READ | SERMON NOTES
“Have you still no faith?” (v40)
The Gospel of Mark acknowledges and addresses how difficult it is for those who follow Jesus to have continued faith.
In the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20), Jesus shares that the Word of God is sown on four types of ground. The seed that falls on rocky soil and amongst thorns give us a perspective of those who have followed Jesus for some time. Eventually they are faced with the question of whether Jesus is worth staking their whole lives on.
This is important to keep in context because “on that day…” (v35a), the same day that Jesus shared the Parable of the Sower, He teaches His disciples an important lesson on keeping faith in Him.
1. Jesus challenges our expectations about WHO HE IS
Why does Jesus challenge our expectations?
Our expectations determine our ability to stay the course. When we have the right expectations of Jesus and what He is asking for, then we will be able to persevere when the going gets tough.
In Mark’s gospel, there is a recurring theme of people trying to figure out who Jesus really is, what he is all about. Some were astonished at His teaching for He taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Mark 1:22, 27). Others questioned His authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:6-7). They asked why Jesus interacted with tax collectors and sinners (Mark 2:16) and why His disciples did not fast (Mark 2:18). They accused him of being “out of His mind” and having power coming from demons (Mark 3:21-22).
His disciples too were not fully certain of who Jesus was. During their fearful encounter in the storm, they woke Him saying “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38). In contrast, in the same account in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, He is called ‘Lord’ and ‘Master’ (Matt 8:25, Luke 8:24).
After Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples were “filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41). When they exclaimed this, they may have been reminded of the verses in the Old Testament book of Psalms:
- Ps 65:7 “who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples”
- Ps 89:9 “You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them.”
- Ps 107:28-29 “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.”
Their eyes must have been opened then! Jesus is none other than the Almighty One whose word is unchallenged! He is God.
2. Jesus challenges our expectations about OBEDIENCE
The disciples found themselves in a storm not because of disobedience, but because they had obeyed and followed Jesus when he wanted to “go to the other side” (Mark 4:35). They were accompanying Jesus as He was carrying on with His mission.
Obedience often means going into the storm rather than avoiding it.
Anything worth doing, whether career or craft, takes sacrifice, hard work and committed obedience. This principle is no different when it comes to following Jesus.
As followers of Christ, some of us may lose friends, popularity, influence, income, security and/or position.
Following Jesus is not just about Jesus helping us to solve problems and quelling the storms in our lives. If that were so, the disciples would have been filled with great joy and peace instead of “with great fear” after Jesus stilled the storm (Mark 4:41). Instead, they were confronted with the identity of Christ and what obedience and following Him would mean.
3. Jesus assures us of HIS AUTHORITY
Mark addresses the theme of authority throughout his book.
Jesus taught as one with great authority (Mark 1); He had authority over unclean spirits and to forgive sins. He is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 1), He imparts authority to the twelve disciples to cast out demons (Mark 3 & 6).
Jesus also demonstrates the degree of His authority over the storm. He gives a very brief command – “Peace! Be still!” and the great storm becomes a great calm (Mark 4:39). He is effortlessly in control. His authority is complete and unquestionable.
Knowing that Jesus is in control may not calm the external storms in our lives, but it can calm our internal storms and give us the confidence to carry on.
Jesus’ authority would have no meaning if He did not love us and have our best interest at heart. The disciples questioned a sleeping Jesus if He cared that they were perishing in the storm (Mark 4:38). He responded when He demonstrated His love for us on the cross. (Mark 14:32-42) While praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, He asks His three closest disciples to stay awake and to pray with him as He was greatly distressed and troubled. Three times he found them asleep. Yet Jesus did not waver in His mission. He went alone to the cross. Jesus cares even when we do not. We can trust His heart.
Jesus asks His disciples in Mark 8:29 “But who do you say I am?”
If Jesus were just a great teacher, then in the things that really matter, He doesn’t matter.
Is Jesus just our Teacher or our Lord?
(Sermon notes by Stella Chiam)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- What is one area in your life that God is calling you to obey him in that feels like it would entail facing a storm? What are you most worried about?
- Is Jesus just a good teacher to you? Or is he your King and Lord? In what ways have you perhaps played down the significance of Jesus’ presence in your life?
- What storm are you currently going through in life? Can you imagine a way in which God might want to use it for his own purposes?
