Mark 4:35-41

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Wind and the Sea Obey the Lord

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The Lord Jesus Christ is 100% God and 100% Man.

  2. Christ's power over nature guarantees the promise of a disaster-free new Heaven and new earth.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Our character is built through crises.

  2. We are not alone in the storms of life.

QUESTIONS

  1. What happened during the voyage at sea?

  2. What happened to the little ships?

  3. What did the disciples do when the storm came? Where was Jesus?

  4. When awakened, what did Jesus do?

  5. Could there have been a connection between the accounts in Mark 1:23-27 and Mark 4:39?

  6. What are the three Ds in this section and in Mark 5?

  7. Why didn't Jesus just delay the sailing time until the sea was calm? Why didn't He protect His disciples from the storm?

ANSWERS

  1. A great windstorm arose, and the waves were swamping the boat. Storms on the Sea of Galilee come up quickly because of the way the wind is funneled through the surrounding hills, along with the cold air mix from the Mediterranean Sea and the hot air of the desert.

  2. They likely turned back to the western shore when the storm broke.

  3. They panicked, but the Lord was calm. The disciples woke Him up, for He was sleeping in the stern, and they accused Jesus of not caring.

  4. He rebuked the wind and the sea, then He rebuked the disciples for their fear and lack of faith.

  5. "Peace" is spoken both to the demon (unclean spirit) and to the forces of nature. Perhaps there was demonic force behind the storm. In any case, both demons and nature obey the Lord Jesus Christ.

  6. Disease, demonic influence and death.

  7. Jesus knew that the storm was coming. (Of course, He was God). He sailed on in the face of the storm so the disciples would take a step forward in their faith. He led them into the storm because crisis builds character. We are changed in times of crisis.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Re-read Mark 4:39. Think about the power of the Lord.

  2. Re-read Mark 4:40-41. Is your response to the storms of life like the response of the disciples? Do you grow in character because of the storms in your life?

CHALLENGE

  1. Recall a crisis in your life. Did you panic or did you appropriate the Lord's promise in Hebrews 13:5? Consider how you could help someone who is fearful in a time of crisis.

KEY VERSES

  • "Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. They awoke Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?' Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to the disciples, 'Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" (Mark 4:38-40)

Mark, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsMark 4:35-41