There’s a lot more to this next passage than God getting you out of the storms in your life. Way more… Let’s dig in…
Mark 4:35-41 Jesus Calms the Storm
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But 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?”
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace (be quiet!), be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And 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 NKJV
Main Points
- Let’s start with Jesus’ first line. He tells them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” That alone should have assured them that they would reach the other side no matter what. As soon as the storm reared up, they forgot that He expected them to get to their destination.
- So much so, that He fell asleep! He was dog-tired and sound asleep. He felt assured that they’d reach the other side.
- The disciples took Jesus’ ability to sleep through the storm as indifference or even apathy. That He didn’t care if they survived the storm. Sometimes when we are going through life’s storms we can feel that way. We feel far from God and ask, “Don’t you CARE?!” “Do you see what I’m going through?!”
- They wake Jesus up, and He rebuked the wind and yelled at the sea. And there was a GREAT calm. I’ve felt that kind of calm after a hurricane. Since there is no electricity, you don’t hear the normal sounds of life. The wind and rain have stopped and people just walk around in awe of the damage. From a roaring storm to GREAT CALM. That’s Jesus!
- Which brings me to the next point. We have two types of FEAR. There are 2 Greek words used here. In v. 40, Jesus asks, “Why are you so fearful?” That word in Greek is delios, which means cowardly, or lacking courage. Then in v. 41, it says that they “feared exceedingly” at how the sea and wind obeyed Jesus. That Greek word is phobeo, meaning awe, intimidation and reverence. Interestingly, that’s where we get our word phobia — the fear of something. That being said, when we fear the Lord, it’s the awe and reverence, not the lacking of courage.
Who is Jesus?
That was what the disciples asked after they watched the wind and sea obey Him. Here are some Psalms that verify that He is the Lord over nature…
5 You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds,
Psalm 65:5-8 NLT
O God our savior.
You are the hope of everyone on earth,
even those who sail on distant seas.
6 You formed the mountains by your power
and armed yourself with mighty strength.
7 You quieted the raging oceans
with their pounding waves
and silenced the shouting of the nations.
8 Those who live at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
you inspire shouts of joy.
8 O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies!
Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord?
You are entirely faithful.9 You rule the oceans.
Psalm 89:8-9 NLT
You subdue their storm-tossed waves.
23 Some went off to sea in ships,
Psalm 107:23-31 NLT
plying the trade routes of the world.
24 They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action,
his impressive works on the deepest seas.
25 He spoke, and the winds rose,
stirring up the waves.
26 Their ships were tossed to the heavens
and plunged again to the depths;
the sailors cringed in terror.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards
and were at their wits’ end.
28 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
29 He calmed the storm to a whisper
and stilled the waves.
30 What a blessing was that stillness
as he brought them safely into harbor!
31 Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
Jesus’ identity is not just in His power, but that He is Lord over ALL nature. Pastor Sandy Adams comments…
Base your reaction on His promise, not your circumstances…
How many times have we cried out… “Lord, don’t you care about me?” Just because Jesus refuses to panic doesn’t mean He’s abandoned us. Our outcome is in the palm of His hand. Jesus is our peace. The calm is in His palm.
Jesus “rebuked” the wind. That’s what you do to a demon. It could be this storm was a Satanic attack. Spiritual forces wanted to sink Jesus and His men. Who knew that little boat was the only ship in history that was truly unsinkable. It was the real Titanic! For God promised, it would “cross over.”
Sadly, the only thing sinkable on the water that day was the faith of Jesus’ disciples. That’s why He scolds them, in verse 40, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” Could Jesus say the same to us?
Why are we so fearful and faithless, when we have Jesus in our boat, and the promise we’ll “cross over?” Verse 41, “And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” Is your heart fertile soil for God’s Word and promises? Let’s cultivate an unsinkable faith.
Sandy Adams
Do you KNOW Jesus?
There’s a huge difference in knowing ABOUT Jesus — who He is, what He did, etc. — and KNOWING Jesus in your heart. Only one equals salvation and eternal life. Heaven or hell — it’s your choice!
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
