They were very afraid and asked each other, “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the water obey him!”
(Mark 4:41 ERV)
This morning we continue our series entitled, “The Year of Supernatural Manifestation”, with our mini-series on “The Miracles of Jesus”. Today we look at Jesus calming of the sea. Allow me to provide you the context. The event happens towards the end of a busy day. Jesus had been ministering all day, healing the sick and teaching the crowds. He still had plenty to do and many more miracles to perform. So, as evening drew near, Jesus took a pause from teaching, and told His disciples that they would go over to the other side of the lake (v.35).
Jesus left the crowd behind and entered a boat with His disciples. The miracle worker plainly told His disciples that they were going to the other side. With that statement and His destination set, Jesus entered the stern of the ship and went to sleep on a pillow. He was all God, but He was also all man, so He was tired. While Jesus was taking a nap a storm rolled in. The storm began to rage and it generated waves big enough to put the vessel in danger of sinking. As the waves broke over the boat, the boat began to take on water, and it seemed like they might go down. The whole while, Jesus was sleeping through the storm. Once again, as far as Jesus was concerned, they were going to the other side.
While Jesus was sleeping, the disciples, many of whom were trained fisherman, began to fear. These men had time-tested experience on the water, so they knew the situation was dire. Some of them even thought they were going to die. All-the-while, Jesus was sleeping. Jesus’ disciples were there when He turned water into wine with simple instructions, healed a leper and Peter’s mother-in-law with a touch, and a Roman officer’s servant with a Word. But they were still afraid. They were with Jesus. The Master was with them on the boat, but they were still afraid.
The disciples could not take it anymore. Fear overtook them. They woke up the sleeping Jesus and asked Him, “Master, don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus did not immediately address the disciples. He got up and addressed the storm. Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind died down and the water was completely calm. Jesus then said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples were very afraid and asked each other, “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the water obey him!”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Jesus was not moved by human circumstances.
a) Jesus only did what He was led of the Father to do. Jesus had been ministering all day and He knew He had more ministry to perform into the night, on the other side of the lake. So, He got into the boat, told the disciples they were going to the other side, and He took a nap. When the storm arose Jesus was not moved. Jesus actually slept through the storm, because the Father had already revealed to Him what He needed to do on the other side of the lake.
b) When you are doing the will of God, storms may arise. Opposition will come. But you must not be moved by the opposition. You must only be moved what by God said and what He is leading you to do.
c) Facing a storm does not mean you are outside of God’s will. You can be in the CENTER of God’s will and face a storm. You must simply have more confidence in God than you have fear of the storm.
2. When the peace of God fills your heart you can sleep through a storm.
3. Rest is spiritual. It is not the will of God that we run hard 24 hrs. a day, and 7 days a week. Jesus needed rest and so do we.
4. Fear is a choice, just like faith is a choice. The disciples chose to operate in fear. Jesus chose to operate in faith. This meant that Jesus was resting while the disciples were stressing. Which will you choose today, fear or faith? You cannot operate in fear and faith at the same time.
5. Jesus always deals with the root of the issue. The text says that He rebuked the wind first and then spoke to the waves. The waves were only reacting to the wind. So whenever storms rage in your life (marriage, workplace, children, etc.), seek to find the root of the issue first, and deal with that. Once you deal with the root issue, everything else will fall into place.
6. Speak the language of faith.
a) Jesus first spoke that He was going over to the other side. He later spoke to the wind and waves. In both cases He spoke the language of faith.
b) The language of faith speaks what it believes, not what it sees.
c) Speaking what you see will never change what you see. Looking at an earthly condition and speaking a heavenly desire, from a believing heart, releases the power of God in the earth to change what you see into what you said.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I thank Your for teaching me, through Your Word, to walk and live by faith every day, in every way! I was saved by Your grace and I laid hold of eternal life with my faith. I now walk by faith, live by faith, pray by faith, fight the good fight of faith, and overcome the world through faith. As I live by faith, with total confidence in Your written and revealed Word, I am able to SLEEP THROUGH and SPEAK TO the storms that arise. I am not moved by what I see. I am only moved by what I believe. And I refuse to allow what I SEE to change what I SAY! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and prosper!
