Focus Scripture: Mark 4:33-41
This passage of scripture records events of Jesus and the disciples boat trip across the Sea of Galilee. At evening time, they made the decision to depart from the crowd that had gathered to listen to Jesus teaching throughout the day. They enter their boat and begin their journey to the the country of Gerasenes. In the earlier verses of chapter four, Jesus begun his teaching with the lesson on the “Parable of the Sower,” and concluded the day with the, “Parable of the Mustard Seed.” The Bible says the Jesus had to enter into a boat and sit in it because the crowd was so large. As they cast-off, Jesus takes the opportunity to sleep as he tired from a full day of preaching and teaching. He leaves navigation responsibilities to his disciples, who most were experienced fishermen.
Bible states that a violent windstorm arose and their boat started taking on water, thus throwing the disciples into fear and panic. While chaos was brewing at the front of the boat, Jesus is still sleep in the stern which is located at the back. Finally, they abruptly awaken and cry out to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus arises from his nap and immediate he rebukes the wind and the sea with his words, “Peace! Be Still!” The Bible states that the winds ceased and there was great calm in the seas. Jesus then turns his attention to his bewildered disciples. He challenged them with two questions that are still instructive to us today when we have unwisely concentrated so much of our focus on personal trials and tribulation raging within and all around us. Like the disciples, such lapse of faith cause us to lose sight of God.
Why are you so afraid?
The disciples lapse in faith demonstrates how quickly we can abandon our hope in God and give in to doubt. The prophet Elijah is another excellent example of a person who had experienced the might and glory of God in defeating 450 prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel. Then in the next moment, he flees from Ahab’s wife (Jezebel) when she threatens his life (1 Kgs 18,19). Similarly, God had to address Elijah’s issue of faith. It is not a sin to be afraid, but lapses of faith can occur when we give into our fear. Hopeless grows within us as we doubt God’s ability to affect positive change on situation. Doubt can consume us when we question whether God even cares about we are going through. We see this attitude in the hearts of the disciples when they awaken Jesus and say to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
Have you still no faith?
Up until this point in the Gospel of Mark, he records quite a few signs and miracles that Jesus performed that demonstrated his identity as the God-man, the Son of God. The disciples witnessed him healing the sick, casting out of demonic spirits, cleansing lepers, and even performing a miracle on a paralytic man, giving him the ability to walk. Even after all this, they doubted whether Jesus could save them from a perilous storm. This is the heart behind why Jesus charges them, “Have you still no faith?” When we are suffer trials, we can often respond like the disciples, especially if the trial goes on too long and it appears God is delaying in answering our prayers of deliverance. When we lose hope in God, it is because we have lost sight of the character and power of God.
Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey Him?
Why is it important to remember who Christ is in the midst of life’s storm? His identity reminds us of his character, power and divine purposes. The disciples had experienced Jesus as:
*Forgiver of Sins (Mk 2:10)
*The Word of God (Mk 1:22)
*Authority over Heaven & Earth (Heb 1:2-4, 2:8)
Now He demonstrates authority over nature. We are reminded that all creation was made through Christ, for Christ. John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made (Jn 1:1-3).” Paul affirms this truth when he taught the church in Colossae, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (16) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… (Col 1:15-16).” The disciples had to be reminded that as Lord of all Creation, Jesus could suspend the laws of physics, thus stilling the winds and calm the seas.
As a believer, God has given us faith that enables us to focus in on the character and identify of who God is, especially in the midst of trial. We must remember God does not make mistakes. He never arrives too soon, nor is he ever late. He is always right on time. He has a divine purpose for everything we experience in our lives. Though our circumstances are always changing, we can be confident in faith that our God never changes. We can also trust that fear is not from God, but a manifestation of our earthly, fallen condition. God has given us His Spirit. By doing so, Paul teaches Timothy, “…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Tim 1:7).” In the face of trials we can stand (not in cowardice) but in the strength that God supplies through faith.
In the focus text, the disciples errored by placing their faith in the human strength, skills, and experience to navigate their boat in treacherous waters. Instead of trying to save themselves, they should have mimic the deposition of Jesus. He rested quietly during the storm, knowing that God the Father would preserve and deliver them through trial. We must recognize that at times, God will allow our human efforts to fail us so we can learn to depend on him, not our self-sufficiency. Paul learned this same lesson in his missionary journeys and shares his testimony with the church in Corinth when he says, “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. (9) Indeed, we felt that we have received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. (10) He delivered us from deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again (2 Cor 1:8-10).”
The exhortation is this: We should not look at the circumstances swirling around us for hope, but rather fix our eyes (with anticipation) on our immovable, all powerful, sovereign God to keep us through it all. Remember, ease does not build faith…….trial does. On Christ, we set our hope to deliver us.
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com