The Gospel According to Mark (Part 17)

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The Gospel According to Mark

(Part 17)

Good Morning and Welcome to Jesus Church

Entering our 4^th month through the Gospel in Mark

• Where we are at… Jesus is well into his ministry now
  • His name is spreading all over Galilean region
  • He has named his 12 disciples and many more are following him
• Last 2 weeks we start to hear about stories Jesus tells called parables
  • And the point of his parables is to talk about the Kingdom of God
  • And Kingdom that Jesus came to establish
  • And will continue to grow until Jesus comes back again

This week we will finish up Ch. 4 – Jesus again is on the Sea of Galilee

Mk 4:35-41

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet be still” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

[PRAY]

Intro

One of the most interesting things about Israel is how diverse climates are

• Out of the 6 climate zones o the Earth
  • You can find 4 in this tiny strip of land called Israel
  • Only 2 you won’t find are polar and tropical
  • And keep in mind this in a piece of land the size of Lake Michigan
• So you have a place like the Sea of Galilee 700’ below sea level
  • And then mountains within miles the skyrocket up
  • Mt. Hermon is 9200’ above sea level
• So the interchange b/w warm lower air rising from Sea of Galilee
  • And cold upper air falling down from Mt. Hermon
  • Make the weather change super fast and very unpredictable

So a ferocious violent storm can come out of nowhere

• This storm [PIC] hit a hotel we had stayed at (not when we went)
  • But the waves were estimated 10’ tall
  • And it went from blue skies to this in minutes
• In fact parking lots have warning signs about these storms
  • Because you can park your car for lunch – bright & sunshine
  • Walk out an hour later to see your car floating into the surf

Also keep in mind – Jews were not sea fairing people (not the Phonecians)

• These were 12 tribes of people who came from the desert
  • Found a home on the coast in the Mediterranean
  • But they were scared to death of the water… specifically the sea
• Reason: In the Ancient Near East the sea was symbolic of evil & chaos
  • I think to Gen. 1 – From waters of Chaos got created order
  • I think of Ps. 93… David talking about the ocean

Ps. 93:2-4 (TPT)

Lord, you have reigned as King from the very beginning of time. Eternity is your home. Chaos once challenged you. The raging waves lifted themselves over and over, high above the ocean’s depths, letting out their mighty roar! Yet at the sound of your voice they were all stilled by your might. What a majestic King, filled with power!

• • • This is a poem of God victory over the sea that challenge him
      • It’s God’s rule which is ran by order…
      • That subdues the oceans that try to break that order
  • I think of Daniel who prophecies of 4 beasts (pagan impires)
    • Which come out of the… SEA
    • Or the beast in Revelation that comes out of the… SEA
  • Last look at the end of time… John talks of a new heaven/earth
    • And what does he say: The was no more SEA
    • Point isn’t no more ocean… no more chaos/evil/destruction
• To the ancient Jew – Sea wasn’t a place for vacation
  • It was a place where God and Chaos clashed
  • It was a place where monsters came from
  • It was a constant reminder that this world still wrecked by chaos

To this day… if you go to a beach in Israel

• Israeli people don’t like to go in the water
  • You can go to these beautiful beaches on the Mediterranean
  • But no joke you’ll maybe 2 or 3 people in the water knee deep
• There are 1000’s years later there is a subconscious fear of the water
  • And all that to say… this is a story about a storm
  • But it’s a story about SO. MUCH. MORE.

So with that.. lets learn about what God is up to

Mk 4:35

That day (end of a long day of teaching) when evening came he said to his disciples, lets go over to the other side.

• Otherside is an area called: Decapolis (talk more on that next week)
  • Basically going from Jewish territory to Gentile territory
  • To the Jews is was the area of Rome and evil… not God’s land

Mk 4:36-37

Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.

There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

• So Jesus was teaching from the boat… natural amphitheater
  • Its getting late so he and these other boats head somewhere new
  • But as they are heading out… this huge storm hits
• Greek word for SQUAL – HURRICANE
  • Waves are crashing over the side
  • Boat is filling with water and about to sink
  • And I want you to picture a BOAT… not a SHIP [PIC – 1986]
    • 26’ x 7’ x 4’ – One sail / 4 oars / 15 men
    • Definitely don’t want to face a hurricane in this
• So what is Jesus doing in this scary storm…

Mk 4:38

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.

• Because what else would you do in the middle of a hurricane
  • Of course you catch up on some sleep
  • Why… because Jesus is tired from teaching
  • Watch says I burn same # calories preach as a 5 mile run would
    • So Jesus preaching all day in the sun… moving platform
    • Must have been exhausting

But this is about way more than Jesus being human… tired just like us

• This is about Jesus trust in God
  • It was a sign that Jesus was at peace.. calm… without worry
  • Knowing that God would take care of him
• But the disciples on the other hand are freaking out

Mk 4:38

The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

• They are rude and derogatory as people usually are when scared
  • If you were in a hurricane manners aren’t at top of the list

Mk 4:39

He got up rebuked the wind and said to the waves, (shut up) “Quiet be still” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

• Here’s what’s so interesting… language Jesus uses towards the storm
  • Exact same language he uses to rebuke the demon in Mark 1
  • In Synagogue… Jesus rebukes demon – says be quiet & come out
  • Now exact same thing but to a storm
• And the way Mark writes this… as if Jesus is talking to a person
  • As if to say – Same demonic power controlling man in Synagogue
  • Is controlling the storm that has disciples questioning Jesus love

Reminds me of when natural disaster hits… hurricane/earthquake/fire

• Someone comes out (from the church) and says this is “God’s Will”
  • God is sovereign… God is in control
  • To which people hear and think… so God did this
  • Not even God allowing… but He caused innocent people to die
    • Well then question that follows – What kinda God does that
• But look at how Jesus responds to the hurricane
  • Jesus rebukes the storm… tells it to shut up and stop
  • Jesus didn’t say “Hey just trust in the Lord… there must be a plan”
  • There’s no… if he closes a door he opens a window
• No he is mad and rebukes the storm and commands it to stop
  • And yes it is true that a natural disaster can come from God
  • BUT its also true (more probable) natural disaster can be demonic
    • If Im gonna default blame on innocent lives lost… its not God
• OR just part of the fallen world that we live in
  • Story of man living on Mt. Saint Hellen (largest ever landslide)
  • 120 mph… 600’ deep… mud/ash/lava
  • Maybe Gods hand > maybe demonic > maybe living on a volcano

All to say… Jesus’ default isn’t “God’s will”… but “Shut up and go away”

Mk 4:40-41

Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

• We miss it but Mark does the play on words here
  • Uses the word “MEGA” – Megatron
  • MEGA STORM > MEGA CALM

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid (cowardly… kind of person who is scared all the time)? Do you still have no faith?”

• Jesus just teaching on the Kingdom of God being this powerful force
  • That nothing can stop
  • And they are with the king of that Kingdom
  • WHY ARE YOU SO AFRAID

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

• Which is interesting that they are scared of the storm
  • But they are terrified of the Rabbi who has power over the storm
• And the closing question that Mark posses for us as the reader
  • Who is this that even wind and waves obey him…
  • And Mark (great writer) gives us layers of meaning to this story

Layer 1 – Jesus is more than a Rabbi

He is the embodiment of the creator God

• He was becoming a very well known Rabbi – outgrown everything
  • And Mark lets us know at the very beginning “Jesus Son of God”
  • But the disciples in the story are still learning this…
  • They know God’s power works through him… hand upon him
    • But they would not have imagined the concept of God’s son

But now Jesus did something only God can do… command the sea

Ps 107:23… 28-29

Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the might waters, They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep.

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.

• So it is engrained in the Jewish mindset that God has this power
  • But Mark is telling us that JESUS has this power
• People will say (secular world) Jesus never claimed to be God
  • First off that isn’t true…
  • But even if it was – Not one sentence and only the stories
  • The stories point over and over to Jesus doing God stuff
• Sick & tired of hearing Jesus was a good teacher but nothing more
  • If Jesus was just a nice teacher
  • Michael Jordan was just a nice kid with a ball

The Jesus we follow is the embodiment of the creator God

• And that is why we are in in Mark… week after week after week
  • Because in following the story of Jesus… you follow story of God
  • When you read about Jesus – You learn about God
    • Means way Jesus treats sinners… how God treats sinners
    • Way Jesus loves the sick/poor/needy… way God loves them
• Because this is a story about Jesus… but more about what God is like
  • Which is why its so important to stay rooted in the Gospels
  • On these pages we see Jesus > in Jesus we see God
  • And why we pray “Jesus show me who you are/what you are like”

Layer 2 – Jesus is with you when sinking & freaking out

Mark written a few decades after Jesus – To Roman persecuted Christians

• They are being imprisoned… tortured… killed by Nero
  • These Christians are freaking out
  • Mark draws a parallel b/w disciples on the sea and now in Rome
• Mark saying contrary to feelings – Jesus is not far away or careless
  • Jesus is only a few feet away asleep on a cushion
  • Meaning Jesus is always with you
• And this invitation is to all readers… us included
  • That when you are in a storm – Go ahead and wake Jesus up
  • Be rude… accuse Jesus of not caring… hyperventilate…cry
  • Just don’t be surprised when Jesus gets up and calms the storm
    • And then turns to you and asks why you still don’t have faith

Because this is a story that contrasts FEAR & FAITH

• Evil and Chaos usually hit us out of the blue
  • Overnight with a phone call/text message
  • Finding out the truth… death of loved one… doctors report
  • And out of the blue the storm hits
• And the human response to a storm is 2 things…
  • First: You freak out a little (or a lot) – Worry/Fear/Anxiety
  • Second: You question God’s love – Don’t you care if I drown?!?!
    • Don’t you care if I’m out of work… Marriage is falling apart
    • Don’t you care that my care broke down… always sick
• This story is an invitation to trust… Just like Jesus
  • Completely at peace in the front of the boat
  • Not worried about God’s love… God’s attentiveness… not worried
  • This is an invitation for you and I to do the same

And this invitation isn’t to keep us from hitting the storms

• Our faith is in a God who is with us in the storm
  • And has power over everything in the created order
  • Because in any storm we question God…
  • But at the same time God questions us
• Do you still not believe… have no faith
  • And Mark’s invitation is to bring us from QUESTIONING GOD
  • TO ANSWERING GOD’S QUESTION
  • And to have faith in God

Whether that storm right now… or if that storm will come tomorrow

[Invitation for prayer]