Jesus Calms the Storm Sermon

Sermon notes on Mark 4:35-41

Mark 4:35-41

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was.  And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion.  And they woke Him and said to Him, “teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be Still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

 

Main Point-Jesus is Glorified by the storm and our faith is built by the storm.

 

“Hurricane faith”

 

Original audience perspective

 

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”

36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was.  And other boats were with him.

 

• Same day, same crowds
• Some of the crowds got boats too

• • Original hearers would have been familiar with these storms

• “Great windstorm”

• • • Great-megas, violent, fierce, great; lailaps-storm, tempest, gall or hurricane
    • Not the ordinary windstorm 
    • Breaking into the boat
    • Fishermen scared

• Asleep on the cushion

• • • God man, needed sleep, but could control nature like storm from x men

•  “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

• • miracles

41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

• This story would have been front page news, #1 trending on twitter and facebook, the footage would have been viral on youtube.
• Headline would have been “who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him” Jesus is His name.

*I believe this story about Jesus and the storm hold some truths that shape our theology, that this event from 30 something AD is vital for our understanding of violent hurricanes that occur in our life and how we respond to them*

 

*Today, the main question we want to ask from the text is, Why does God allow violent hurricanes to arise in our lives?*

 

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

38 But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion.  And they woke Him and said to Him, “teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

• A great windstorm

• • Surely all of us gathered here today have been through a great windstorm
    • Situations that make you ask like the disciples in verse 38: teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? Do you not care that I have this diagnosis?  Do you not care that I’m going into foreclosure? Do you not care that we are headed to divorce?  Do you not care that I lost my job?  How can you let this happen Jesus?
      • There’s a temptation is to think like the disciples that God doesn’t care about the violent hurricane in your life
        • 1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
        • Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
        • Now lets get into the reasons He allows violent hurricanes in our lives:

 

*Reason 1 God allows violent hurricanes to arise in our lives is for His glory*

Stilling the Storm Sermon

41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

• Reverent fear and awe
  • Retold
  • Confirmed His deity
• This text is less about the hurricane and more about the master of the hurricane
  • The God man, whom Colossians 1:15-16 says He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
    • This hurricane was made through Him and for His glory
  • John 11:4 “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

 

**Reason 2 God allows violent hurricanes to arise in our lives is to build our faith**

40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

• God wants us to believe Him
• He wants our faith in Him to be bigger than the hurricane that is in front of us
• Instead of running to Him saying, do you not care that we die?  He wants us to run to Him and say with confidence, Master, can you do something about this storm?
• Jesus tells Martha in John 11:40  “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
  • Jesus wanted His disciples to come to Him in belief that He would rescue them from what appeared to be a life or death tempest
  • Jesus wants us to come to Him when hurricanes of our lives blow in
    • Hebrews 4:16 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
• James 1:2-4 2Count it all joy, my brothers,b when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

 

***Point 3, Even when God allows violent hurricanes in our lives, He is with us***

 

• Jesus allowed the hurricane to come, It was His idea to get in the boats that evening in the first place
  • But He was with them
• Deuteronomy 31:6 6Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
• Jesus promised us in the final sentence of Matthew 28:16b before ascending,  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
  • Jesus is with us because He dwells in us in the person of Holy Spirit
  • He is with us no matter how violent the hurricane is

 

****Scripture is full of examples of hurricanes that are used for His glory, the faith of the children and show His presence in the midst of the hurricane, lets turn to Daniel 3****

 

Daniel 3:13-30– As I read, listen for the violent hurricane, listen for God getting glory, listen for faith, listen for God’s presence

 

Acts 12:1-17- as I read, listen for the violent hurricane, listen for God getting glory, listen for faith, listen for God’s presence

 

*recap the three responses to violent hurricanes in our lives*

• Remember it is for God’s glory and our good (all things work together…)
• Remember that we are to apply our faith and our gaze at Jesus when we are going through storms
• Remember that He is with us and in us, that provides us comfort

 

****“there was one violent hurricane Jesus faced so that we wouldn’t have to face it.”  ****