The Master of the Storm
Mark 4: 35-41
Our text today reveals the end of a long day of teaching for our Lord. The evening had come, and night was soon approaching. While the disciples may have been unaware, Jesus had made the decision to journey to the other side of the Sea of Galilee that night. As we will discover in the next chapter, a man stood in desperate need, and Jesus was committed to meeting his need.
Several of the disciples were seasoned fishermen. No doubt they had spent many nights on the sea. The Lord’s desire to journey across the sea likely brought little concern to them. However, before the night was over, they would learn much about themselves and the Lord.
This is a wonderful passage with great relevance for our lives today. While most of us do not travel by boat, we are all on this journey of life. At times our journey is smooth and enjoyable; at other times the journey is quite rough and uncertain. Regardless of the conditions we encounter while traveling, we can trust the Lord to get us safely to the other side!
Let’s examine the variety of emotion revealed in the moments they encountered as we discuss: The Master of the Storm.
I. A Moment of Serenity (35-36) – In the moments immediately following the long day of ministry, the disciples enjoyed a time of serenity with the Lord. Consider:
A. The Command (35) – And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. Late that evening, following their busy day, Jesus gave the command to pass over unto the other side of the Sea of Galilee. The passage reveals that the disciples were obedient to the Lord and followed His command.
This offers a profound teaching moment in this passage. Many often assume storms and trials of life are always the result of disobedience or sin. As we will discover, they encountered a raging storm while in the will of God. They did as they were commanded and still faced a frightening and uncertain encounter. Never assume a storm or trial in your life, or in someone else’s life is always a sign of disobedience or sin!
B. The Companionship (36) – And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. Jesus did not send them away with the expectation to meet Him on the other side. He accompanied them on their journey. I am sure the disciples were excited about an opportunity to spend a few leisurely hours on the water with Jesus, and maybe gain more insight from His teaching. Along with the disciples and Jesus, other small boats accompanied them on the journey. No doubt these desired to be near Jesus, and they too were committed to following Him. (Like the disciples and those who followed, we too should desire to spend quality time with the Lord, apart from the busyness and distractions of life.)
II. A Moment of Ferocity (37-38) – The leisurely and enjoyable trip soon turned into a frightening experience. Although several of the disciples were accustomed to being on the water, they encountered a serious situation as a ferocious storm arose on the water. We can learn that:
A. Storms are Unpredictable (37a) – And there arose a great storm of wind. As they made their way across the sea, a great storm arose and came quickly upon them. No doubt they had no idea a storm would come, and maybe had given little thought to a plan of action. What began as a leisurely trip quickly became a serious situation.
The same is true in our everyday lives. We can be enjoying a calm and relaxing day, and in a moment’s time everything can change. We have no way of knowing what a day will bring forth or what we may be forced to deal with. Storms and trials often come at the most inopportune times, with little advance warning.
B. Storms are Unavoidable (37b) – And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. The storm came upon them while they were in the midst of the sea. It arose without warning and became intense rather quickly. The winds began to blow and the waves began to swell. It wasn’t long until the waves were crashing over the sides of the boat. The vessel was taking on water and quickly filling. The seasoned men knew the boat would not stay afloat much longer if the storm continued to rage. They were too far from shore to make a quick landing and were at the mercy of the sea. There was no way to get out of this horrible situation.
The same is true with much of the adversity we encounter. You don’t have to seek out difficulty; it will find you soon enough. No doubt we all are forced to deal with frightening situations that reveal no way of escape. At times we must endure the adversity because we have no means of escape and we cannot avoid the storm that appeared in our midst.
C. Storms are Uncontrollable (38) – And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? By this time Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat. The disciples had considered the situation and realized there was nothing they could do. They were at the mercy of the storm. They feared they would not survive and cried out unto the Lord in their moment of desperation.
There is much in life that is beyond our control. We all face trials and difficulties that we are unable to handle. In those moments all we can do is hold on and wait out the storm. We will discover however, hope remains in our Lord. He was in the boat with the disciples. They didn’t realize it at the time, but they were much safer with Jesus in the midst of the storm than they would have been standing on shore without Him. It is often hard to remember, but we are always secure in Christ. Even though we lack ability, He never does!
III. A Moment of Discovery (39-41) – The storm was not enjoyable, but it was beneficial. Through the storm the disciples would discover much about the Lord that would increase their faith and trust in Him. They discovered:
A. His Presence (39) – And he arose, and rebuked the wind. As the storm raged around them, Jesus slept in the boat. There was no concern about the storm. Jesus knew He was able to control the storm. However, when the disciples cried out to Him in fear, Jesus responded to their need. The disciples discovered that Jesus was in their midst and cared about their need. (We may fail to realize it at times, but Jesus is always aware of our need and near to us. He desires us to bring our burdens to Him, calling on Him to help in our times of need.)
B. His Power (39) – And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. They were unable to control the storm, but Jesus revealed once again the mighty power He possessed. He spoke three simple words and immediately the wind ceased to blow and the waters became calm. In an instant the storm ceased.
I rejoice to know we serve one who possesses all power. There is nothing we face that He cannot handle. He has the ability to immediately handle whatever situation we encounter. At times we allow fear and uncertainty to cloud our vision and hinder our faith, but Jesus has already conquered every enemy we could possibly face. He defeated sin, Satan, death, and hell. He rose triumphantly from the grave, promising victory and eternal life to all who believe!
C. His Peace (39) – The wind ceased and there was a great calm. In an instant their fear and anxiety was turned into peace and assurance. The storm that threatened their lives had been calmed by the Master. There was nothing the fear. He was in control and brought peace to them.
For me this is one of the greatest discoveries in this passage. Jesus brought peace in the midst of their storm. He continues to do the same for us. In His sovereign will, He may not immediately remove the storm, but He can provide the peace we need to endure. One thing is certain, He will not leave us to face the storm alone. We will never perish standing in the presence of our Redeemer and Lord.
D. His Provision (40) – And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? I don’t believe Jesus was angry with them but He did lovingly rebuke them. He questioned their unbelief, knowing He was in the boat with them. He had never failed to meet their needs in the past and He wasn’t about to fail them now. Jesus wanted them to live by faith, trusting Him with every aspect of their lives.
We too have reacted much like the disciples. Jesus has always proven faithful in our lives, and yet we find ourselves consumed with worry and doubt. The believer has no reason to fear. He may not always remove the storm immediately, but He will always provide the grace and strength we need to endure!
E. His Preeminence (41) – And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? These men learned a great lesson in faith and discovered more about Jesus as the Christ. Once again He revealed Himself as the Son of God in their midst. I am convinced this storm came upon the disciples for this purpose. They needed to see Jesus in His power. They needed a reminder of His deity.
I think it is safe to say that no one enjoys facing storms and adversity. However, I fear we often miss opportunities to see Jesus for who He truly is and have our faith increased. I hope we never miss an opportunity to see Jesus in His power and glory, even if it takes a trial to discover it. Look for Him in every situation and strive to learn the valuable lessons He desires to teach!
Conclusion: I am convinced we all can relate to this passage. We are all familiar with the storms of life. We know we can’t predict, avoid, or control them. Many times they come as we are walking in fellowship with the Lord. Like the disciples, we must learn to trust Jesus in our trials and discover more of Him through them. I pray we can learn to view our trials as opportunities to grow and mature in the faith instead of focusing solely on the adversity.
If you are in a storm today, call out to Jesus. He can provide exactly what you need at this moment. If you are yet unsaved, respond to His call for salvation!
