Jesus calms the storm, written preaching
Jesus Christ calms the storm (Mark 4:35-36), written sermon
While it is true that Jesus Christ calms the storm, it is important to note how experienced fishermen feared for their lives.
Although the text does not say which apostles were with Christ in the boat, when Jesus Christ calmed the storm, it is likely that the experienced fishermen (at least four of the twelve) were on board. These men were quite familiar with the ways of the sea; certainly this was not his first squall on the Sea of Galilee, which was known for its sudden and furious storms. Even these professional fishermen were frightened by this storm, to the point of fearing that they would die (Luke 8:24); however, they would witness when Jesus calms the storm.
A storm arose, but Jesus Christ calms the storm
Jesus calms the storm: “But a great windstorm arose, and the waves threw into the boat, in such a way that it was already drowning. And he was in the stern, sleeping on a bolster; and they woke him up, and said to him: Master, don’t you care that we perish? (Mark 4:37–38). It is significant that Jesus’ sleep was deep, even during the storm, that he “was already filling” the boat; however, Jesus Christ calms the storm.
We must have faith in times of storm, because Jesus Christ calms the storm
How not to have faith? Jesus Christ calms the storm
The Bible says that a believer’s sleep will be sweet and peaceful because he knows that the Lord is with him; for Jesus calms the storm (Proverbs 3:24; Psalm 4:8). That is why Jesus, when he was awakened, rebuked the disciples with the question: “Why do you not have faith?” (Mark 4:40), after this, Jesus Christ calms the storm.
Jesus Christ calms the storm, but the lack of faith is rebuked
As Jesus Christ calms the storm, the apostles’ lack of faith reminds us that even those who lived and walked with Jesus, saw his miracles, and heard his message, found it difficult to be 100 percent full of faith all the time. In that way, the disciples were much like us. However, his lack of faith was rebuked and, by extension, ours as well; however, in the end Jesus calms the storm.
Jesus Christ calms the storm, he can also rescue us from the storms of everyday life
Jesus rescues us, Jesus Christ calms the storm
If Jesus calms the storm and was able to rescue the apostles from the storm, he can also rescue us from the storms of everyday life: illness, job loss, marital problems and even the sting of death (1 Corinthians 15:55). . If Jesus Christ calms the storm, he can also calm our storms.
Jesus Christ calms the storm, He will be with us in the storm
When Jesus “commanded to cross over to the other side” (Matthew 8:18), he knew that the tempest or storm was coming. He is omniscient (John 2:25); even with a storm brewing, he decided to jump into the sea. The Lord never promised that we would not have storms in life (in fact, He has told us to expect trouble, John 16:33). Rather, he has promised that he will be with us in the Tempest. Jesus Christ calms the storm, He will never leave his children alone in the midst of tribulation; with perseverance they will overcome (Deuteronomy 31:8; James 1:12).
Jesus calms the storm, he can also calm the storms of life
When Jesus Christ calms the storm, the apostles marveled at this powerful demonstration of Jesus’ supernatural ability over the elements (Luke 8:25). Jesus calms the storm, and this can be immensely comforting to the Christian in the midst of a storm. Faith in Christ is never out of place. If He can calm the storm of the sea with a single word, he can also calm the storms of life.
Jesus Christ calms the storm, He came to calm the storm
Jesus calms the storm, but what if Jesus hadn’t calmed the storm?
In one of the most beloved stories in the Bible, Jesus Christ calms the storm, found in Mark 4:35-41. Jesus and his disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee when a storm breaks out. The waves threaten to sink the boat. Jesus is asleep, but in the end Jesus calms the storm.
Asleep! How can you be asleep? Terrified, the disciples wake him up and ask if he minds if they die. Jesus Christ calms the storm, tells the wind and waves to calm down, and then asks the disciples why they are so afraid. Naturally, they are full of wonder at this event. But Jesus is rather casual about the whole thing. Jesus calms the storm and gives them the peace of mind they needed.
Jesus Christ calms the storm, because as God who is, He is in control of everything
Jesus calms the storm. Of course, there are a few different ways we could interpret this story. Jesus knows all things. He knows that the storm is not for the death of his disciples. He too, presumably, he knows that he can command the wind and the waves and they will obey. So he has no cause for concern; because Jesus is in control of everything, Jesus Christ calms the storm.
When it seemed that he was asleep, Jesus Christ calms the storm
The point is who was with them in the boat. Jesus was with them, Jesus Christ calms the storm
The storms threaten to sink our faith. These are not everyday inconveniences like a flat tire or an annoyance at work. These are the difficulties that make us question the goodness of God. A prolonged illness, the death of a loved one, a loss of purpose, a destroyed marriage, and it seems that God is asleep. If he really cared, if he really understood, then surely he would stop this from happening. We pray for healing and relief, for opportunity, for reconciliation, for anything that will make the storm pass, but let us not forget that Jesus Christ calms the storm.
What I see in this story, however, is that the storm is not the point but that Jesus calms the storm. The storm is real and terrifying, the disciples believe they will not survive, but surviving the storm is not the point. The point is who is in the boat with them. And because Jesus is the God of the Old Testament, Jesus Christ calms the storm.
Jesus Christ calms the storm, the storms of our life
Yes, Jesus calms the storm of our life. That is wonderfully true, and I myself have been encouraged by that knowledge; but Jesus did not come only to calm storms, he came to save souls. Jesus did not come to give me a comfortable life, he came to defeat death. That is not an easy path. Jesus Christ calms the storm, those storms of our lives.
We talk often enough about casting our worries on him, but how much do we hear about “humble ourselves under his mighty hand”? The two things are linked in this passage in order to experience that Jesus calms the storm. Casting our worries on him, according to these verses, is not simply a desire to avoid unpleasant circumstances, but rather a submission to whatever circumstances God may bring into your life, simply because they are from God. The apostle Paul exemplifies this in 2 Timothy 1:12, referring to his calling as an apostle and the difficulties that come with that appointment:
We do not deny suffering, but Jesus Christ calms the storm
“Therefore I also suffer this; but I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to keep my deposit for that day”, Paul does not deny suffering, but his faith in Jesus Christ is unshakable without matter the circumstances; because he knows that Jesus calms the storm.
The storm is about a battle, but Jesus Christ always calms the storm
No matter the storm, Jesus Christ calms the storm
I am not trying to lessen anyone’s suffering, nor would I suggest that you cannot cry out to Jesus about the storms in your life. He does, after all, rise up and calm the storm in this story. It is not that Jesus does not care about your problem, because Jesus calms the storm, it is just that your problem is not going to sink the ship; because Jesus Christ calms the storm and he will never allow you to sink.
Jesus does not say, “Let’s go out into the middle of the lake and drown.” He also doesn’t say, “Wow, all this teaching has really tired me out. A small cruise would be perfect. He has a destiny in mind and a soul to save. He has a battle to fight; but Jesus calms the storm no matter how big it is.
We may be afraid in the storm, but Jesus Christ calms the storm.
Storms are scary, I know. I know what it’s like to think that I can’t survive, or to think that God doesn’t care, that death would be preferable, then at least it would be over. I know what it’s like to feel useless, helpless and hopeless. And if this is how you feel right now, take heart, Jesus calms the storm.
Jesus does not take people out into the middle of the sea to drown them. He takes people across the sea so they can participate in his worldwide redemption work. He does not stop far to do this. No, he enters the darkness, the evil, the suffering of this world, and transforms it from within. If we are following him, we too will enter this darkness. We need to keep Jesus in view (Hebrews 12:2). We need to understand who is sleeping in the boat, Jesus the God who can do everything, that Jesus calms the storm.