The Peace of Jesus | Mark 4:35-41

• Sermon Transcript

  Thanks again to our worship band. Sounds Colby. We'll be back next week. And so we'll be whole again next week, right? And so be praying for them as they, as they get back, we talked about the peace of Jesus, you would think this weekend with three children gone. Like I said, we've been peaceful my house, but that is not the case. And but it still was a fun week. And I'm thankful there'll be back this afternoon, John David is most excited about, well, after a very long, very long, very boring sermon, the members filed out of the church. And none of them say the thing to the preacher. They were just ready to leave. It was so long, so boring. They're ready to get out. And toward the end of the line, there was one thoughtful member who always commented on the sermons always had something to say. So as the member was approaching, the pastor saw this member and knew that he would say something constructive. And he said, Pastor, today your sermon reminded me of the peace of God, and the love of God. The pastor thought, well, that's amazing. Tell me why why did it remind you of the peace of God and the love of God? He said, Well, it reminded me of the peace of God, because it surpassed all understanding and the love of God because it endured forever. Today, we're talking about the peace of God, I can promise you won't be long, but it might be boring. I don't know about that, right? But today, we are here to hear from the Lord. And we're looking at a familiar story today. As you look at the piece of Jesus that Jesus gives us Mark chapter four, verse 35. On that day, when evening had come, he being Jesus said to them, let us go across to the other side. And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was, and other boats were with them. And a great wind storm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling, filling with water. But he Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased? And there was great calm. Jesus said to them, Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? And they were filled with great fear, and said to one another, who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey Him? Father in heaven, who are you that the wind and the sea obey you? Who are you that made everlasting to everlasting? That made this world out of nothing? That breathes life into your creation? breathes life into our own lives, that that gives us your spirit upon conversion upon salvation. Who are you, Lord, that does these things. That gives peace to those who needed in a tumultuous world. Father, we come in here today with all sorts of what we like to call baggage, some physical, some health related, some mental, some emotional, and some Lord is spiritual, demonic spiritual attacks. So Father, I pray that your spirit will be here today, that it will work in the hearts of those who are here today, that it would speak through my preaching today, that we would All Lord, hear from you about how you give peace to those who believe in you. While we love you, we ask these things in Jesus name, amen. Today I want to give three attributes, three attributes of the peace of Jesus three attributes of the peace of Jesus. First, the peace of Jesus brings calm to the chaos. The peace of Jesus brings calm to the chaos. Verse 35. On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, let's go across to the other side. Now, earlier in the day, Jesus had taught several parables beside the sea that were there getting ready to cross, he sat in the boat, he spoke and he taught, and he used the natural amplification of the water, so that the people on the shore could hear him teaching which was a common practice of the rabbi's of Jesus. And he taught different parables. And he taught one parable called the parable of the sower, or the parable, the seed. And he explained how the Word of God is seed. And that seed is sown on four different types of soil, but it only grows on the good soil only grows completely on the good soil. And the good soil represents the humble heart, the open human heart to hearing the word of God. And his disciples asked him, why he taught through parables. Why do you teach these? They said, through parables, And Jesus replied, here in Mark chapter four, verse 11, he said to them, to you, has been given the secret of the kingdom of God. But for those outside everything, is in parables, so that they may indeed see, but not perceive, and may indeed hear, but not understand less, they should be forgiven. A saying that parables will make sense to those who are truly seeking to know the truth. And many times Jesus would explain these parables to the disciples, but to those who are not open to the truth, those who are not open to the Word of God. Parables don't make sense. God's Word does not make sense if a heart is not open to it. Jesus then told a few more parables that described what the kingdom of God was like how the Kingdom is, like a mustard seed, which is a smallest seed in the area, but it continues to grow, that comes the biggest plant the biggest tree in the area, and that God's Kingdom will start out small, but will continue to grow, and now even continues to grow. And then after more parables, and after this time of discipleship, they decided to cross the sea that which by which he taught by boat to go to the other side to see what awaited in their verse 36. And leading the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was, and other boats were with him. And a great wind storm arose. And the waves were breaking into the boat. So the boat was already filling, of course with water. But he Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. Earlier in the day, Jesus had mentioned that he wanted to escape the crowds. And go over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which has been about an eight mile journey through boat, which isn't terribly long. But if you've been on a boat ride, you know, it can take some time to go eight miles. And the Sea of Galilee was interesting situation because it was beneath Mount Hermon, which was a mountain that went above 9000 feet hard to believe 9000 feet above sea level higher than any point in America. And because of the drastic changes in elevation, sudden storms often arose on the sea, because the sea itself was 600 feet below sea level. So you could start out and everything could look fine. And you could get out in middle of the sea. And then all of a sudden because of the changes in the climate and environment, you can have a very intense storm so they knew every time they crossed the sea, it could be possible that a storm could arise. They knew they weren't safe that say from it when they took it even if it looked fine. They knew that the area was prone to sudden intense storms. Matthew's account calls this storm in particular the Greek word is size most where we get our word for seismograph that studies earthquakes, right. Size must literally means a shaking. So Matthew says there arose a shaking and this implies we're gonna see later There was some spiritual, satanic influence in the storm wasn't just a normal storm wasn't just a storm that happened to form. It was a supernatural attack on the disciples and Jesus and their lives were truly at risk in the boat is taking a beating. And it's filling up with water. Now I've been on boats many times, probably not as many as some of you. I've never been on a boat where it took in water. And gosh, I would not want to be Amen. That would be a very sinking feeling, no pun intended. This is what was going on. Jesus had spent all day healing, all day teaching, he was exhausted. And he slept. Even as the boat was being battered on the sea. Even in the chaos of the storm, Jesus was calm. And whenever we have a bad storm here, the house a tornado warning or something like that. Some combination of my children get frightened. Some combination, I'll never know which one is gonna be the pins. It's kind of like Whack a Mole. Who knows? I don't know. And usually when that happens, I tell them not to worry about it, not to worry about the tornado warning to display across the TV or something like that. Right. And it seems like the bad storms that we have or are never known, like the tornado a few years ago came through, there was no warning it just came through in the morning. You know, we've had evacuations for hurricanes and schools shut up for hurricanes. It just rained a couple of times, the bad ones we seem to catch us unaware. But when it happens, I'll tell the children listen, I'm going to be watching the news. It's my job as a father to watch the news, I'm gonna be looking out the window. So as long as you're not worried, don't be worried because I don't want them worried right? Now a year ago when that tornado did come through town, but watching the news about 850 in the morning or so. And Dave Williams, ABC News said if you live on Main Street, now's a good time, Knox cornerhouse, it's time to get into your safe place and put a bike helmet on. I felt myself we don't have any bike helmets. I don't want to fit my big head. So we all got in the closet. And even then I told people we're going to be okay, I said, we're just going to go in this closet in case something breaks the window or something like that. We're just going to be safe. And we did it. And of course we didn't have any damage but other places did. I was a little frightened. All right. But as the Father, I can't show that. What kind of father would I be? If I just said, Oh my gosh, the tornado is coming. I just ran away the house and say often for yourselves. Well, how traumatic would that be? I can't show fear. As my children will know it now I can process it later on if I need to. But in the moment I can read it. Let them learn to trust God and to be fearful. How awful would have been if the disciples went to go see Jesus. And instead of finding him asleep, they found him curled up in the fetal position crying and what and fearful of the storm. Can you imagine what they would have thought if they went to go find Jesus and he's like, Oh, no, we're gonna die and he's crying and curled up in the corner it's comical even think about it because we know the story is so well. We know Jesus wouldn't do that. Can you imagine the scene if they did it? What what? How awful would it be if you pray to Jesus during a storm in your life? And you just said I don't know. I'm scared too. But I think we forget that he's never scared. Amen. He's always call during the storm. He's so calm. He can take a nap. How many of you have a hard time taking a nap or falling asleep because all the things went into your head at night? Jesus worked. He taught teachings hard work, healings, hard work, ministering to people. He slept through Hurricane Hugo. He slept right there in in the boat. How hard would have been if he had found Jesus in that way, but to find him asleep in the storm, while amazing to them, should be a comforting truth for all of us. It's important to note that whatever storm whatever shaking, whatever attack you might be experiencing, Jesus is still calm. He's not worried. He's not fearful. So we bring our fears. We bring our anxiety. We're bringing our worries to him. And he's like, Hey, I got this Jesus brings calm to your chaos. Some you might still be in the chaos and the chaos may not end right away, but he gives you the calmness that you need during the chaos. How else can Christians be calm during chaos without the Pete without the peace of Jesus? In our lives? A piece of Jesus brings calm to the chaos. Secondly, the peace of Jesus brings silence. To the storm. A piece of Jesus brings silence to the storm. And they woke him and said to them, Teacher, do you not care that we're perishing? Do you not love me, God? That was my tip. My kids will say, You don't love me like, What are you talking about? Do you not care? And he awoke. And he rebuked the wind. And he said to the sea Peace, be still and the wind ceased. And there was a great call. And he said to them, Why are you so afraid? Of you still no faith. The disciples clearly panicked during the storm. Since several of them were fishermen, they probably knew that was a bad one. And they probably had thought of everything they could to save themselves. So they finally go get Jesus. Maybe Jesus knows what to do, and he's asleep. But he gets up in the passage says that he rebuked the wind what in the world rebuked the wind. But there's been some times where we've prayed hard that storms would miss moncks corner. And when we do that they seem to go to Myrtle Beach, some of the more people praying here in Myrtle Beach, or what I don't know. But we feel like we pray hard enough that the storms will miss us. And we might feel like we have control over the storms. But we really don't. We don't have control over that. Jesus does though. And he rebuked it. And the term rebuke is the Greek word that's also used into stories where he would cast out demons, the same word that he would cast out a demon, he casted out the wind. So it was a spiritual, demonic force. And what's amazing about the storm is it's in the Bible. Look at Psalm 107. I wonder if the disciples thought about this. When they were experiencing this, most of the disciples knew their Bibles fairly well. Because Psalm 107 Some went down to the sea and ships doing business on the great waters they saw the deeds of the Lord his wondrous works in the deep. For He commanded and raised the stormy wind which lifted up the waves in the sea. They mounted up to heaven. They went down to the depths, their courage, melted away in their evil plight. They reeled in staggered like drunken men, and were at their wit's end. Then verse 28, they cried to the Lord and their trouble. And he delivered them from their distress, he made the storm be still. And the waves of the sea rushed. Then they were glad that the water is required, and he brought them to their desired even, you know, this was in Scripture, almost a prophecy, almost a prediction that they would go through this. I wonder when they're experiencing it, they thought, oh, yeah, from Emerson, one of the seven. I have forgotten about that. We're in it right. Now, if sometimes when we have storms coming in our lives, we forget about things we should know. We're in the fog of storms. We're in the fog of spiritual war or something. And we forget about certain things that we've known and learn. And then finally, we think, Oh, I forgot about how the Bible says this. Disciples probably had to, they were living this storm. Maybe it was a source of strength for them as they experienced it. But Jesus was quick to rebuke it and reveal it as a spiritual storm. And that is the worst type of storm you can find yourself in. But it's also the one where Jesus is the only answer. Sometimes you don't recognize the storm or in because it's happening because of all the chaos. All the wind, all the rain, all the people crying out in fear, all the chaos, we don't realize the answer. We're caught up I'm in the storm. We don't realize that Jesus is right there. He's right there. He knows what kind of storm it is. He knows if it's a physical thing he knows is something that can be healed. He knows if it's a mental thing or emotional thing. He knows if it's demonic. We don't know sometimes, many times we don't know, what's the cause. We don't know for the victim. We don't know if he'd brought it upon ourselves. We don't know if it's because we live in a sinful world. We don't know if it's a spiritual attack, but Jesus knows. And he knows what to say to it, to quit it. He knows how to handle it. He knows how to deal with it. Sometimes we take a different approach to the storm that we don't know. You know, all physical sufferings can't be changed. With a good attitude. Some camp, and no spiritual storms can be saved without spiritual power. Jesus knows what type you're going through. So we need to go to him. Look at Psalm 4423. The psalmist writes this awake? Why are you sleeping? Oh Lord, rouse yourself, do not reject us forever. Now, the disciples case Jesus was literally sleeping. But to us sometimes Jesus, who is now in heaven, raining at the right hand, the Father, he is asleep, and he's really good to us. Sometimes it may seem that he's sleeping. And so like the psalmist, who might say ourselves, where are you Jesus? He's like, I'm here. I don't have to be loud to be here to have a child that is very quiet. Sometimes I wonder if they're in the house or not? I'll say, I'll say to my wife, have you seen someone? So for the past six hours? I don't know. Right? Sometimes it may seem that Jesus is gone. But he's there. And we know that God loves us. We know that He cares for us. We forget that right now. He's ruling. He's ruling in our lives and around our lives. So why do we constantly forget that even he is ruling over our storm? Peace. Be still the God that created the world that allow the storm into our life can silence it with just one word. We have to go ask him, we gotta go find him. It's not hard to find. We know where he is. Jesus is right there. We don't even have to move. We just have to think about how amazing is that? We just have to go to Him in prayer. And he's there. He's not moved, we've moved. Peace. Be still these of Jesus brings silence to the storm. And three, the peace of Jesus brings fear to the faithful fear to the faithful that's not a misprint. But it's not maybe what you think, as we're gonna see here in a second. Verse 41. And they were filled with great fear, and said to one another, who then is this and they should know who he is, that even the wind and the sea obey Him. The word for fear here used is the Greek word phobia, where we get our word for phobia, which are fear of different things like spiders and fear of Friday, the 13th and things like this, right? It has several meanings. It can mean to terrify, to really be terrified of something. It can mean to be struck with fear, to be afraid, paralyzing fear. I don't think that's what this type of fear was for them. They were not fearful of Jesus as of he was some kind of like Halloween monster or something. They weren't scared of him. They weren't terrified of them. I think when you read the context, that's not what's happening here. It could also mean one or two other things. I think they mean both of these. It can mean to be struck with amazement, struck with amazement, and it can mean to revere, to venerate, to respect. And I think this is what they had. I think they see what Jesus did and they are amazed and they respect him. And they revere him and they venerate him. They are amazed at him. They were amazed they were filled with all They were filled with respect for him. I think at 2023. This is an attribute of God. This is a feeling that we have towards God, that is not very strong. Yes, God is our Father. Yes, he's friend and Jesus that we have. But he's not our buddy. I'm not going to call him up to go out for tacos. We have a special relationship with Him. We have a friend and Jesus, He is our heavenly Father. But he is a God that should strike amazement in our lives. That should give us a sense of reverence in all in respect for who he is. We have a hard time as Americans, especially the younger generation, I'm not trying to pick on generations, but the younger ones, because I'm being taught this and model this in mass. That authority should be respected. If we don't respect authority, we have a hard time respecting the ultimate authority, God's self, being amazed who he is, and revered at who he is. So when you see God work in our lives, it should bring this sense of amazement. If you are a follower of Christ, and you haven't seen God work this way in your life, either a you're not trusting him to do so or be you're not watching. If you saved you, from your sin, rescued you, from the pits of hell, redeemed you, from the PIP gave you new spiritual life, if you are born again, that alone should lead you to venerate him to respect him and bring amazement into your life for his outstanding and eternal love for you. We see that the peace God can bring we see that in our life. We should be amazed, we should stand in respect, and all in reverence for God bringing fear to us. The faithful and this world is, can be a fearful place. Look at what's going on in Middle East. atrocities, evils, satanic things that are so evil, I don't even want to speak of what's going on. Things that are hard to imagine. Chaos. The God, Jesus is the only one who can bring peace amidst that type of evil. mist that type of chaos. And we can have peace and knowing that one day he's coming back. It's coming back to judge the quick and the dead. He's coming back to separate the sheep from the goats. You it's coming back to say either I never knew you leave or well done good and faithful servant. He's coming back to ultimately vanquish evil sin Satan for good. And that gives us a peace or should give us a peace that passes all understanding towards Jesus can look at us and say to us these words, why are you so afraid? Victory is mine. Jesus says, victory is ours. Why are you so afraid? Have you no faith? Church let's not let those words be sent to us. Amen. Have you no faith, let's not let the world get to us. Let's not let not the fear mongering get to us. Let's not let our own issues get to us or own sin and get to us when the storms come and they will and they will be real. Let's not forget that we have a Savior who was right there with us. And all we have to do is ask Jesus give me the peace I need to endure the storm. Heavenly Father. We do. Thank you so much for giving us that peace that we need. There are people here today that have different struggles, different problems. And maybe during our time response, they just need to come down to the front here and say Lord, I'm giving you these to get to you today. Take this the storm I have going through that I'm going through Lord, I want you to take this I want you to give me peace through you. Lord, forgive me for not coming to you earlier. I'm coming to you now coming to you today. Give me that peace that only you can give If there's one in here that just needs prayer they can, you can come down and I'll be glad to pray with you. Whatever it is that you need, you can go to our father and ask for Lord, maybe there's one here today that's never turned from their sense and place their faith in you. They've never been say they've never been born again. That today would be the day they make that decision that they receive your love and goodness and forgiveness, and in everything and your salvation that you give them. They receive it today. And they find that eternal and everlasting peace that only you can give them. By that we give this time to you. We ask these things in your name.