1. We learn from Mark 4:1 that Jesus had been teaching by the Sea of Galilee. 2. According to vs.35, on the evening of the same day the Lord said to His disciples, "Let us pass over unto the other side." 3. As Jesus and His disciples sailed across the sea, a violent storm arose. 4. (vs.39) Jesus spoke to the wind and the sea, and "the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." 5. The most obvious lesson to learn from these passages is that Jesus had power over the forces of nature, and we certainly need to emphasize this. 6. However, there is additional information revealed about the Lord and His disciples that we need to examine as well.
Discussion:
I. WE LEARN THAT THE LORD WAS BOTH DIVINE AND HUMAN
A. By calming the wind and the sea, Jesus demonstrated His divine power. 1. There is a reason why Jesus performed miracles such as this one, and there is a reason why many of them have been recorded (John 3:2; 20:30-31). 2. Jesus is God's divine Son, and His miracles prove it. B. Jesus also demonstrated His humanity on this occasion. 1. As the Lord and His disciples sailed across the sea He fell asleep (vs.38). 2. Jesus must have been very tired because He slept during the storm. 3. This scene helps us to see Jesus as the Son of man (Hebrews 2:16). C. These verses in Mark 4 help us to see that Jesus was both divine and human. D. We also need to examine the disciples.
II. WE LEARN THAT THE DISCIPLES GREW IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD AS A RESULT OF GOING THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE
A. Even though Jesus was with them, the disciples demonstrated fear and a lack of faith. 1. With the ship filling with water, their lives were in jeopardy, and they awoke Jesus. 2. (vs.38) They asked, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" 3. (vs.40) Jesus asked them why they were afraid and why they had no faith. 4. By coming to Jesus they indicated that they had some faith in His power to do something about the situation. 5. By losing control they showed that their faith in the Lord's care for them was weak. 6. Notice that: a. "fear" and "a lack of faith" are linked together b. the disciples never prayed about the situation. B. The disciples learned several things about the Lord -- they were impressed with His great power, they learned that He cared for them, and they saw that He was not anxious.
III. WHAT CAN WE LEARN THAT WILL HELP US?
A. As we endeavor to do the Lord's will, storms will arise. B. Remembering certain things will help us when storms arise in our lives. 1. The Lord is always with His followers (Matthew 28:20b; Hebrews 13:5). 2. The Lord cares for His followers (1 Peter 5:7). 3. The Lord gives us a cure for anxiety (Phil. 4:6). 4. Even though He is with us and even though He cares for us, the Lord allows us to face trials so we may grow and mature. a. Jesus was with His disciples, but He still allowed them to face the storm before He delivered them from it (1 Corinthians 10:13). b. We can grow and mature if we face our trials in the proper way (James 1:3, 12).
