Amazing Jesus | March 19
Amazing Jesus: Storm Central
Mark 4:35-41
March 19th, 2023
Mark 4:35-41 (NIV) 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Text Content
1) The storm was sudden.
2) Jesus was asleep.
3) The disciples were afraid.
4) Jesus speaks, storm stops.
5) The disciples were amazed.
Spiritual Constants
1) Storms are Sudden.
2) Silence isn’t Absence.
3) Jesus is God.
Psalm 121 (NIV) I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; 8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Fear is easily learned, faith takes practice. Fear is natural, faith is supernatural. With practice, faith can become instinctual.
2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP) 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].
Spiritual Constants
1) Storms are Sudden.
2) Silence isn’t Absence.
3) Jesus is God.
4) Roar isn’t Reign
Jesus rebukes the wind: “Knock it off, who do you think you are!”
Jesus addresses the waves: “and you, put your teeth and bark away!”
Whatever demands our attention doesn’t have to control our faith. In fact, anything that yells, “look over here” is a clear indication that the power and the solution is not over there!”
5 “Constant” Takeaways
Storms are Sudden.
That’s the life sin ushered in.
Silence isn’t Absence.
Jesus has come to us and He hasn’t left.
Jesus is God.
There is nothing or no one more powerful.
Roar isn’t Reign.
Loud isn’t Lord.
Faith over Fear.
Faith is movement. Fear is stuck. Keep rowing.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. How do we demolish