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a) Jesus Silences the Storm on the Sea of Tiberias (Mark 4:35-41)
MARK 4:35-41
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him. 37 A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled. 38 He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?” 39 He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?””
Satan hates Christ. He is determined to consume his followers and let them fall into the abyss of fear, despair, and unbelief. The struggle between the kingdom of God and the band of Satan is merciless. Though we love men truly at all times, it is impossible for the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Satan to work together. The Pure Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, who declared that he had come to destroy the works of the devil. Satan tried to destroy Christ and his disciples by a violent storm when they sailed on the Sea of Tiberias. Christ was weary and tired after his day’s work, so he fell asleep peacefully despite the imminent danger. He knew that the storms could not destroy him, for he was guided by the hands of his Father who had always protected him.
The disciples had not yet received the power of the Holy Spirit. They had but their experience as fishermen. The thickening darkness, which excited the storms, was greater than their experiences and beyond their endurance. Therefore, when their boat became filled with water and was about to sink with all the people in it, they awoke the sleeping Jesus, and blamed him, fearing for their lives, that he did not care about them and left them to themselves.
Yet, Christ knew the reason for the storm. He got up and ordered the evil spirit in the air to become silent. One word from Christ’s mouth silences the noise of a host of demons. Christ is Lord over the air, over the earth, over the sea, over the spirits, and over death, and life. Wherever he stands there must be the silence of the glory of God prevailing over all visible and invisible things.
The church is like the boat on which Christ sails with us in the midst of the rough sea of this world, with its destroying storms. Are you secure with the multitudes of believers, or do you fear temptations, powers, attacks, and disasters of the world more than you trust and believe in the presence of Christ with you?
The Son of God said to his disciples, rebuking their hearts: “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” He had already given his apostles the power to preach the gospel, to cast out unclean spirits, and to heal the sick, but at the time of temptation, they quickly failed, and cried out with fear. We have to learn that we are all unprofitable servants. Without Christ, we are all unsuccessful. But if we bind ourselves to the Savior with a living faith, then he will confirm his Spirit in us with calm assurance, giving us hope and certainty in the nature of Jesus Christ. He is the Guarantor of the church who keeps it as the apple of his eye.
PRAYER: O Lord, all authority has been given to you in heaven and on earth. Forgive our lack of faith, our worries, and our lies. Establish us in your security and rest, that the spirits of devils may be silenced with your word in our mouths, and your church may always be under your protection. No power in the world or in hell can destroy us, for you are with us to the end of the age.
QUESTION:
- Why did Jesus feel comfortable and fall asleep in the midst of the storm? What do we learn from the silencing of the destroying excitement?