Sermon Tone Analysis

Peace in the storm(s)

After teaching the disciples the Word, teaching about the kingdom, now He gives them His Word.

May that word give us peace in the midst of the storms we may face.

Jesus was going to teach them a lesson they did not even know they needed to be taught.

Has that ever happened to you?

So let’s look at this passage and then will break it up.

What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?

What we can see clearly in this passage

After a day full of ministry, teaching, Jesus and the Apostles set sail for the other side (vv.35-36)

Another thing to notice, they were not alone, there were other boats (v.36)

A storm arose (v.37); while Jesus slept (v.38)

Jesus rebuked the storm (v.39); reproached the apostles (v.40)

Apostles were afraid (v.41)

I mentioned Jesus taught them the Word (Mk4:33) and now gives them His Word (Mk4:35)

and now

What is the promise given (v.35)?

The promise was they were going to make it to the other side

The lesson was about faith, faith that would be tested

See the Word is to bring faith (Rom10:17) and Faith that is tested, is proved faith (Jam1:3)

A couple more little things, I mentioned other boats, on that day and today there are other boats, other people that are in the same storms that we go through.

(1Cor10:13)

Mark’s gospel is only one that mentions the other boats.

Jesus salvation, Jesus mercy, Jesus intersession is for more than the Apostles, His scope is bigger, His love is stronger and His way is clear to those who face and overcome the trials, the temptations we may, and will face in this world.

And the phrase Jesus used in rebuking the storm (Mk4:39) is the same word used in (Mk1:25)

So in rebuking a demon, and rebuking the storm it seems that Jesus, the calmer of the storm is interceding because the evil one is trying to take away their faith, just as he tries to do that to ours.

You may know this story, may have heard many a lessons, sermons on this story about the miracle of Jesus calming the storm, but that is really only a small part of this story, it is more that a literal thing, it is some spiritual truths for us too.

I.

We are not exempt from storms

We face storms because we are human living in a fallen world; as well as facing storms because we are Christians

Being an apostle did not protect them from storms (Mk4:37; 2Cor11:24-26)

Paul surely faced storms as well as the other apostles, and disciples.

We live in a world with many storms, both physical and spiritual (Jn16:33; Act14:22; 2Tim3:12 and 1Pt4:12)

Jesus told the disciples that there were going to be storms, or He uses the word tribulations

But He gave them a promise too, just as we have the promise too.

If Jesus is in your boat, it can’t sink, if He is in your life, you won’t go down.

He has promised to perfect that which concerns you.

(Psm138:8)

Jesus spoke and promised; Paul warned and exhorted.

And then there is Peter, he wrote about it too, so don’t be surprised

Jesus does not promise exemption from the storms of life, but does promise that He will be with us through them if we are His.

(transition) So if you find yourself in the midst of a storm, be it physical (literal) or spiritual (figurative), whether it is because of nature or because of being a Christian, take heart knowing that:

II.

Jesus helps us deal with storms

By faith that comes from hearing the word, through prayer because of your faith and through His sacrifice Jesus helps us with the storms of life.

Like the Apostles we may feel we are perishing in the storms of life (Mk4:38; Zep3:17)

Though the storm maybe raging and we are crying out “don’t you care!” Jesus isn’t worry, He is at peace; Jesus was sleeping, not in apathy, but in security, knowing He allowed, or brought on the storm to grow their faith and ours

We may have fear, a lack of faith put into action (Mk4:40)

We may have fear, a lack of faith put into action (Mk4:40)

Jesus was resting in His faith, and rebuked them for their lack of faith and their fear.

Faith grows when we know God will protect us (Ps46:1-3)

what do you see

Look back at (v.1) the promise; (v.2) the command; the examples (v.3)

so what is the promise?

what is the command?

what is the examples?

This leads to faith that will deliver us!

Faith will deliver us (Psm46:4-5, 10-11)

One day He will deliver us to our heavenly home in which we can rest “Selah” in Him. but today, in the midst of the storms of life we can still have peace!

Because Jesus:

Jesus reveals the role of faith in the midst of storms

Jesus helps us through His Word

The Word prepares us for the storms (Mt7:24-27)

Prepared by what?

Your foundation, foundation built on what?

(Word of God)

The Word teaches us about how to pray (Mt6:5-8)

Prepared through prayer, your private, personal prayers, your open communication with God.

Let me go back just for a minute, in our passage, where was Jesus, and what was Jesus doing?

Now look again look at Mt6:8

The Word tells us about real treasures (Mt6:19-21)

Jesus was sleeping for He was secure in the Father and knew the Father would take care of it.

May we have the same type of peace and security

The Word tells us about real treasures (Mt6:19-21)

Prepared for the storms by storing up our treasures in heaven that wont rust, cannot be stolen!

The Word helps us get priorities straight (Mt6:31-34)

In short, seek the kingdom of God first and foremost!

Remember the other boats, guess who else got blessed beyond the Apostles who were in the boat with Jesus? - They did, the storm was calmed and the calming was more than just for them, it was for all.

(expand on this, time allowing)

So the One who calmed the storm is the One who allowed the storm in the first place to teach the apostles a lesson they did not know they even needed about faith in His Word.

He had taught the Word, He gave His Word yet they still struggled with faith and fear.

Jesus helps us through prayer

For Jesus is the key to mercy and grace in time of need (Heb4:14-16; Heb7:25)

He helps us through prayer to guard hearts and minds (Php4:6-7)

He helps us through prayer to guard hearts and minds (Php4:6-7)

He is ready to come to our aid, to calm our hearts, to guard our hearts and minds when in the storms of life when we turn to Him in prayer.

He is ready to come to our aid, to calm our hearts, to guard our hearts and minds when in the storms of life when we turn to Him in prayer.

Finally, Jesus is able to help us in our storms through His sacrifice

His sacrifice readies us for the final storm we will face on judgment day (2Pt3:7; 2Pt3:10-12)

His sacrifice spares us on that Day of Judgment (Rom5:6-10)

His sacrifice spares us on that Day of Judgment (Rom5:6-10)

Christ died for our sins while we were still sinners, He demonstrated His love for us, He reconciled us to God through Jesus and we were saved through His life, His sacrifice.

Jesus stands ready to help us in the storms, ready to save us, ready to protect us, ready to prepare us for the storm to come and the storms along the way.

So, no matter the storm we face, regardless of the size and frequency of the waves beating our boat, with Jesus, who promised He would be with us and not forsake us (Heb13:5); He is faithful to complete the good work in you (Php1:6)

Jesus the Prince of Peace can calm the storms in our life.

As you can see this story is more than a miracle, its a challenge to live by faith and trust Him to handle any, all storms we may face.