Jesus Calms Life’s Storms - Mark 4:35-41
Jesus Calms Life’s Storms - Mark 4:35-41
By Pastor Lee Hemen
November 29, 2009 AM
If you have never been out in the open ocean during a raging storm you have no idea what true fear can be like. The closest thing to experiencing this kind of fear would be to watch the movie “The Perfect Strom” which was taken from the book about the 1991 perfect storm that hit the North American coast in October 1991, and features the crew of the fishing boat Andrea Gail, based out of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The crew was lost 575 miles at sea during the severe conditions while fishing for Marlin. Also in the book and movie is the story about the rescue of the three-person crew of the sailboat Satori in the Atlantic waters during the storm, by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tamaroa. The weather created huge towering waves described as being 7 to 10 stories tall! How would you calm a storm like that?
Our lives can have perfect storms as well. Storms created by conditions of our own making, illnesses, or the conditions of the sin-stained world around us. We often forget that we live in a world where our lives are the "perfect storm" of sin and worldly acquiescence where far too many churches want people to feel comfortable rather than confront the sin-storm of their lives. However, we discover that Jesus came to calm life's storms. Let see what that means for us today...
READ: Mark 4:35-41
Our world has created an environment where you can never escape its influence. Cell phones, computers, GPS devices, and the Internet text and twitter every aspect of our existence now. You cannot escape being videoed at your bank, grocery store, post office, or doctor's office! You are even watched on the highway and most street corners. All of this has made it harder for folks to shut out all the noise of the world in order to discover God for themselves. Electronics have even invaded our worship! How do we escape this manmade storm of life? We discover that…
I. Jesus calms life's storms when you leave the crowd behind! (Vv. 35-36)
1. Often, the only way to discover Jesus is to get away from those whom distract you most! We find Jesus' disciples getting their stuff together and deliberately leaving the crowds behind. Crowds can be family, friends, and co-workers and they, without meaning too, can demand a lot out of us. Often the only way to begin to think clearly is to leave them behind, as does Jesus and his disciples. Mark eyewitness rendering relates "That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side.'" The "other side" was the other shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus takes the initiative with his closest followers to get away. Jesus will go to "the other side" of the Sea of Galilee at least four more times in Mark's gospel! (Mark 5:21; 6:45; 8:13; & 8:18) He often did this in order to calm the storms of life that surrounded him and in order to reorient himself to his father's will. He goes off alone to pray, he goes off alone to minister, he goes off alone to meditate on his father's will. Jesus' leaving the demands of the crowds behind influenced those he discipled as well! We find that those who cared about Jesus the most, left "the crowd behind" and "they took him along, just as he was, in the boat." Maybe they saw he was weary of teaching the unbelieving hoards. Perhaps Jesus was exhausted of healing the uncaring crowd and his disciples see this and take Jesus to where he can calm the storms of life. And, notice that "There were also other boats with him." The crowds are never far away no matter how hard we try, but it is good to allow Jesus to calm our storms by leaving the crowds behind. When was the last time you got away from the crowd to reconnect with Jesus?
EXAMPLE: It can be tough to get away from the crowds of our lives that demand so much of us. I know of one mother who would lock herself in the bathroom in order to find some time alone with the Lord. She would tell her family that no one was to bother her while she was in there each day. It was kind of humorous when her little girl told her first grade teacher that her mommy often locked herself in the bathroom! Crowds can require a lot from us each day and they are not easily turned, just ask any cowboy that has had to head off a stampede, or some Black Friday shoppers! And this is why there are times when one has to get away from the crowd. We find that Jesus calms life's storms when we leave the crowd behind!
The weird waves of the worldly culture can overwhelm us easily with violence, sexuality, and perversion. The other night as I watched the American Music Awards I was reminded of the total depravity of the music industry and how it can suck the life out of the people caught in its clutches. Michael Jackson, who exemplified a pathetic life, received several awards. Lady Gaga was onstage dressed in her latest weirdness and Adam Lambert was the quintessential pervert with his actions. But it is not just the AMAs, but in every area of our society we have been swamped with an ungodly onslaught. Where do we find answers for life? Here in Mark's gospel we discover that…
II. Jesus calms life's storms when he is in control! (Vv. 37-39)
1. The whirlwinds of life are all under the control of Christ! We find that as they cross over to the other side of the lake "A furious squall" comes up, and "the waves" brake "over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped." The boats used on the Sea of Galilee were not very big. They were simple wooden flat bottomed shallow draft craft no larger than 30 by 8 feet. So, when this rather forceful storm suddenly comes up, it would have been very alarming to the disciple fishermen. The terminology is that of a mega whirlwind! A rapid storm that comes off of Mt Hermon, rushes down the Jordan Valley, and whooshes into the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is 682 feet below the Mediterranean Sea. These sudden storms continue to this day on the lake. And notice "Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion!" Can you imagine? The disciples wake him up and ask him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" Now I find it interesting that those in the boat immediately turn to a sleeping Jesus! Why is it that when the storms of life hit hardest, that is when many suddenly turn to Jesus for help, then as soon as the winds die down and the calm waters return they neglect him altogether? Jesus depicts for us the peace of God in the life of one who completely trusts in him who controls the turbulent waves of life. Many love to quote Peter's admonishment to "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7 NIV) and neglect the previous verse that says "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (v. 6) Notice that when the disciples run to Jesus, "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." (Mark 4:39 NIV) Jesus calms life's storms when he is control! When was the last time you humbled yourself and allowed Jesus total control of your stormy life?
EXAMPLE: Franklin Roosevelt boldly stated in his first inaugural address to "let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." He was correct. Fear can unreasonably paralyze us into inaction. The news of cancer, loss of a job, or the a death of someone close can all create squalls in life that swamp our life's little boat. But for the believer there is always hope on the horizon in the midst of the storm. Just as the Psalmist sang, "I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." (Psalms 121:1-4 NIV) Even though in his humanity Jesus slumbered, God did not, and in him Jesus was in complete control just as he is now in your life. Jesus calms life's storms when he is in control. Is Jesus in control of your life?
With unemployment at 10% and those who have given up looking for work at about 20%, with a huge 12 trillion dollar debt, an out of control Congressional budget, and a President that seems disconnected, times look bleak as the waves of fear and distrust wash over us in America. Many wonder in what or in whom can we place our trust in times like these? When we read the words of Mark we find a new the comfort of God as found in his Son Jesus Christ. In fact, we discover that…
III. We never need to fear when Jesus calms life's storms! (Vv. 40-41)
1. When you have the Creator of the wind and waves in your boat, you will never sink! Sadly, the ultimate truth still had not dawned on the disciples that God’s authority and power were present in Jesus. They hurriedly run to his quiet sleeping form and whine at him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" I kind of like his response. He rather curtly rebukes them by asking them about their cowardly actions and their lack of faith: "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They could kind of comprehend Jesus being the Messiah, but did he also have control over creation? And, of course the answer is a resounding, "YES!" When Jesus stilled the storm, there should have been no doubt as to who he was. But instead of trusting Jesus the disciples replace one fear for another kind: "They were terrified and asked each other, 'Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!'" Egad, are these simple fisher folk dense or what? Yet we can display the same kind of cowardly replacement fear in our own lives as well. Here's what I mean: We want Jesus to clam life's storms, we say we believe in who he is and what he can do, then when he desires to work in our lives to do something only he can do, we become frightened of the prospect! We reject Jesus' total control of the situation. We want to pull it back so that we can control the outcome! Yet, when we do, God is no longer at work in the circumstances. We are with our cowardly fear are just like those disciples. Did they really think that the one who came to save the world, would unexpectedly die on a lake in a storm-swapped boat? Either God is in control or he is not. Either Jesus is with us or he is not! He certainly was present in that fishing boat! And folks, cowardly fear is no substitute for the power and presence of Jesus in our lives! We never need to fear when Jesus clams life's storms!
EXAMPLE: Few of us have suffered the storm in life that H. G. Spafford and his wife did. One day in 1873 he stood on the quayside in Chicago and bid farewell to his family as they set sail to visit relatives in far off Europe. He was not to realize that he would never see most of them again. Some days later their ship, bound for Le Havre in France collided with another steamship in mid-Atlantic, and sank almost immediately. Before it did so, however, Mrs. Spafford was able to have a prayer with her children and commit them to the mercy of the Lord. That was the last time she would ever see them on this earth. Fortunately, a lifeboat spotted Mrs. Spafford and she was rescued. When she arrived in Britain, with the rest of the survivors, she sent her husband this terse, but telling message: "SAVED ALONE." Three years after that tragedy, Mr. Spafford wrote his hymn: " When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul! It is well ... with my soul! It is well, it is well, with my soul." We never need to fear when Jesus calms life's storms.
Conclusion:
1) Jesus calms life's storms when you leave the crowd behind, 2) Jesus calms life's storms when he is in control, and 3) we never need to fear when Jesus clams life's storms!
---
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission...
By Pastor Lee Hemen
November 29, 2009 AM
If you have never been out in the open ocean during a raging storm you have no idea what true fear can be like. The closest thing to experiencing this kind of fear would be to watch the movie “The Perfect Strom” which was taken from the book about the 1991 perfect storm that hit the North American coast in October 1991, and features the crew of the fishing boat Andrea Gail, based out of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The crew was lost 575 miles at sea during the severe conditions while fishing for Marlin. Also in the book and movie is the story about the rescue of the three-person crew of the sailboat Satori in the Atlantic waters during the storm, by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tamaroa. The weather created huge towering waves described as being 7 to 10 stories tall! How would you calm a storm like that?
Our lives can have perfect storms as well. Storms created by conditions of our own making, illnesses, or the conditions of the sin-stained world around us. We often forget that we live in a world where our lives are the "perfect storm" of sin and worldly acquiescence where far too many churches want people to feel comfortable rather than confront the sin-storm of their lives. However, we discover that Jesus came to calm life's storms. Let see what that means for us today...
READ: Mark 4:35-41
Our world has created an environment where you can never escape its influence. Cell phones, computers, GPS devices, and the Internet text and twitter every aspect of our existence now. You cannot escape being videoed at your bank, grocery store, post office, or doctor's office! You are even watched on the highway and most street corners. All of this has made it harder for folks to shut out all the noise of the world in order to discover God for themselves. Electronics have even invaded our worship! How do we escape this manmade storm of life? We discover that…
I. Jesus calms life's storms when you leave the crowd behind! (Vv. 35-36)
1. Often, the only way to discover Jesus is to get away from those whom distract you most! We find Jesus' disciples getting their stuff together and deliberately leaving the crowds behind. Crowds can be family, friends, and co-workers and they, without meaning too, can demand a lot out of us. Often the only way to begin to think clearly is to leave them behind, as does Jesus and his disciples. Mark eyewitness rendering relates "That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side.'" The "other side" was the other shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus takes the initiative with his closest followers to get away. Jesus will go to "the other side" of the Sea of Galilee at least four more times in Mark's gospel! (Mark 5:21; 6:45; 8:13; & 8:18) He often did this in order to calm the storms of life that surrounded him and in order to reorient himself to his father's will. He goes off alone to pray, he goes off alone to minister, he goes off alone to meditate on his father's will. Jesus' leaving the demands of the crowds behind influenced those he discipled as well! We find that those who cared about Jesus the most, left "the crowd behind" and "they took him along, just as he was, in the boat." Maybe they saw he was weary of teaching the unbelieving hoards. Perhaps Jesus was exhausted of healing the uncaring crowd and his disciples see this and take Jesus to where he can calm the storms of life. And, notice that "There were also other boats with him." The crowds are never far away no matter how hard we try, but it is good to allow Jesus to calm our storms by leaving the crowds behind. When was the last time you got away from the crowd to reconnect with Jesus?
EXAMPLE: It can be tough to get away from the crowds of our lives that demand so much of us. I know of one mother who would lock herself in the bathroom in order to find some time alone with the Lord. She would tell her family that no one was to bother her while she was in there each day. It was kind of humorous when her little girl told her first grade teacher that her mommy often locked herself in the bathroom! Crowds can require a lot from us each day and they are not easily turned, just ask any cowboy that has had to head off a stampede, or some Black Friday shoppers! And this is why there are times when one has to get away from the crowd. We find that Jesus calms life's storms when we leave the crowd behind!
The weird waves of the worldly culture can overwhelm us easily with violence, sexuality, and perversion. The other night as I watched the American Music Awards I was reminded of the total depravity of the music industry and how it can suck the life out of the people caught in its clutches. Michael Jackson, who exemplified a pathetic life, received several awards. Lady Gaga was onstage dressed in her latest weirdness and Adam Lambert was the quintessential pervert with his actions. But it is not just the AMAs, but in every area of our society we have been swamped with an ungodly onslaught. Where do we find answers for life? Here in Mark's gospel we discover that…
II. Jesus calms life's storms when he is in control! (Vv. 37-39)
1. The whirlwinds of life are all under the control of Christ! We find that as they cross over to the other side of the lake "A furious squall" comes up, and "the waves" brake "over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped." The boats used on the Sea of Galilee were not very big. They were simple wooden flat bottomed shallow draft craft no larger than 30 by 8 feet. So, when this rather forceful storm suddenly comes up, it would have been very alarming to the disciple fishermen. The terminology is that of a mega whirlwind! A rapid storm that comes off of Mt Hermon, rushes down the Jordan Valley, and whooshes into the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is 682 feet below the Mediterranean Sea. These sudden storms continue to this day on the lake. And notice "Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion!" Can you imagine? The disciples wake him up and ask him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" Now I find it interesting that those in the boat immediately turn to a sleeping Jesus! Why is it that when the storms of life hit hardest, that is when many suddenly turn to Jesus for help, then as soon as the winds die down and the calm waters return they neglect him altogether? Jesus depicts for us the peace of God in the life of one who completely trusts in him who controls the turbulent waves of life. Many love to quote Peter's admonishment to "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7 NIV) and neglect the previous verse that says "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (v. 6) Notice that when the disciples run to Jesus, "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." (Mark 4:39 NIV) Jesus calms life's storms when he is control! When was the last time you humbled yourself and allowed Jesus total control of your stormy life?
EXAMPLE: Franklin Roosevelt boldly stated in his first inaugural address to "let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." He was correct. Fear can unreasonably paralyze us into inaction. The news of cancer, loss of a job, or the a death of someone close can all create squalls in life that swamp our life's little boat. But for the believer there is always hope on the horizon in the midst of the storm. Just as the Psalmist sang, "I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." (Psalms 121:1-4 NIV) Even though in his humanity Jesus slumbered, God did not, and in him Jesus was in complete control just as he is now in your life. Jesus calms life's storms when he is in control. Is Jesus in control of your life?
With unemployment at 10% and those who have given up looking for work at about 20%, with a huge 12 trillion dollar debt, an out of control Congressional budget, and a President that seems disconnected, times look bleak as the waves of fear and distrust wash over us in America. Many wonder in what or in whom can we place our trust in times like these? When we read the words of Mark we find a new the comfort of God as found in his Son Jesus Christ. In fact, we discover that…
III. We never need to fear when Jesus calms life's storms! (Vv. 40-41)
1. When you have the Creator of the wind and waves in your boat, you will never sink! Sadly, the ultimate truth still had not dawned on the disciples that God’s authority and power were present in Jesus. They hurriedly run to his quiet sleeping form and whine at him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" I kind of like his response. He rather curtly rebukes them by asking them about their cowardly actions and their lack of faith: "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They could kind of comprehend Jesus being the Messiah, but did he also have control over creation? And, of course the answer is a resounding, "YES!" When Jesus stilled the storm, there should have been no doubt as to who he was. But instead of trusting Jesus the disciples replace one fear for another kind: "They were terrified and asked each other, 'Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!'" Egad, are these simple fisher folk dense or what? Yet we can display the same kind of cowardly replacement fear in our own lives as well. Here's what I mean: We want Jesus to clam life's storms, we say we believe in who he is and what he can do, then when he desires to work in our lives to do something only he can do, we become frightened of the prospect! We reject Jesus' total control of the situation. We want to pull it back so that we can control the outcome! Yet, when we do, God is no longer at work in the circumstances. We are with our cowardly fear are just like those disciples. Did they really think that the one who came to save the world, would unexpectedly die on a lake in a storm-swapped boat? Either God is in control or he is not. Either Jesus is with us or he is not! He certainly was present in that fishing boat! And folks, cowardly fear is no substitute for the power and presence of Jesus in our lives! We never need to fear when Jesus clams life's storms!
EXAMPLE: Few of us have suffered the storm in life that H. G. Spafford and his wife did. One day in 1873 he stood on the quayside in Chicago and bid farewell to his family as they set sail to visit relatives in far off Europe. He was not to realize that he would never see most of them again. Some days later their ship, bound for Le Havre in France collided with another steamship in mid-Atlantic, and sank almost immediately. Before it did so, however, Mrs. Spafford was able to have a prayer with her children and commit them to the mercy of the Lord. That was the last time she would ever see them on this earth. Fortunately, a lifeboat spotted Mrs. Spafford and she was rescued. When she arrived in Britain, with the rest of the survivors, she sent her husband this terse, but telling message: "SAVED ALONE." Three years after that tragedy, Mr. Spafford wrote his hymn: " When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul! It is well ... with my soul! It is well, it is well, with my soul." We never need to fear when Jesus calms life's storms.
Conclusion:
1) Jesus calms life's storms when you leave the crowd behind, 2) Jesus calms life's storms when he is in control, and 3) we never need to fear when Jesus clams life's storms!
---
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission...
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