Our thoughts today are centred on Mark 4. 35-41. Our story opens with the command of Christ to His followers: ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Getting to the other side involved a six mile crossing.
In that statement Christ had a destination in mind. In our uncertain World Christ alone has the authority and the resources to offer us direction and destiny. ‘Where I am, you will be also.’ John 14. 3.
So V36 tells us that the disciples ‘took Jesus even as He was into the ship.’ We often express the prayer: ‘Lord, take me as I am,’ which is commendable. However there is another side to the coin: We must be willing to accept Christ into our lives, just as He is. All our preconceived ideas and misconceptions must be sacrificed as we come to Christ with an open mind. Take Christ on board our lives just as He is and discover what He can become. In the case of the disciples in our story, Christ the Carpenter became the Captain of their salvation!
As the voyage began Jesus fell asleep in the stern of the boat with His head resting on a cushion. V38 Here we have a picture of Christ’s humanity. The Gospels tell us that Christ was human as well as Divine. He hungered, He was thirsty, weary, and He wept on more than one occasion. Quote: The Son of God became the Son of Man to make the sons of men the sons of God.
Christ – asleep in the storm, demonstrating that He alone is the Prince of Peace. V37 tells us that a terrible storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat. Our voyage through life is not without its storms of fear, failure, loneliness, sickness. But be encouraged, storms don’t last forever! Adversity teaches us that circumstances should discipline us, but should never dominate us.
The storm was unexpected, it took the disciples by surprise. Many people are curious about their future and consult their stars. Quote: We may not know what the future holds, but we can know Who holds the future.’ Christ can become the First and the Last in our lives, and everything else in between, if we allow Him to.
V37 A terrible storm arose. Quote: We are far safer in the middle of a storm with God, than anywhere else without Him.’ (Jeremy Taylor) Christ could have prevented the storm but He chose not to.
There was no way round the storm, the disciples had to go through it. Often we have to go through painful and unpleasant experiences like Daniel in the den of lions, and the three Hebrew children in the burning fiery furnace. But through it all we learn valuable lessons, and Christ is with us every step of the way. Isaiah 43. 2. When you pass through the waters I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned.
This experience exhausted the skill, strength and resources of skilled sailors. The couldn’t cope, out of their depth. The disciples had to exchange their independence for total dependence on Christ.
Quote: I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess. (Corrie Ten Boom) The storm birthed a new revelation of Christ. The disciples discovered that Christ is Lord over the laws of Nature. In our darkest night we can discover that Christ is the Bright and Morning Star. In our failures Christ can become the Lifter up of our head Adversity translates into trust, backbone, strength and courage.
At the height of the storm the disciples shook Christ awake with the cry: Carest Thou not that we perish? The language of doubt. Thirty years later Peter shares with us the language of reassurance: Casting all your care on Christ for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5. 7. This encouraging statement was based on a personal experience of Christ taking care of Peter by praying for him when he denied Christ.
Christ took care of Peter when He personally restored him to discipleship with the command, Feed My sheep. Quote: The World doesn’t care what you know until they know that you care.’ (David Harvard)
The Cross is the greatest example of Christ taking care of our eternal welfare.
Mark 4. 39. ‘Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Peace, be still. And there was a great calm.’ Christ is not only the author of real peace, He is also the giver, and He wants to share peace with us. John 14. 27. ‘My peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.’ God’s peace is not a peace at any price – it has been made available at immense cost. Colossians 1. 20. ‘Christ’s death on the Cross has made peace with God for us by His Blood.’
Christ, Who is the Giver of peace challenges us in the Sermon on the Mount with these words: ‘Happy are those who make and maintain peace, for they shall be called the sons of God.’ Matthew 5. 9. We are called to be makers of peace in World plagued by conflict, troubled by strife, with people at odds with their Creator God. Peacemakers and reconcilers must be prepared to make sacrifices. Scripture instructs us to Pursue peace (1 Peter 3. 11) Live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12. 18) It is our responsibility to strive for peace by listening to people, loving people, forgiving people.
The last century was a time of unprecedented change in our World through peaceful means. Thirteen nations were involved in the peaceful dismantling of totalitarian regimes including the Soviet Union plus many East European states and South Africa.
Let me close by saying that we are all on a voyage through life, and we need to ask ourselves two questions: Is Christ in the boat of our lives? Is He the Captain of our Salvation?