Mark 4:35-41 Jesus Calms the Storm

The Disciples go through storms too!

I’m not much of a sailor – Ok in moderate swells but no so good on port and starboard! My first sailing race ended up with a rescue boat coming to find us! A beautiful day with the dolphins – but the sea is not always so lovely as the disciples found out!

Read Mark 4:35-41 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?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Disciples of Jesus go through rough water too!

Context: Jesus already in the boat, long day preaching, tired. Off they went at his instruction, just as He was , sleeping on a sandbag.

A furious squall came up – just like Lake Tekapo or Wakatipu – mountains funnel the winds into violent maelstroms – which many sailors have died.

With waves breaking over the boat and it filling with water the disciples, harden fishermen as they were – some of them anyway – were terrified. And no wonder! Probably each one of them knew someone who’d died on the lake. They shook Jesus awake.

Q: Teacher, don’t you CARE if we drown? In the midst of their desperate situation I would have thought they might have said, “Lord, save us!” Maybe they didn’t because they still didn’t know who and what Jesus really was.

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Many desperate people came to Jesus and the disciples had seen Jesus demonstrate his power and authority – casting out demons, healing the sick, miraculous provision, raising the dead, teaching Gods Word with authority – as had Elijah and Elisha. I wonder that they thought they had Jesus ‘sorted’. He is still the ‘Teacher’ or prophet to them.

They were going to drown – sure as eggs – and why wasn’t Jesus panicking too? “Don’t you care?” Can you hear the tone of accusation?

One thing for sure, they never expected a storm – not with Jesus with them! He gave the instruction – “Go over to the other side.” And they were just following orders! In the will of God, so to speak, and things have gone to custard! Jesus, you should at least be upset that you got us into this mess!

They were expecting smooth sailing. SO do we! If we’re following the Lord, shouldn’t it be that way? Has that been your experience? I think the Lord is more concerned with our character than our comfort!

How many of you know that sometimes we find God at wits end corner?

Through the storms of life, we find more of God. He never promised that we’d have a smooth sailing life – actually being a disciple of Jesus meant sacrifice, suffering and hardship – as well as great joy and blessing.

Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. [35] For whoever wants to save his life * will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

What Jesus did promise was to be with us through the troubles.

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

IN me you may have peace…

We love the comfort Psalm 23 brings to us – the imagery of the Shepherd caring for this flock –an image Jesu used of himself – the Good shepherd seeing that we don’t want – lying down in green pastures, beside quiet waters, restoring my soul… I like

2 that part… I’m not so impressed with the valley of the shadow of death – except the promise is that that's When we’re there we won’t be alone in it. He is alongside us through the valley of the shadow of death – where we will fear no evil because He is with us…

Jesus was with them in the storm. It wasn’t turning out how they expected it – but Jesus was with them and going to bring them through it – with a new revelation of who He was.

Jesus doesn’t explain what’s going on – he wakes up – rebukes the wind and the waves and at His word the wind drops and the sea became calm. Being with him is everything.

He answers their question with one of His: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

And this storm brought a fresh revelation to the disciples as to WHO they were really following. They were terrified! Jesus was so much MORE than they thought – more than a healer, more than a provider, more than a prophet, more than a teacher. He was GOD – the one who could control the very elements that make up our world – the wind and the water. They see the Lord in a new light. God with us- Emmanuel.

Isn’t that what happens when we go through storms? When we come out the other side we have a fresh revelation of Jesus. Our faith in Him grows.

The disciples had seen Jesus working with other desperate people – of which they saw themselves as helpers of Jesus – but our perspective changes when it gets personal!

Illsn: worried sick with Margie threatened miscarriage in hospital, no worker and 200 cows to milk, tonsillitis, mud and rain – God, don’t you CARE about the mess we’re in? Just as Jesus spoke his words to the disciples, I heard the Lord say to me, “Why are you afraid? Don’t you know who I am?”

I repented of my temper and fear and the Lord put a real peace in my heart – and told me to go to the doctor who gave me penicillin!

I recovered from the tonsillitis and Margie had Matthew ok – early by 6 weeks and a miracle - the doctor said Matt should have been dead. I learned that I wasn’t alone, the Lord was faithful to be with us in our troubles. My trust in Jesus grew- when I go

3 through storms I hold on because the Lord is with me. He rescued me before, He will rescue me again.

- Ps 147:11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. - Isaiah 49:23 …those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”

Illsn: In Timaru I had a good friend, Greg. A real kiwi bloke – hunter, fisher, a family of 4 boys, worked in a pipe factory. He was a part of one of our mens groups. He got real sick – stomach problem, doctors didn’t know what to do – intestines collapsing, near death. God did a miracle and healed Greg. His testimony was that he would go through it again – because He found the Lord in a new way – His peace, His presence, His faithfulness to his family… His boys have grown up following God, following their dad.

Jesus is more interested on our character than our comfort.

Today, if you find yourself in a storm:

- It may not be because you’re disobedient – like Jonah – but because this is the world we live in. It’s a broken world, a troubled world and bad things happen to everyone. Maybe you’re in the right place and the right time to experience something new about our awesome Saviour!

1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. [8] Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, [9] for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Just like the disciples – God can use the storms to build our faith and trust in Him.

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You can put your trust in God – He not only can work things for our good but He has the power to protect us through the storms. He is able to calm the wind and the waves. He is in charge and He keeps His own timetable. Our times are in His hands.

In answer to ‘Don't you care?’ 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Prayer for those in the storm! Gather around- Mt 18:19-20. God with us as we gather in prayer Song: God with us.

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