Mark 4:35-41
[35] And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
[36] And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
[37] And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
[38] And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
[39] And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
[40] And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
[41] And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Here we begin at our lord’s long day of preaching.
The crowd was so great he had to teach from a boat
Topics were:
- the parable of the sower
- the candle under a bushel
- the coming harvest
- the mustard seed
He closes the day’s end with his disciples in an adventure they would never forget
The promise at evening 35 – let us pass over to the other side
- speaks of a journey with Jesus
- speaks of his fellowship on the other side
- speaks of safe passage from the journey
The Christian life is like this journey
- we may be weary when he calls us
- we decide to travel with him
- he goes with us through the entire journey
- we are not only helped through the storm but are unto heaven eternal
The Peril of the storm (v. 37)
- There arose a great storm of wind
- The waves were beating upon the ship
Lessons we can learn from the disciples:
- they were obeying yet the storm came
- they were traveling with Jesus, yet the storm came
- they were in the center of his will, yet the storm came
Storms come to us all!
The purpose of the storm (v. 38-41)
- Jesus knew the storm would come
- He was equipped to send the storm away
- Rather than send it away he chose to go through the storm with his disciples
The storm enabled them to measure their faith
- They learned that Christ was with them in the storm
- They learned that he is up to any occasion
There are different storms for different purposes
- Jonah’s storm was to bring him back to the lord
- Paul’s storm was to provide a witnessing opportunity
This storm was to build their faith
Don’t judge the purpose of another’s storm