You ought to fight on as a Christian as Jesus is Lord over storms. Mark is one who had failed in his ministry. Yet he found the grace to continue on. Mark reminds us again and again that Jesus is sovereign over all. In this passage we see that God is sovereign over nature. You can accept or reject Jesus, you cannot ignore him.

1 – The sailing of the ship (vs. 35-36)

It had been a long day and they had worked all day. Jesus had promised them to pass over to the other side. He was not about to sink in the middle! It may not be a safe crossing but it would be a safe landing. The disciples were not really listening. While we “pass over” we have troubles in our lives.

He said “let US pass over”. Make sure you have Jesus in the boat. It is dangerous to delete Jesus from your plans. The presence of Jesus helps us through the storm. Jesus is the one who will make sure the boat lands on the other side. We serve a Saviour who is strong enough, he is able, to get us to the other side. Jesus is the anchor for the soul in the storm.

2 – The storming on the sea (vs. 37)

In just a moment we go from peace to panic. This storm is very sudden. All of a sudden the sails are cracking under the pressure of the storm. Things can change very quickly. Things can change in an instant and you will be in the midst of the storm. Having Jesus in the boat is no guarantee of being spared from storms. It was a mighty storm! It was like an earthquake!

The ship is not full. You are in a hurricane of heartache. It was a severe situation. God has a real purpose for our storms. It is like ironing. God is ironing out the wrinkles in our lives. It is a storm that God is trying to break you – much like a wild horse is broken before it can be used. Are you ready to submit to God? God is trying to saddle us up. We start bucking against the weight of the trials.

3 – The sleeping of the Saviour

Jesus was in the bottom of the ship, fast asleep on a pillow. We can learn from Jesus’ sleeping. Is He sleeping because he does not care? Why is He sleeping? Jesus was tired! It had been a long day of ministry. He was tired because He was a man but He was also God. He was still sovereign. He is the God Man. Jesus can do more than just listen to your problems. He can fix it!

They waken Jesus up. The fury of the storms could not wake him up but the frenzy of the disciples woke him up. God will listen to our problems when we ask him. They cannot understand how Jesus could sleep through this severe storm. Does He not care? See 1 Peter 5:7-8. He cares for you! You do not have to be afraid of a storm that is in the hand of God. You need to have your theology right before the storm hits! You can’t let the storm dictate your theology.

4 – The stilling of the storm (vs. 39-40)

No storm is allowed to continue if God is in control. Jesus tells the storm to “be muzzled”. It was like a tranquilising dart. It is not everyone who can tell a storm to stop and it stops! Real safety is the presence of Jesus in the storm. True faith always goes to Jesus. At least the disciples knew who to go to. When we are in a storm do we waken Jesus up or do we try to row to safety?

True faith never stops praying. They had to shake Jesus until He woke up. We stop calling on Jesus. Do not easily give up. Keep shaking Jesus. He knows exactly when to get up. Prayer is a wonderful thing. God is willing to answer your prayer.

When Jesus shows up he shuts up. Jesus is the boss. If He made it, then He can boss it. The sea had no alternative but to stop. It’s all over when Jesus wakes up. You need Jesus in your boat.

5 – The confusion in the boat (vs. 41)

The disciples cannot understand what they have just seen. They are scared. They had forgotten what Jesus had said in verse 35. They were to pass over to the other side. When the storm came why did they not remember what Jesus had already said? If you do not know what Jesus has said in the first place then you will not have confidence in the storm.

They are now afraid of the storm stopper, not the storm! If you take your eyes off Jesus you will hurt yourself. It’s like trying to hit a nail with a hammer. You need to focus on the nail. Keep your eyes on Jesus. When the master says “Peace, be still” then the storm has to go. I’m not going to be afraid in the storm because Jesus is with me and I know He is Lord over all.

Categories: Mark