storm, but cared about them. Like the disciples, many Christians in the midst of storms doubt about Jesus’ care. They believe Jesus is there, but most of the time he seems asleep. But Jesus cares for us. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Jesus came to the world because he cared for us. He hung on a cross and died because he cared for perishing sinners. Therefore, we must come to Christ and cry out to him in the midst of life-storm, absolutely believing that he cares for us. How did Jesus care for them?

Look at verse 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.” Human beings can rebuke the wind and waves, but they will not listen to us. But Creator God can make the storm quiet and the waves still. Jesus is Creator God and made the stormy sea calm. In the same way, Jesus can calm the storms of life.

Let’s read verse 40. “He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’” Jesus rebuked the disciples, not because they woke him up, but because they had no faith. Seemingly Jesus’ rebuke was not appropriate. It was natural for them to be fearful in the furious storm on the turbulent lake. But Jesus does not think it is normal for us. In God’s view, fear does not come from God but from unbelief. Jesus wants us to overcome fear, and to experience the power of faith in our practical lives. Faith is not just an idea or theory. Faith is to trust in Jesus and his almighty power. We have problems at home, school or work. We face difficulties and hardships in raising disciples and having fruitful ministries. All these problems and difficulties make us feeling that we are drowning. But we must know that these problems and difficulties can be our onsite opportunities (or our co-op programs) to learn living faith that overcomes storms of life and after learning it we can say boldly like Apostle Paul, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Php 4:13).

Look at verse 41. “They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him.’” The disciples thought that they knew Jesus well. But after witnessing Jesus’ calming the storm, they marvelled at Jesus, seeing the glimpse of his deity. It was a moment of unveiling who Jesus really is. Jesus is more than a good man. Jesus is more than a wonderful teacher. He is the Creator God who rules the universe and nature. There are many kinds of storms in our lives that make us feel like drowning. But if we have faith in Jesus who is Almighty God, all will be calm.

When we face storms of our lives, there are two options: one is to drown ourselves in fear and doubt; the other is to have faith in Jesus and meet Jesus personally, who calms the storm with his almighty power and unfailing love. May we put our trust in Jesus and may we not drown in fear and doubt so that we may know Jesus deeper and learn the power of faith.