He’s A Storm Stopper (Part 3)
35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 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?” 39 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. Mark 4:35-39
1 So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from a cemetery to meet him. 3 This man lived among the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. 4 Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones. Mark 5:1-5
Before they became disciples of Jesus, Peter, Andrew, James and John were commercial fishermen. As fishermen they no doubt knew how to sail. In their occupation I am sure they had experienced their share of storms at sea. I imagine that when this storm came up their thinking was that because they have handled storms before they would handle this one now. But this storm was different and they found that leaning on their own understanding of sailing was to no avail. Soon frustration and fear began to grip their minds. Then they noticed that all hands were not on deck helping to keep the boat afloat. In their panic the disciples hurried below deck and woke Jesus up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” (verse 38). Now, when Jesus got up I am sure that they fully expected him to grab an oar or take hold of a rope to adjust the sail. I am sure that they did not expect him to do what he did. Jesus opened his mouth and stopped the storm! “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” (verse 39).
The storm is raging, the disciples are panicking, but what is Jesus doing? Jesus is resting. One of the titles of Jesus is The Word of God (Revelation 19:3). The Word of God is written in a book called the Holy Bible. That book is probably in your living room resting on a coffetable or in your bedroom resting on a nightstand. That book that is resting in your home is a book of rest. To rest is to be free from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs. When you open that book you wake Jesus up. When you open that book Jesus opens his mouth and stops the storm. My friend, open the book and stop the storm and get some rest.
35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 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?” 39 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. Mark 4:35-39
1 So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from a cemetery to meet him. 3 This man lived among the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. 4 Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones. Mark 5:1-5
Before they became disciples of Jesus, Peter, Andrew, James and John were commercial fishermen. As fishermen they no doubt knew how to sail. In their occupation I am sure they had experienced their share of storms at sea. I imagine that when this storm came up their thinking was that because they have handled storms before they would handle this one now. But this storm was different and they found that leaning on their own understanding of sailing was to no avail. Soon frustration and fear began to grip their minds. Then they noticed that all hands were not on deck helping to keep the boat afloat. In their panic the disciples hurried below deck and woke Jesus up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” (verse 38). Now, when Jesus got up I am sure that they fully expected him to grab an oar or take hold of a rope to adjust the sail. I am sure that they did not expect him to do what he did. Jesus opened his mouth and stopped the storm! “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” (verse 39).
The storm is raging, the disciples are panicking, but what is Jesus doing? Jesus is resting. One of the titles of Jesus is The Word of God (Revelation 19:3). The Word of God is written in a book called the Holy Bible. That book is probably in your living room resting on a coffetable or in your bedroom resting on a nightstand. That book that is resting in your home is a book of rest. To rest is to be free from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs. When you open that book you wake Jesus up. When you open that book Jesus opens his mouth and stops the storm. My friend, open the book and stop the storm and get some rest.
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