Sermon Notes

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

MARK 4:35-41 //Jesus and the storm

MARK 4:35-41

On that day, when evening had come, he 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 him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he 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 a great calm. He 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 the sea obey him?”

“And leaving the crowd they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.” Mark 4:36

The Sermon in a Sentence

The authority of Jesus over nature is meant to produce in us a great calm in our challenging circumstances and a great awe of our awesome God. 

1. A Great storm (v.37-38)

2. A Great calm (v.39)

3. A great fear (v.40-41)

A GREAT STORM

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he 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?” Mark 4:37-38

“But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.” Jonah 1:4

“Jonah ended up in a storm because of his disobedience, but the disciples got into a storm because of their obedience to the Lord.” – Warren Wiersbe

Some storms come into our lives from our disobedience to God. Some storms come into our lives from our obedience! ALL storms come into our lives through God’s sovereignty.

A GREAT CALM

“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39

A GREAT FEAR

“He 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 the sea obey him?'" Mark 4:40-41

“And the men marveled, saying, 'What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?'" Matthew 8:27

“They had no way at that terrible moment of knowing it, but that miserable storm was a vehicle for teaching them about God and his power in their lives. The storm was essential to their spiritual development. Here we see a principle of universal and spiritual application. Without difficulties, trials, stresses, and even failures, we would never grow to be what we should become. Storms are part of the process of spiritual growth.” R. Kent Hughes

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

“Let us mark this well. There is nothing which shows our ignorance so much as our impatience under trouble. We forget that every trial is a message from God – and intended to do us good in the end. Trials are intended to make us think, to wean us from the world, to send us to the Bible, to drive us to our knees. Health is a good thing.  But sickness is far better, if it leads us to God.  Prosperity is a great mercy. But adversity is a greater one, if it brings us to Christ.” J.C. Ryle

The Sermon in a Sentence

The authority of Jesus over nature is meant to produce in us a great calm in our challenging circumstances and a great awe of our awesome God. 

“Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:41b