Mark 4:35-41 Complete Jewish Bible
35 That day, when evening had come, Yeshua said to them, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. 37 A furious windstorm arose, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was close to being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern on a cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, “Rabbi, doesn’t it matter to you that we’re about to be killed?” 39 He awoke, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind subsided, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no trust even now?” 41 But they were terrified and asked each other, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the waves obey him?”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fideles! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Every person here has what I call “Storm theology.”
Storm theology is what you believe about God when storms come into your life.
When a crisis comes into your life is God a good God or a bad God for allowing it to happen, not stopping it before it begins or stopping it before we discover it or not raising an awareness of its coming before where we find we are somewhere where after we get into the boat we cannot control it, ourselves or the outcome.
After we get into the boat in obedience to God’s will, When we pray during the storm do you trust in God as caring or as uncaring based on how He answers?
Or, how God does not answer and we believe that God has “fallen asleep” on us.
Storm theology is what we believe about God when things seem to be going horribly wrong after we have been trusting, obedient to His Word, His will for our lives.
Listen carefully, storms in life have the ability to bring to the surface what’s really inside of you.
Storms will reveal the truth to us whether (in panic) we live by fear or by faith?
Storms reveal unto us if our panic stricken heart is full of trust or full of doubts.
The way we react to God during a storm reveals the true nature of our deep, deeper and deepest truths about faith in ourselves or in God, whether we want it to or not.
Storms: “Stand Up and Fight or Run Away in Flight”
Number one, storms are test.
It is during the storms of life we discover what we really believe.
It is during the storms of life we discover how we really, naturally, react.
Storms have a way of revealing for all to see the deepest truths about us.
Storms have a way of revealing all of the truths we want no one else to know.
Storms have a way of revealing those things we all hold most dearly in secret, those things we hold closely, most guarded to our breast, as 100% shameful.
Verse 35 says, As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).
The storm that is about to happen to the disciples occurred at the end of the day, “as evening came.”
This had already been a busy day for Jesus.
- The day started back in Mark 3:20 where he had a confrontation with some Pharisees who publicly said that Jesus was possessed by Satan, and said that this is was the only place where He gets His power to do the miracles. They also accused Him of highest blasphemy which was punishable by death. This was a fierce and adrenaline pumping confrontation and exchange of their thoughts.
- Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, try to take Him away because they thought He had lost his mind, so now Jesus has tension within his family.
- Then Jesus spent the rest of the day teaching. He taught the crowds in parables and privately explained them to His disciples. He taught about the parable of the farmer scattering seed, parable of the lamp and it revealed and hidden light, parable of the growing seed, parable of the mustard seed and a host of others. This teaching session continued throughout the day under the heat of the sun.
This had been a busy day and emotionally draining day for Jesus.
However, for the disciples they had a front row seat to the array of teachings about the significance of God’s kingdom, to the miracles Jesus had performed.
Jesus had been teaching the disciples with what He said and what He did.
But now Rabbi Jesus, the master teacher, would give them an unplanned and unannounced practical test to see exactly how much they had really learned.
After all, the hearing of God’s Word is intended to produce faith (Romans 10:17) and faith must always be tested.
17 So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ. (Amplified Version)
It is not enough for us merely to learn a lesson or be able to repeat a teaching.
We must also be able to take the Word of God, apply, amplify and magnify those Words, apply, amplify and magnify those lessons by faith, hope, love, and that is one reason why God allows for trials, difficulties, and storms to come into our lives – storms are the tests and opportunities to demonstrate our trust in God.
Before we move on, look closely at what Jesus said in verse 35, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”
I know that literally, Jesus is talking about getting in the boat and going to the other side of the lake.
But His statement reminds me about the “other side” of life.
On this side of the lake Jesus had performed miracles, confronted the Pharisees, Jesus had learned there was growing dissension in his own family, taught about the Kingdom of God, the crowds are growing and everything is looking “good.”
On this side, the disciples faith and trust in Jesus has been easy and fun, but on the “other side” without any warnings or emails they are about to be tested.
They don’t know it, but a significant storm is coming on the other side.
On this side things are going well, all they have to do is sit and listen to their Rabbi do the teaching, but on the “other side” things are about to get tough.
- The “other side” of good health is life changing illness, life changing decisions. How will we respond when our faith is going to be TESTED on the “other side.”
- The “other side” of the honeymoon is a strained relationship. How will we then respond when our faith is going to be severely tested on the “other side of life?”
- The “other side” of God’s abundance and provision is the threat of bankruptcy. How will we then respond when our faith is going to be severely tested like that?
I believe we get the idea.
Storms are a significant test of our trust of our faith, of our hopes and our love.
The severity of those tests will always “occur” on the “other side” of our lives.
When God Guides You Right Into a Storm
Mark 4:35-37 New King James Version
Wind and Wave Obey Jesus
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
Have you ever been following God, and one bad thing after another takes place?
Have you ever stopped, looked around, and wondered if you missed a sign or a wonder or somewhere or somehow, you (un)knowingly took a wrong turn?
If so, shrug your shoulders and don’t worry about it; you’re in good company.
Remember David?
David waited fifteen years from when he was taken from his fathers sheep pens and “secretly” anointed king by Samuel, to when he finally became the king!
Can you begin to imagine how often he must have “asked” the Lord, “Did that day really happen, Samuel really anoint me to be king? Or was that just a fluke?
Because King Saul doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.”
Initially, David had hope.
Remember, he played the harp in the palace for Saul.
So, he was undoubtedly encouraged, knowing that he was at least working in the palace, getting acclimated to his surroundings and with Saul and his family.
But then, the bottom dropped out.
King Saul lost it, kicked David out, and then spent considerable time hunting David down to kill him.
I am not sure about you, but I would have questioned.
“Lord, was that You? Or am I making something up? Are You sure I’m supposed to be king? Because we are getting further away from any hope of becoming king.”
What does David do?
Well, we have many of the Psalms to tell us.
First, David poured his heart out to God.
Psalm 38:9 says, “Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You.”
Over and over and over, David bears his soul to God.
God sustains him, gives him strength, and keeps him steady.
Eventually, David became king.
As King, David had no shortage of bad decisions, intrigues, and storms.
Yet, David was still “a man after God’s own heart.
Yet, the Lord was in charge the whole time — in absolute command, just exactly like Jesus was when He commanded the disciples to go across to the other side.
And in the midst of their travels, a storm blew in.
Jesus knew this was going to happen.
The storm took those professional fisherman on the ride of their lifetimes.
The storm was unannounced, unanticipated and wholly unprepared for.
Though Jesus was sound asleep, the storm didn’t take Him by surprise!
Brothers, Sisters and neighbors; our storms won’t take Him by surprise, either.
Intersecting Faith and Life: “Why are we so Fearful?”
Mark 4:38-41 New American Standard Bible
38 And yet Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they *woke Him and *said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and [a]it became perfectly calm. 40 And He said to them, “Why are you [b] afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
So, why do we think God allows us to go into an unannounced storm?
Why did He send the disciples right into their unanticipated storm?
Verses 38-41 gives us the answer,
“But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?’ And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!'”
Because from the midst and throes of their panicked state of mind, while they were deep in harms way within the storm of their life, they saw Jesus’ power.
If they didn’t feel their panicked state of mind, experience the magnitude of the storm, they wouldn’t know the unleashed magnitude, strength of their Savior!
Look at the saints before us and the tests they went through.
Moses spent ample time in the desert, and then over and over and over again, he had to go back to God to see what other signs God wanted to do.
Yet, God kept hardening Pharaoh’s heart.
Moses would need this hardened training when he returned to the desert with the Israelites.
Through this hardened training Moses became closely acquainted with God.
If you don’t believe me, read Exodus and underline every verse that says, “The Lord spoke to Moses.“
Then God tested Abraham with Isaac.
After that severest of “life and death” trial, Abraham knew God as a provider.
And after God tested Job, he said, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You” Job 42:5 NKJV.
Job 42:1-5 New King James Version
Job’s Repentance and Restoration
42 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
2 “I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 Listen, please, and let me speak;
You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’
5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.
In the storms, God shows us both the known and secret things about ourselves that we would never ever admit to ourselves nor unto any other human being.
In the storms, God compels us to seek Him out, to “wake Him up out of His slumber” show us things about Himself that we wouldn’t learn any other way.
Psalm 46:8-12 Complete Jewish Bible
8 (7) Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us,
our fortress, the God of Ya‘akov. (Selah)
9 (8) Come and see the works of Adonai,
the astounding deeds he has done on the earth.
10 (9) To the ends of the earth he makes wars cease —
he breaks the bow, snaps the spear,
burns the shields in the fire.
11 (10) “Desist, and learn that I am God,
supreme over the nations,
supreme over the earth.”
12 (11) Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us,
our fortress, the God of Ya‘akov. (Selah)
God is not interested in theory, does not want us to know Him in theory.
God, through His Son Jesus the Christ, wants us to know Him experientially.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Isaiah 43:1-7 The Message
When You’re Between a Rock and a Hard Place
43 1-4 But now, God’s Message,
the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
the One who got you started, Israel:
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That’s how much you mean to me!
That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.
5-7 “So don’t be afraid: I’m with you.
I’ll round up all your scattered children,
pull them in from east and west.
I’ll send orders north and south:
‘Send them back.
Return my sons from distant lands,
my daughters from faraway places.
I want them back, every last one who bears my name,
every man, woman, and child
Whom I created for my glory,
yes, personally formed and made each one.’”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fideles! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 