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Mark | Chapter 4

“Sacred secrets for the asking”

4:1-20

  1. Introduction
  2. Vs. 1-2 What did He say?
  3. Vs. 10-12 Two kinds of hearers 
  4. Vs. 3-9, 14-20 The parable of the sower

Introduction

Because Jesus’ increased popularity and notoriety He was no longer teaching in the local synagogues and instead His pulpit was a small boat set out a safe distance from shore. This was not the only sign of popularity as Jesus had to adopt a new method of teaching as the 10’s of thousands were far more interested in the temporary then they were in the permanent. A parable is an earthy story with a heavenly meaning thrown alongside truth for comparison. Jesus chose this method to make people pay attention and listen. Depending on how a person views the text, there are between 30 and 46 parables recorded and distributed between the synoptic gospels, John’s gospel doesn’t record any. Luke records the most and Mark the fewest. One is unique to Mark, 10 are only in Matthew and 18 appear only in Luke. The remainder appear in one or both of the other synoptic accounts. Parables must not be linked to:

  • Fables, as they have a spiritual aim
  • Myths, as they are truthful
  • Proverbs, as they are longer
  • Allegories, as they are complete and not always self-interpreting

They were not unique to Jesus they are found elsewhere in scripture and known to be used by rabbis. What was unique was the exclusivity that Jesus employed this method and how He used it to draw people to Himself for the answers. Parables are like shells on a nut or fruit: They keep good fruit for the diligent, and protect it from the uninterested and lazy!


Vs. 1-2 What did He say?

    In chapter 3 verse 23 I mentioned that Jesus adopted the parabolic method when teaching. In chapter 4 verses 33-34, Mark will offer his commentary on this method employed by Jesus saying that, “with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.” That commentary is the key to understanding this method as well as the difficulty of verse 12. As I look at this chapter I notice that three of the four stories deal with some type of seed. The only one that diverts from this in verses 21-25 and it has to do with light under a basket and visibility. The word “parable” in verse 10 in the best manuscripts is plural which would have included all of the parables spoken by Jesus that day. This leads me to the belief that the four parables mentioned were done at one time from the boat. The interpretation that Mark includes in verses 10-20 happened sometime after the teaching while Jesus was alone with His disciples. That being said Mark breaks apart the chronological order of events in order to give needed instruction and interpretation on what is commonly referred to as the “Parable of the sower” to his Roman readers. The reason for this seems to be found in verse 13 where Jesus said to His parable inquirers, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand ALL the parables?” To place this instruction at the end chronologically as it happened would cause the reader to lose the opportunity in the text to apply the instructions and interpretation with the present and preceding parables. Based upon verse 13 the “Parable of the Sower” is the key to all parables. It is for this same reason I think it is best that we first deal with the setting in verses 1-2 then move to the instructions in verses 10-12 before we move to the parable its self, verses 3-9 and with Jesus’ interpretation in verse 14-20.

    Vs.1-2 Back in verse 9 of chapter 3 Mark told us about the need to keep a small boat off shore because of the crushing crowds and here we see that Jesus had to get into that boat to keep from getting crushed. Then Jesus adapted a simplistic method of teaching do to the limitations of His hearers. The fact is that even our Lord’s words fell upon DULL EARS, HARD HEARTS and UNRESPONSIVE WILLS! That fact ought to make every pastor and parent feel a lot better!


    Vs. 10-12 Two kinds of hearers

      Vs. 10-12 To take these verses out of the context is to create confusion with regards not only to the intent of parables but to the character and nature of Jesus. Did Jesus mean, as “simple reading” seems to imply that He spoke these stores in order to hide truth so that people could not understand and in not understanding couldn’t be forgiven? Our Lord points out that there are two kinds of hearers:

      1. The first one He describes as “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God..” This is a class of hearers who according to verse 10 “when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked about the parable.” A group who certainly was the minority among the 10’s of thousands but was not exclusively disciples. Their chief characteristic, the common denominator in this first group is they are the ones that “came to Him and asked Him” about the parable. Jesus said it had been given to THEM “to know sacred secrets or mysteries of the kingdom of God.” Twice in the telling of the parable Jesus makes reference to the key to these sacred secrets as being available to those that He says in verse 3 “Listen!” and again in verse 9 who have “ears to hear, let him hear!” Notice what this mystery is about; “the kingdom of God” that is how God is at work in the world, functioning through humanity now and throughout world history.              
      2. The second one Jesus describes as, “…those who are outside, all things come in parables.” Jesus isn’t mentioning a geographical location but rather a position of a person’s heart. It is to this second group that Jesus addresses the information of verse 12 as He describes there present condition as: “Seeing that they may see and not perceive, and hearing that they may hear and not understand; least they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.” This passage presents some difficulties that are cleared up in the context of verses 11 and 33 as clearly Jesus wanted people to be able to hear who were truly interested. First the word “that” at the start of verse 12 in the Greek means, “in order that” or because of, which implies that verse 12 was a preexisting condition in these hearers and NOT one caused by Jesus teaching parables. Matthew’s account supports this as these folks were seeing and hearing but what they saw and heard was not leading them to the Lord. This is a quote from the prophet Isaiah in the 6th chapter verse 9-10 who describes the people of his time as being those who saw and heard but were nonetheless blind and deaf because of the hardening of their hearts. Jesus employing parables to loosen the heart and was fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. This is more obvious when we read in Matthew 13:14 as Jesus says, “And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled”. He quotes Isaiah further in verse 15 saying, “For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should understand with their hear ts and turn, so that I should heal them.” God didn’t close their eyes and ears they closed them for the purpose of not turning from sin and the outcome was that didn’t receive forgiveness.
      5. Vs. 3-9, 14-20 The parable of the sower

      As we look at this parable generally we see that there is one sower and one type of seed but Jesus describes four varieties of soils. In three of these illustrations life is either missed or lost because it is rejected, still born or compromised. There are four consequences of the seed in these four soils and each had an agent that caused the consequence:

      1. Soil by the wayside, the seed was stolen by the foe
      2. Soil on stony ground, the seed was starved by the flesh
      3. Soil among the thorns, the seed was strangled by fear
      4. Soil on good ground, the seed was successful by faith   

      There also appears to be three levels of fruitfulness that could be due to opportunity or fidelity, ability or loyalty! Jesus says that the crop showed growth by “yielding a crop, sprang up and increased”, verse 8. In 1st Peter 1:23 Peter writes that we are “born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God that which abides forever.”  The soil upon which the seed is sown speaks of the conditions of people’s hearts not only the hearts prior to salvation but at any given time. We must not think that our soil is automatically “Good” and will produce fruit because at one time it has. Any given day this can change, if we don’t remain in the same spot spiritually.

      Vs. 3-9, 14-20 The word “listen” in the Greek means “Be listening” but it is not a word that was issued as a command but one rendered in kindness. Though issued in kindness and gentleness it was nonetheless done to a crowd that was far more interested in coming in contact with Him to be healed than it was to listen to the word. That combined with the word “behold” right afterward was saying, “Pay attention to what I’m about to say!” Again this parable Jesus describes four places where the word was sown:

      1. Wayside: The word “wayside” simply means road and is defined by Jesus in verse 15 as the condition of the heart whereby after a person hears the word, satan comes in and takes away by force the word that was sown in their hearts. That fact that it was sown describes in the Greek that it had begun to germinate but satan came in and snatched it away before it had time to become a plant. The first group described are those that are “Hard Hearted” they hear the word and as far as obedience to the word is concerned they say, “That’s for the birds. 
      2. Stoney ground: The same seed of the word fell on ground full of rocks and Jesus defines the condition of this soil in verses 16-17 as having a superficial experience with the word and that the condition of their heart as being rocky didn’t permit the roots to go down into the heart. Jesus describes these “rocks” as tribulation and persecution that comes and they quickly stumble. As long as the word is producing the desired results without any negatives they are fine but as soon as such belief cause something other than this they leave. Stony ground speaks of “Shallow Heart”. Oh they say Jesus is the way but as soon as things don’t go their way they drop their commitments. They are crises Christians as that is when they turn back to faithfulness. 
      3. Among the thorns: The seed of the word here fell amongst the seeds of thorns and it choked out the word suffocating the plant. Jesus describes this in verse 18-19 and says that they are drawn in a different direction by cares and worries of their course in life. The cravings for the things and life style of this world chokes out the word thus the word isn’t able to bear fruit.  This heart speaks of a “Crowded Heart”, a person has too many things crowding out the word of God. Worries about finances either because they have to little or they have too much.

      Good ground: Finally Jesus describes in verse 8 “good soil” in which the seed not only yield a crop according to the Greek it keeps on yielding a crop. And in verse 20 did so accordingly. The final soil of the heart is a “Fruitful Heart” producing an ever yielding crop. Agriculturist tell us that a great yield is 48 times the amount of seed sown. So 30 times would still be very good, 60 times the amount of seed would be amazing and a 100 times the amount sown would be miraculous.  


      “He spoke the word as they were able to hear”

      4:21-34

      1. Introduction
      2. Vs. 21-25 Hiding truth in plain sight
      3. Vs. 26-29 Organic farming 
      4. Vs. 30-32 Mysteries of the mustard seed
      5. Vs. 33-34 As they were able to hear
      7. Introduction

      Mark records three more parables of Jesus in this section and the context is that they all followed the parable of the sower prior to His conversation with those that came to Him after the teaching and prior to Marks commentary with regards to this time in verses 33-34. Along the way we will see two more seed parables and first the only parable unique to Marks account in verses 26-29. With regards to those three seed parables of Jesus we see:

      1. The parable of the sower: Described the condition of the heart in which the seed is sown
      2. The parable of the growing seed: Tells the story of the natural history of growth and the faithfulness of God to produce the results.
      3. The final parable of the mustard seed: Speaks of the fortunes of seed when it becomes abnormal to God’s plan

      These three parables reveal three truths about God’s kingdom:

      1. God is at work as He has always been
      2. He hasn’t altered His methods for health and growth
      3. We must not redefine growth or health to suit our agendas

      Vs. 21-25 Hiding truth in plain sight

        Vs. 21 some see verses 21-25 as a further explanation to the parable of the sower while others see it as a complete new parable. I view it as yet another reason Jesus gives for His repeated use of teaching in the parabolic method. In this brief parable Jesus issues three principals about parables as it relates to capturing truth:

        1. Vs. 21-23 Hiding truth makes it more visible: Jesus asks in verse 21 “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?” The answer Jesus was looking for was, “No you wouldn’t put a lamp under a basket or a bed! Yes, of course you would put it on a lampstand!” It would defeat the purpose of lighting up the room. The text in English makes it sound as if Jesus is saying in verse 22 that “everything hidden will be revealed” but that is not how the Greek reads. Instead the meaning is that things hidden are done so in order that they may be manifested; concealment is a means to revelation. Most of us now have a dimer on the rear view mirror of our cars because the bright lights of the cars behind us not only blind us they make impossible to see how close the car is. Ah, but switch the mirror and dimming the light and things actually become more visible. Salomon in Proverbs chapter 25 verse 2 where he wrote, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” We all like a mystery, we like to investigate and search into a matter, God designed us that way. The greatest truth God hid in plain sight was His Son. Jesus’ incarnation was a parable! That is how the apostle John describes it in the first five verse of chapter one of his gospel. “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” So God took that light and hid it under the basket of human flesh. And in so doing John writes in verse 14 that this light under a basket was, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Having said this Jesus again repeats what He said in verse 9 the need to not only hear but truly listen and go further.                                                 
        2. Vs. 24 You gain more than what you seek but only if you look: The 2nd principal follows on the heels of verse 23’s exhortation to truly be listening Jesus said, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.” The meaning is that the more that a person thinks and searches the more they will understand and the opposite is equally as true. Truth requires investigation and you will be rewarded for your effort above what you initially thought but there is no reward for those who do not put in the effort. The bible is dead and dull to those who won’t take the time to dig into it. Ah but those who take a daily time to read it they are rewarded with truth that has transformed not only their life but those around them as well. 
        3. Vs. 25 You lose what you do not use: Finally Jesus issues the third principal about truth, “For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” This doesn’t seem fair there ought to be “truth redistribution” “educational equality” where everybody ill-regardless of the amount of work put in gets the same grade and the same job promotions. The natural law is called the “law of atrophy”. We see the natural law of atrophy in the physical realm when we have a prolonged injury and the affected limb is immobilized until it has healed. Once we take off the splint or cast and try to use it we experience firsthand the law’s truth, if you can’t use it you lose it! It’s not just in the area of the body we have all experienced this in the area of our mind and memory as well. Something that we once knew well and memorized because of frequent use is now gone from memory because we no longer used it. Ah but the opposite is also true the more we use something the more functional and powerful what we use becomes. There is no autopilot in our lives, no place where we can stop peddling and start coasting if you want more of the Lord you will need to keep moving forward in your spiritual life!
        4. Vs. 26-29 Organic farming

        Vs. 26-29 Jesus using simple agrarian observations reveals in this parable the organic principal growth. Seed is scattered upon the ground and the sower is not doing any more than preparing the soil and scattering the seed. According to verse 27 he, “sleeps by night and rises by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.” The principal that Jesus is communicating is that the sower doesn’t perform a task outside of preparing the soil for the scattering seed and harvesting. There are forces at work which are 100% faithful to do their work whether a sower frets about it or not. The farmer doesn’t get up the next morning a dig up the seed to see if there is any progress, He rests secure in the fact that God is at work even though he cannot see it yet. According to this parable there are 3 observable stages of growth recorded for us in verse 28, “first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.” It is only as the grain is ripe and time for harvest that the farmer is called back to full time labor. That is what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:9 when he declared that “we are laborers together with God…” There can be in the church today a destructive spirit of impatience that demands instant results measureable in numeric growth. This causes an attitude that leads to no patience for allowing God to work in His timing. Instead there is an insistence that the church help Him out as His methods take too much time. Because of this the church has adopted multiple worldly techniques that have yield numeric success in the corporate world. I personally believe that it is high time that His church starts adopting His methods of “organic church development” and become healthy again.     

                   

        Vs. 30-32 Mysteries of the mustard seed

          Vs. 30-32 This is the last in Jesus’ parables and His own words seem to indicate the puzzling nature of the parable as He asks, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?” The context of this parable is on the heels of the principal of natural organic growth. The problem is that in Jesus parable mustard seeds don’t “grow up and become greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” Furthermore the “birds of the air” of verse 32 have already been given in verse three in the parable of the sower and Jesus identified them as satan in verse 15. In Matthew 17:20 Jesus used the mustard seed as a beautiful illustration of faith saying that if you “have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will be able to say to this mountain, move and it will move..” Yet in this parable this mustard seed does not grow true to life, it becomes abnormally large and doesn’t represent other plants of the same seed. It is a low growing plant with an unimpressive foliage nothing to support a bird’s nest. The mustard plant is by normal nature a great representation of the church as it is unimpressive in stature but pungent and powerful in effect. Jesus is saying that this secret of the kingdom is that this seed that will look like the simple mustard seed of faith that grows up into unimpressive size and foliage but is powerful will instead be a counterfeit that will be see in false growth that will be characteristic of being impressive and dominate it will have wide influence and attract even satanic forces that will find shelter and a home under its branches. As we look out after all these centuries of Christian history we see that is exactly what has grown up in the name of Christianity. When we cross reverence this parable with Jesus message to the churches in Revelation chapter 2-3 the unhealthy church of Laodicea was the one that said, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.” And it was the unimpressive church of Philadelphia that Jesus said, “I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut; for you have little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Paul describes a healthy church In Ephesians chapter 4:1-3 as walking in a worthy of the calling which described as “lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” That is a far cry from what Jesus reveals here in the abnormal growth and describes what happens when the church gets impatient with how He works and begins to take things into their own hand and genetically alters the seed to produce their own results.      

                                             

          Vs. 33-34 As they were able to hear

          Vs. 33-34 Mark finishes up this section on Jesus’ parables with his own commentary saying that this was just a sampling of the parables Jesus. He also mentions that the parabolic method of teaching was exclusive when addressing the multitudes but His explanation of these parables where for those who would seek explanation. Mark writes his observation that “He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.” Jesus didn’t teach a doctorate course to 2nd graders, instead He tailored His message to His listeners in order to teach them where they were at. The amazing observation about the Bible that I’ve noticed is that the truth that it contains expands with time and we see much more depth and complexities the longer we continue to investigate! The word of God continues to reveal the details of my life that the longer I’ve been in the Word over the years seems to be under an ever increasing magnification. It’s for this reason that I believe we can visibly see a person’s growth in the Lord as they will become more aware of their faults and not more arrogant of their knowledge! If over time a person who claims they have been if the word has become increasing more prideful it is a sure indication that they haven’t been in God’s word.


          Mark 4:35-41

          “Finding Rest During Restless Times”

          • Introduction
          • Vs. 35-36 As He was
          • Vs. 37-38 Confidence or carelessness?  
          • Vs. 39-41 The only fear

          Introduction

          Mark now moves to two situations where the popularity of Jesus effected people’s perception of Him which led them to fear instead of faith. We will look at the first one this morning in verses 35-41 in chapter fourth and tackle the second next week in the first 20 verses of chapter 5. The cause of the fear was indirectly related to His increasing popularity as the pressing multitudes gave Him no time for rest or to secure the proper provisions. And in the eyes of those around Him this limited their ability to trust Him. I find that this is not uncommon as the immediate problems that we face cause us to believe that our Lord is unable to deal with what we are facing and fear becomes our only option. Before we look at this story we need to realize that we do no service to our own souls if we only take it in the literal sense in which it happened. If we do so we limit this miracle to only an event that happen on that day over 2000 years ago when a storm was stilled at the word of Jesus. I believe the value of the application is that our Lord is the same today as He was yesterday and He will be so tomorrow. That ought to still our anxiety and calm our hearts as we realize that the storms of our situations and circumstances today should discipline us but they must not ever be allowed to dominate us!


          Vs. 35-36 As He was

          Vs. 35-36 Mark gives us the background of the story as it directly relates to the choice of fear over faith. We are told that the event took place “on the same day, when evening had come”. What a day it had been, the blasphemous accusations, the visit from His mother and brothers trying to take Him home by force, the teaching from the sea shore and pushing and shoving from the crowds. They were on the Western shore of the lake and at Jesus suggestion though it was evening they would cross over to the Eastern shore. A decision to cross over some 5 miles across the Sea of Galilee. Mark describes Jesus condition in a twofold manor:

          1. They “took” Jesus in the boat “as He was”: The word “took” is the same word used to describe what Joseph was told to do in taking Mary and Jesus to Egypt as it expresses the idea of protection. Combined these two phrases describe a condition whereby Jesus needed to be taken as He was in such poor physical condition to be able physically to make it Himself.  
          2. According to verse 38 Jesus was in short order “in the stern, asleep on a pillow”: This further clarifies the point above that Jesus fell fast asleep to such a deep level that not even the turbulent Sea while he was in the stern stirred His slumber. 

          This meant that they had no time to make provisions for the day as they left in the evening. Mark also offers a detail to assure the reader that there were other eyewitness to the event as he informs his readers that “there were also other little boats with Him.” The point Mark wants to make is that what took place on that lake that day was not a “Jedi mind trick” to a bunch of exhausted fearful disciples. What took place on the lake that evening affected not just Jesus and His disciples but the other little boats that were out on the lake following after Him. There are those that suggest that this event has nothing to do with Jesus calming the Seas and everything to do with Him calming the hearts of over tired men in the boat with Him. While I wouldn’t argue that the RESULTS of Jesus’ actions calmed the hearts of frightened men, I would argue that the result was caused by the authority of His word over His creation. Those in these little boats who were tagging along are the testimony Mark offers as they experienced the calm Seas and yet they would have never been able to hear Jesus’ calming words.


          Vs. 37-38 Confidence or carelessness?

          Vs. 37-38 The phrase a “great windstorm” in the Greek describe a hurricane with steady gusts that cause violent crashing waves and a steady rain. The Sea of Galilee is at 682 feet below sea level and is prone to this type of storm due to its geographical location: 20 miles between the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Hermon which is over 9,000 feet high with the Jordan Valley running between these two, channeling the winds onto the lake. They must have been around midpoint in their crossing and waves were beating against the boast so violently that the boat was filling quicker than they could bail. The past careers of four of these men being fishermen on this very lake causes us to realize that they had firsthand experience with these storms on this lake. That information must be added into the story as they came to Jesus and awoke Him. This indicates three things:

          1. The extreme conditions they were facing was beyond even their experience.
          2. They were willing to admit defeat to their Master.
          3. They believed in Jesus’ ability to do what they, in all their knowledge and experience, were unable to do.

          There is one other observation we can gain and it is based upon their indictment of Jesus in verse 38 as they said, “Teacher, DO YOU NOT CARE that we are perishing?” The charge against Jesus is indifference. This indicates that the storm began before Jesus went to sleep. They could not have made this accusation to him of not caring if He had already been asleep before the storm as He would have been unaware of their condition. From their perspective:

          • Jesus knew of the situation
          • Had the power to change it
          • But didn’t care enough to do something about it

          Now before we are too harsh on these disciples I suggest that we evaluate our time in this boat with our Lord. How many times have we made the same indictment? We are quick to acknowledge His omniscience and omnipotence while indicting Him for His lack of compassion! I believe that what appeared to be indifference to them was a greater storm then the crashing surf pounding their boat to oblivion. Their faith was being sunk by fear not of the impromptu storm but what they perceived to be the calculated indifference of the one person that they knew, who was completely aware of the situation, had the power to reverse it but didn’t care to do so. They had never doubted His love or concern for them before, but had consistently been surprised at what He knew and His power. Their blindness seen in their indictment of indifference indicates that they clearly understood that Jesus himself was facing the same common peril but what bothered them isn’t that He was OUTSIDE the situation but that He didn’t seem to care for THEM! They fail to realize that He is not separated from the same outcome. His perceived lack of compassion would have doomed Him as well, yet they still make the charge. Our Lord is not outside our circumstances and if our fears were correct He would be far from who we believe Him to be. Saints, our Lord is IN OUR BOAT! We must remember that what wouldn’t awaken Jesus in the situation seen in the cold rain, ruckus wind and filling boat was quickly brought to action at the complaining indictment of those who doubted His love.


          Vs. 39-41 The only fear

            Vs. 39 The first thing I notice is that Jesus’ first response isn’t to them, instead it went directly towards the elements of the situation. To the wind, Jesus rebuked it saying, “Peace” and to the sea Jesus said, “Be still” or be muzzled. And there was an immediate change in the circumstances that based upon verse 41 astonished them. They had just in essence said to Him, “Don’t just lie there, do something!” and when he does they fear exceedingly at what He has just done. There was a greater fear caused by the CALM then there was by the STORM, all be it a fear of awe. The greater difficulty from our Lord’s perspective was not the calming elements of the wind and seas but the calming of His disciples hearts!

            It needs to be also noted that Jesus was not addressing the natural elements as they passed by. He wasn’t speaking to the wind and water but rather to the supernatural elements that lie behind the disturbance. Paul acknowledged the same in Ephesians 6:12 as he said, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness I heavenly places.” Jesus rebuked not the wind and the waves but rather the one who stirred them to destruction.

            Vs. 40  On the surface Jesus words seem strange as He says, “Why is it you are so fearful”. He was addressing men who were in danger of losing their lives. But the problem of their fear didn’t lie in what they were facing but rather in what they failed to appropriate, namely faith! It had been only a few days since Jesus had taken them up on the hill side and in what we commonly call the “Sermon on the Mount” where He said “Do not worry about your life…..look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow or reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” This is why Jesus said to them, “How is it you have no faith?” If only we would start with what we know to be true about God and use that to interpret our situations and circumstances! When Jesus first spoke to them that evening His words were “Let us CROSS OVER to the other side” He didn’t say, “Let us GO DOWN UNDER the sea and be drown”.

            Vs. 41 “Who can this be…” are words of discovery and examination as they were saying, “We must find out more about this Jesus whom resides in our boat!” There ought to be no fear or panic in the person who has Christ in their heart! His confidence is such that He can rest in the hours that cause us anxiety! His slumber is not in uncaring apathy but rather in uncompromising security! We are far safer in the middle of the sea in a storm with Jesus than any port of paradise without Him!  Saints remember, the one who calmed the storm is the same one that allowed the storm to teach His followers to trust him at His word! Now we know WHY the Lord lays asleep in the stern of our boat during a storm: It is so that we will discover a new precious reality that whatever destructive wind and crashing sea we are facing all we need to do is trust Him. Our greatest test is never whether the elements will obey Him but whether we will! Oh to be sure we are going to flunk the exams from time to time but that failure is what will lead us to a greater experience and encounter with our Lord.



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