Mark 4: That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

Mark 4: A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 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?”

Mark 4: He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Mark 4: He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

O For A Faith That Will Not Sink Mark 4:35-41 Larry Cline – Hardin Valley Church of Christ – 11/2/2014

The fellow who can sleep like a baby doesn’t have one.

On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” (Mark 4:35 )

Several phrases to note:  “Let us go over to the other side.”

Why do storms come?  Jonah  Why had they gone on this boat? 35 On that day, when evening came, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. (Mark 4:35 & 36 )

Maybe following Jesus doesn’t always mean that you are going to have smooth sailing.

"Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"  Note the implications:  They aren’t accusing Jesus of ignorance about the storm but indifference to it.

It’s amazing not only that He could still the storm but that He could go to sleep in the middle of it.  Boat is tossing and turning but Jesus isn’t.

This was more than being tired.

Speaking of wisdom and understanding a Father gives advice to his son saying:

21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. 23 Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; 26 For the L ORD will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught. (Proverbs 3:21-26 )

Want sweet sleep? Put your confidence in the Lord!

Disciples don’t see Jesus’ sleep in that light.  See it as lack of concern.  Ever been there?

Dangerous attitude with a presumptuous implication.  We can act as if God’s relief & deliverance are a matter of debt, and not grace.

"Hush, be still."  What in this story seemed to bring them the most fear?  Why?

“Why are you so afraid?”

 Jesus seemed more displeased with His disciples than with the storm though He rebuked both.  The wind & the waves didn’t swamp the disciples… Fear did!

Reasons for them not to have been afraid: 1.His desire/promise to reach the other side. 2.His presence with them. 3.His own calmness in the midst of the storm.

Can you ever imagine sinking with the Son of God?  That gets to the heart of the problem:  It’s not courage  It’s not seamanship  They weren’t wimps or crybabies “Do you still have no faith?”

Two little words – Huge conviction! 1. “STILL” 2. “NO”

You don’t really know what a person thinks about Jesus until a storm comes.  Things to remember when storms come:

A.Open your ears!  It’s not a coincidence that the storm comes on this day, a day when Jesus had spoken from morning until evening about how important it is to really hear if you are going to be fit for the Kingdom of God.  The storm is the last part of the day’s curriculum. It’s a pop quiz!

Jesus will always actualize in life what you intellectualize in the classroom.

B.Guard your life.  We must be careful that in the midst of a storm we don’t speak in ways that are unworthy of Him.

I Timothy 1:3-7 3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than [furthering] the administration of God which is by faith.

5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

C.Focus your eyes.  Make sure you keep focused on the one who really matters!  This story was a favorite of the first century church… can you think of the reason?

 Mark’s church in Rome is having to make life and death decisions for Jesus.  The message was… peace is not the absence of turmoil, peace is the presence of Jesus.

 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1 )  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 )