Bible Study with Fred, Mark, chapter 4, verses 35 to 41, the storm

 

Mark 4:35 ¶  And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36  And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Your service for Christ will invariably take you into storms. Notice also that others, not among the closest of the disciples, followed in other small boats. All of the followers were in danger, not just the ones He empowered to do the greatest works. Many of the multitudes who were able followed after Christ and suffered the same danger as the Apostles. But Christ is in control.

Psalm 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

Psalm 143:11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

Proverbs 11:8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

He expects faith from you. But there will be times when you might wonder if God cares for you at all, when things get really bad, overwhelming.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Jesus is in control of the storm.

Psalm 65:7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.

Psalm 89:9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

Psalm 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

The disciples are in wonder at what Christ can do and you will be, too, if you let Him work on you with His word. You will see things that you thought you were overcome by removed like dead skin. Although, I personally, am a very wicked individual, I have seen this and wondered myself, “what manner of man is this”? What a great God we have.

When you realize that God is in control of the universe and all events and that nothing happens that He does not either will to occur or permit to happen you will be amazed, looking for His hand in every event of your life from success at work to a diagnosis of a deadly disease, from the joy of a new baby to the grief of the loss of a loved one. We are to have faith even unto death. Remember that we live in fallen bodies in a fallen world because of mankind’s sin, starting with Adam. Satan is the god of this world and the de facto ruler of it. Christ is the answer for the problem of death and sin. We must physically die in order to be in heaven with Christ (unless the Translation of the Church happens in our lifetimes.) We can never get there in this body as it is now constituted; decaying and dying as we speak. Christ is calling those who trust in Him out of this world and the death that comes with it. He demands faith and trust. We can’t cross that bridge unless we believe it will hold us up until we reach the other side. Note what Job said in the first part of the fifteenth verse of chapter 13 of his book;

Job 13:15a Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…..

And what Daniel’s three friends said to King Nebuchadnezzar;

Daniel 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

This is a great problem for many Christians. We think we should somehow be exempt from pain, grief, anguish, disappointment, sickness, accident, and even physical death. We want our assurances now, in this life, and we want our rewards and the results of our faith here and now, as well. We don’t want to go through the storm at all. But, we will, no matter how much we wish it were not so. Always remember who is in control, though. Think in terms of eternity.

Herein lies the difference between the philosophical Christians such as were this country’s Founding Fathers and the Bible Believer. The philosophical Christian views Christian principles as a good thing, something for good people to adhere to such as the Sermon on the Mount. But, when it comes to disease, misfortune, and death he or she has no more to cling to than the atheist. They have not experienced a real Risen Saviour in their life, nor have they had a relationship with their Creator. In the end there is only fear, sadness, and, perhaps, doubting. Maybe even they are ready to give up and feel that they’ve led a good life and if there is an afterlife they’ll have a chance to get there and not burn in Hell, if there is one. In the end, they have just as much uncertainty as someone who doesn’t believe in The Golden Rule.

But, the Bible Believer, as weak and frail, or as ignorant and uneducated as he or she may be, has the assurance of eternal life as soon as they trust Christ and how He works in their lives each day strengthens that faith so that they know in their hearts what the future holds, no matter what may come on this earth, an eternity with the one who created them. That is the essence of salvation, belief in a supernatural Saviour who rose from the dead and trust in Him.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.