Mark 4:35-41

As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although the other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “What are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man? they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

 

This is so powerful, the first thing to notice is that in verses 35 & 36 in the amplified is says

“on that {same} day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side {of the Sea of Galilee}.” So leaving the crowd, they took Him with them, just as He was, in the boat. And other boats were with Him.” 

Jesus and his disciples had already been ministering to people all day. During this time Jesus taught several parables to the people. They were about to go to a new physical location to continue ministering to people. When you are about to enter into a new season of your life or ministry; you will be attacked and have storms pop up.

The second thing to pay attention to is in verses 37 & 38 (amplified)

“And a fierce windstorm began to blow, and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already being swamped. But Jesus was in the stern, asleep {with his head} on the {sailor’s leather} cushion. And they woke Him and said to Him ” Teacher, do you not care that we are about to die?”

 

Lets talk about storms. I live in the midwest now and we can have some rough weather at times. Who in here has been through a hurricane? It’s not fun. I grew up in Florida going through hurricanes. I happen to be living there in 2004 when Ivan hit and it was one of the strongest hurricanes I have ever experienced. It hit our area in the middle of the night around 1-3am. I can remember hearing all the windows in my house just shaking the windows. I was living with my folks and they had a young puppy at the time. The storm was so traumatic that after this hurricane, any time there was a storm their dog would just go crazy to the point the vet had to prescribe it medication in order to keep her calm. My wife and I have a fireplace in our house like I did in our house in 2004 and when we have crazy wind that whips around it makes the same howling noise which brings me right back to 2004. My loving wife reminds me that this is normal for the midwest and that we are okay.

Now, imagine yourself on a boat; you’re tires, probably a little hungry, and the worst storm in your life just appears out of nowhere. They didn’t have iphones, or androids, or any smart devices with instant connections with weather radars. The disciples, who were made up of pro-fishermen, thought they were done. They were probably like Jesus-wake up, I am sorry for everything…We are going to die!!!!! Jesus on the other hand was sleeping during the storm. I can imagine Jesus thinking… Boys, boys, boys, I was sleeping good…What do you want?

 

Verse 39 in the messages says “Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you such cowards? Don’t  you have any faith at all?”

There are 2 things here in this verse. First, Jesus spoke to the storm. Notice, it didn’t scare Him at all. He wasn’t taken back by the storm. He didn’t pause to think about what to do or doubt the power He has inside of Him. He Just spoke to the storm & said “Quiet! Settle Down!” I am convinced in my own life as well as Bethesda House, if I would just take a moment and speak to whatever situation that things would go much smoother in my life. The Bible talks about this Mark 11:23 (amplified) “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart {in God’s unlimited power}, but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be down for him {in accordance with God’s will}

Secondly, I want to point out that Jesus reprimanded the Disciples. The Disciples had seen miracle after miracle, yet they still had some unbelief that needed to be addressed. Jesus addressed it!!!

 

I believe that there are so many people are there that are dealing with some storms in your life and you have forgotten that Jesus is in your boat, or think He has left your boat, or maybe He was never in your boat in the first place. Let me assure you of something He’s in your boat and He hasn’t left and for those of you that have never had Jesus in your boat let me assure you right now you can ask Him to come into your boat and ask Him to be your Lord and  your Savior right now even while reading this.

 

Acts 4:12 ‘And there is no salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved {for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation}

If you fall into this category and your saying to yourself I need to get Jesus into my boat then repeat this prayer:

Dear Jesus,

I ask that you forgive me of my sins. Wash me clean. I believe that you died on the cross, was buried and rose 3 days later. I will serve You from this day forward. Take control of my boat. I pray this in the Matchless Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Secondly there is someone who is reading this and you are going through some pretty strong storms in life right now and I want to tell you that God knows what you are going through and He is here to help. Just call out to Jesus and He will be there with you.