Bible Study - CHRIST (3) - Power like No Other - Mark 4:35-41 - March 15, 2015

Bible Study – CHRIST (3) – Power like No Other – March 15, 2015

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled “Like No Other: The Life of CHRIST.”

Our focus scripture is Mark 4:35-41.

JESUS has a power over all my fears. We say such words but do we believe them by trusting HIM in troubling times.

John Mark wrote the gospel of Mark. Of the 35 miracles manifested by JESUS, Mark recorded 20 of them.  The book of Mark is a book of action. Mark recorded JESUS traveling from place to place healing, teaching, casting out demons and going to new locations to minister.

It is interesting that it is believed that Mark is the person recorded in Mark 14:51 who ran off in the nude when JESUS was arrested:

51 Now a certain young man, having a linen cloth wrapped around his naked body, was following Him. They caught hold of him, 52 but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.

Tradition has it that Mark got much of his information regarding JESUS from the Apostle Peter.

As JESUS was on the move, we get to read about HIS human side such as getting hungry, tired and sleepy but also to read of HIS divine side.

Our lesson will show the Spiritual side of HIS disciples. HIS disciples had to answer a very important question that the followers of JESUS must also answer and that is, “What manner of man is this?”

As I have repeated many times, the moment of salvation is just the beginning of our Spiritual walk with CHRIST. It is a journey of discovering who CHRIST is as we build our relationship with HIM and obediently serve HIM as we step out in faith and are led, guided and directed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Let’s explore!

JESUS had been ministering in and around Capernaum which is located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is more like a lake which is roughly 13 miles long and 8 miles wide. The lake’s basin is about 700 feet below sea level. The Sea of Galilee was known for sudden, violent storms in the afternoon.

JESUS frequently taught outside and HE had taught much of the day at the lake and as the crowd grew HE got into a boat which served as a platform, plus such a setting helps project a person’s voice. Let’s read in Mark 4:1-2:

1 Again He began to teach by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea. 2 He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said to them:

HE gave them parables and as we read in Mark 4:33-34 we are told why:

33 He would speak the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand. 34 And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.

JESUS was teaching the people, as well as, HIS disciples. I believe GOD told JESUS to go to the other side of the lake because GOD knew the hearts of HIS disciples. HIS disciples needed to see the divine side of JESUS. This is a message to Christians as well. Do we get enamored with the man and overlook the divine. It is the divine that is important.

We, as humans, get caught up in aggrandizing those who speak eloquently and with great confidence only to discover later on that they are con artist and phonies. GOD wanted JESUS’ disciples to see HIM as the true Son of GOD.

When GOD prompts us via the Holy Spirit, we are to respond as JESUS did. Knowing the potential for sudden storms did not prevent JESUS from doing what HIS Father prompted HIM to do. JESUS was tired. A teachable event was about to take place and one that would test JESUS’ disciples and reveal truth.

Let’s read Mark 4:35-38a:

35 On that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” 36 So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was already in the boat. And other boats were with Him. 37 A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion.

JESUS told them “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” HE was already in the boat and did not get out of the boat. HE said let’s go and they went from the western shore to the eastern shore, Gentile territory. JESUS went to the stern or the back of the boat and JESUS curled up on the oarsman’s bench, which had a pillow and went to sleep. There were smaller boats with passengers listening to JESUS teach. The scripture does not tell us what the occupants of those small boats did but they likely followed HIM for a little while and turned back to shore. 

Suddenly a fierce windstorm arose and the waves were breaking over the boat and the boat was being swamped or filling with water. They were about to sink and likely franticly bailing out the water that was coming into the boat. It was a losing battle. But guess who was sound asleep?

JESUS was sleeping sound as a log on the oarsman’s cushion or pillow.

Some of the disciples were seasoned fishermen, plus they had a very important passenger onboard, JESUS.

JESUS was physically with them on the boat so how did they handle the situation?

Let’s read Mark 4:38b-39:

So they woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

HIS disciples had to wake HIM up. Now that is sound sleep and likely shows a very tired JESUS and the total trust HE had in HIS Fathers care.

Notice they call HIM Teacher!!! They exclaimed “Teacher!” in a very excited and demanding voice. They knew HIM as their Teacher so why was HE sleeping when they were about to perish? After all HE was the one who wanted to go to the other side of the sea. HE was the One Who got them into this situation. Did their actions show that they questioned HIS relationship with GOD because HIS choice to go to the other side got them into trouble?

Notice the statement “Don’t You care that we’re going to die?” The statement leads you to consider that JESUS was safe but they would be the ones to die. Even when JESUS is present, often, we get scared. But the use of the statement “we’re” could have included JESUS. Often we blame the person who had the idea to do something to get us out of troubling circumstances. Often we may say, “We trusted your decision but it was a bad one and look at the situation we are in now!”

JESUS woke up and immediately took care of the problem by speaking. HE rebuked the wind and calmed the sea by speaking. Immediately the wind ceased and the waves calmed and HIS disciples were astonished. “What kind of man is this? This reveals that they did not understand who JESUS was but this experience would be a teachable moment.

Words spoken by JESUS, the great storm went to a great calm.

Often we, as Christians, have notions about JESUS and it takes a teachable moment for us to get beyond head knowledge to real heart knowledge about JESUS. When we build our relationship with JESUS upon solid rock of truth, all other ground is sinking sand. When the storms of life hit and we are in right relationship with CHRIST, our solid foundation holds.

Let’s read Mark 4:40-41:

40 Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?” 41 And they were terrified [feared exceedingly in the KJV] and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

JESUS asked them two questions: “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?” Fear is contrasted with faith. Now that you have witnessed the power of GOD through ME, do you still have “no faith?”

We fear what we did not understand. JESUS’ disciples believed in JESUS to an extent but they still had more to learn about HIM. They still had not grown Spiritually to the point to understand HIM and to trust HIM completely.

Our faith is only as strong as our ability to trust. Here we have to be careful. We do not take a step of faith and trust to test GOD but we take a step of faith and trust when GOD leads us to do so or we find ourselves in situations where GOD tests’ our faith.

Notice that even in this test the disciples used every skill they knew to use but to no avail. Often, when we have exhausted our efforts, we call upon GOD for HIS help. Usually, HE exposes us to situations which will help us build our faith and trust in HIM and HIS care. However, there are times when we subject ourselves to situations of our choosing and we may have to suffer the consequences. GOD is even at work in these situations bringing out the best HE can for us as we read in Romans 8:28:

28 We know that [GOD is in] all things work[ing] together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

Fearful – Carries the idea of timidity and cowardliness. The word “feared” in verse 41 is different that the word fearful in verse 40. Feared is from the Greek word “phobeo” or the word where we get the word “phobia.” This word can indicate “fright”, “dread” or “terror” but it can also carry the meaning “awe”, “respect” or “reverence.” You can see both in the reaction of the disciples. They were “terrified” but at the same time they were in “awe” that this man they called JESUS had the power to speak and the wind stopped and the waves calmed down.

Faith – Carries the meaning of trust in what you believe. We say we believe in GOD but do we trust HIM? That is why we must build a personal, intimate relationship with HIM through our relationship with CHRIST. CHRIST reveals that the way to the Father is through HIM.

It was a teachable moment. The disciples saw JESUS as a teacher but not the true “Son of GOD.” JESUS wanted them to see HIM as the promised Messiah, Who was not the military leader Israel desired but the true “Son of GOD” in the flesh.

We know that Peter, Andrew, James and John were seasoned fishermen and they had the skills to weather a stormy sea but this storm was beyond their abilities. We read in Psalm 107 of the LORD’S care for those on the sea.

Let’s read Psalm 107:23-32:

23 Others went to sea in ships, conducting trade on the vast waters. 24 They saw the Lord’s works, His wonderful works in the deep. 25 He spoke and raised a tempest that stirred up the waves of the sea. 26 Rising up to the sky, sinking down to the depths, their courage melting away in anguish, 27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men, and all their skill was useless. 28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a murmur, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 They rejoiced when the waves grew quiet. Then He guided them to the harbor they longed for. 31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love and His wonderful works for all humanity. 32 Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders.

The disciples experienced the hand of GOD at work which they would never forget. Would GOD do such a thing to teach HIS children?

Let’s read Deuteronomy 8:1-3 (The Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.)

1 “You must carefully follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase, and may enter and take possession of the land the Lord swore to your fathers.

2 Remember that the Lord your God led you on the entire journey these 40 years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. 3 He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then He gave you manna to eat, which you and your fathers had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Christians never know the extent of their faith until it is tested. GOD knew the hearts of JESUS disciples and HE tested them to reveal truth. This was a test that also reveals when you have total trust in GOD you can sleep in the midst of turmoil. JESUS saw their fear and knew that they still need more training. The ordeal they had been involved in resulted in them asking, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Other translations read “What manner of man is this?” This is a question GOD desires for HIS children to answer for themselves. HE does not want HIS children to adopt someone else’s experience but for each to know HIM personally. That is the purpose of sanctification, as we walk through the routines of life. Earth is our training ground as we obediently serve HIM and enter the Promised Land placing our faith and trust in HIM. When HE calls we will answer because we trust HIM in the storms of our lives and we know that HE is right there with us. Blessings!!!