You Can Know Peace
Mark 4:35-41
It’s an incredible fact that the Lord can do all things at all times. He is not restrained as we are. He is always in complete control, not only of His own faculties but of all creation as well. If we look for a moment at today’s text we see Jesus quieting a storm that had caused His disciples to cower. The problems of life are like that, but god is ever available to comfort us and bring us through.
1. The peace of God was theirs; because they were in the perfect will of God.
A. Jesus is the one who told them to cross the lake. When they set sail they were acting in obedience to His command.
B. There are many stories of men doing extraordinary things when acting in obedience to God.
a. Gideon acted on God’s word and delivered the fierce Midianites into the hands of only three hundred men (Judges
7:7-9). God often accomplishes great things using the least likely people.
b. The man at Bethesda believed and acted on the word of the Lord (John 5:8-9). Many people depend on superstition
and tradition, but Jesus Christ has healing and deliverance in His every word.
2. Jesus was on the boat with them. He was calmly resting during the storm.
A. When they realized they had no hope they responded with fear. 2Timothy 1:7 says, “God hath not given us the spirit
of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
B. We must not become preoccupied with worldly things to the exclusion of the things of God. Don’t be taken in by
momentary obstacles. Trust God always (see Prov. 3:5-6).
C. We need to remember who it is that we’re trusting in for salvation. Jesus is the Son of the Living God who came into
this world to save us and bring us through life’s perils into a relationship with God.
3. Jesus’ disciples still hadn’t come to grips with the implication of His divinity.
A. They looked at appearances and thought they would perish. They knew the potential for disaster. Though they had
already acknowledged His Messiahship, they lacked understanding of His purpose.
B. In stormy times we can easily become discouraged by the apparent troubles we see on the horizon. Just like His
disciples we miss the point. Jesus is our ever present help in times of trouble (see Ps. 46:1).
C. It’s not very unusual for people to blow things up way out of proportion to the real threat. There were many time
Jesus exclaimed His frustration at their unbelief. Mark 4:40 says, “He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is
it that ye have no faith?”
4. The disciples were right to bring their concern to Jesus.
A. As the hymn says, “When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings , name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”
B. Jesus’ disciples had been present when He worked miracles before. They had no reason to think He wouldn’t be
able to deliver them from their present trials.
C. We can trust Jesus in our times of trial for the same reason. In Matthew 28:20 He said, “Lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world.” He said He’d never leave us alone (see Heb. 13:5).
Having Jesus in your life will make all the difference in the world to you. You can rest in His assurance. When the strong winds blow He can calm the storm. Romans 8:28 says, “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Worldly people don’t get it. They hold on to the mistaken idea that they’re running the show. If you will look back at your life honestly, you should be able to see many instances when God intervened on your behalf in spite of the fact that you didn’t know it at the time. He’s here right now and He’s ready to intervene in your life to bring about the best possible result, right now.
