Calvary Reformed Church
Storms of Life
Mark 4:35-41 NIV
Jesus initiates the trip, the other side
Mark 4:35–36 NIV That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.
Incidentally, this is not a suggestion but a command of Christ according to
Matt. 8:18 “...He gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.”
The Other side:
Where the Gentiles lived, and Jewish people avoided that area at all cost. They didn’t want to hang out with pagan people, and it was commonly believed that the devil himself had his dwelling there.
The “other side” was unsettling and uncertain
Sea of Galilee in a depression some 700 ft (200 m) below sea level and is surrounded by hills, allowing Storms to brew up quickly, up to 20 foot waves.
"It was a common superstition for people to view the water as the abyss, where demons lurked in the deep.
This sea was considered the manifestation of the realm of death.
Besides that, the lake was thought to be where mysterious sea creatures, known as leviathan, lived.
Overwhelming Fear---Save us
Mark 4:38–39 NIV 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?”
• Lord Jesus, don’t you care that my child is sick?
• Lord Jesus, don’t you care that my marriage is falling apart?
• that my friends have deserted me...that I have no money?
• that I feel so alone... that I want to give up?
• that my husband has died…. that I lost my job?
Power of Christ’s authority, Words- “Quiet! Be still!”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
“Quiet! Be still!” (4:39). The Greek word used here for "still" denotes the muzzling of a hostile animal.
- and same word used to Quiet the Demons
From the Fear of the Storm- to the Fear of the Savior
Mark 4:40–41 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!”
The presence of God is far more fearful and frightening than the most destructive forces of nature.
Crisis’s tests our faith
• never know how deep our roots are till storm
• never grow muscles without resistance
• Storms bring to light our depth or our shallowness
The storm could not disturb Him, but the unbelief of His disciples did!
Go back to v. 36 There were also other boats with him.
• other effected by the events
• by our lives / how we weather storms / we are being watched
• and other lives are changed by our faith / lack of faith
1. You are in a storm right now.
2. You are coming out of a storm.
3. You are about to head into one.
Let us lift out some life lessons from this passage.
1. Christ cares for you and will help in your crisis.
2. Christ is in control of everything.
3. We all go through storms to get to the other side.
4.Have Jesus in your boat, always!
5. Grow in your awe of Christ.
6. Jesus not always calms the storm, but He will calm you.