MARK, LESSON 6 C
II. THE STILLING OF THE STORM, vs. 35-41.
A. The Awesome Storm, vs. 35-38.
1. A strange proposal, v. 35, “Let us pass over unto the other side.”
NOTE: Jesus certainly knew that a great storm was coming, but He wanted them to see that Christians must face the storms of life.
2. They had just HEARD THE WORD of God, and it PRODUCES FAITH so now they are going to be TESTED, Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
3. Jonah was in a storm because of disobedience, but they were in the storm BECAUSE OF OBEDIENCE, v. 35; John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
4. Reasons why they had NOTHING TO FEAR:
a. Jesus SAID they would go to the OTHER SIDE.
b. Jesus Himself was WITH THEM and they had seen His MIRACLE WORKING POWER.
c. Jesus Himself had gone to SLEEP, REVEALING that there was NOTHING to be afraid of, Psalm 4:8, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”
5. Some of His disciples were EXPERIENCED SAILORS, BUT even they were afraid. This happens when we walk by sight and not by faith, 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
6. God does NOT EXEMPT is children FROM THE STORMS of this life, 1 Peter 4:12, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.”
5. We should MAKE SURE that we have the Lord WITH US, when the storms hit, Psalm 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
a. He is our refuge, Psalm 46:11, “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”
b. He will GO WITH US through every difficulty, Isaiah 43:2, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
c. He is the STRENGTH of our life, Psalm 27:1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
B. The Awesome Calm, vs. 39-41.
1. The AUTHORITY of His words, v. 39; Psalm 107:29, “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.”
a. The Lord is the ONE we need TO FEAR, Jeremiah 5:22, “Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?”
b. The Lord RULES THE SEA, Psalm 89:9, “Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.”
c. With a word He brought an UNCOMMON PEACE, John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
d. This is a PEACE that PASSES our understanding, Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
2. He REBUKED them for their LACK of faith, v. 40; Matthew 8:26, “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”
3. They LEARNED a great lesson ABOUT HIM, v. 41.
a. They feared the Lord, Revelation 15:4, “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”
NOTE: “That is, the men in the ship, the mariners to whom the ship belonged, and who had the management of it.” —John Gill’s Expositor.
b. What manner of man is this?
(1) He is a man mightier than the waves of the sea, Psalms 93:4, “The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.”
(2) He is the Son of God, Matthew 14:33, “Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.”