Our text today is Mark 4:35-41
[35] When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.” [37] Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped. [38] But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”
[39] Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.
Facing the Storms of Life
Picture this: You’re in a boat with Jesus and His disciples in the middle of the night, navigating across the Sea of Galilee, when out of nowhere, a wild storm arises. This isn’t just any storm—it’s the kind that makes experienced sailors think they might sink. They are scared!
Welcome to Mark 4:35–41, a story about more than just weather; it’s about life’s unexpected storms. This story tells us three great truths.
First: Storms are part of life’s deal.
They come at us full throttle, one minute life is smooth, and one minute later, a storm has hit your life. The disciples were right there with Jesus, yet they were afraid. It’s like life saying, “Surprise! Let’s see how you handle this one.”
Second: In the middle of this chaos, Jesus is as calm as can be.
When everything’s going badly, He’s there, reminding us that panic doesn’t help. He’s got this way of bringing peace to our panic stations, showing us that sometimes, the trick isn’t about dodging the storm but finding your calm in the heart of it. It’s about knowing who’s in your boat and trusting Him to steer.
Third: Listening to the voice of Jesus
the Bible is filled with examples of this:
He spoke to the storm, and it obeyed. Mark 4:35-41
He spoke to the demons, and they obeyed. Mark 5:1-20
He spoke to sickness, and it obeyed. Matthew 8:14-17
He spoke to the fig tree, and it obeyed. Matthew 21:18-21
He spoke to death and it obeyed. John 11.
It makes you think, doesn’t it? If all these things obey His voice, what’s our excuse?
Lonnie Davis