How are leaders made? Our guest pracher Mark Smith, shows us how Jesus taught his disciples what real faith and leadership are about. When life gets stormy, what will you do?

Our passage:  Mark 4:35-41. Preacher: Mark Smith (2nd August 2020).

Introduction

We have an account of Jesus doing leadership training.

Often we give a book to read or a course to understand. Perhaps there’s an exam. But here, Jesus takes them on a boat trip.

Our passage

Follow me

Jesus gathered them by saying: “Come and follow me and I will make you fishers of men”

What sets these men apart is that they have had time with Christ. When persecution breaks out, opponents noted that while the disciples were unskilled they stayed faithful.

But who are they following? They know he’s a prophet and a preacher. He’s been casting demons out, he’s forgiven sins, he has authority in teaching.

Jesus has been getting famous. People are coming to hear him speak and be healed.

A short boat ride

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”

Mark 4:35 ESV

Jesus initiates this trip to the other side of the lake. Most fishing was done at night at this time.

A stormy boat ride

This time there’s an enormous storm. The sea of Galilee is not very big. Sudden storms could whip up.

Here the boat was filling with water because the waves were so big.

He takes his future leaders to the point of death. He’s preparing them for what it means to follow him.

Jesus is sleeping

Jesus is asleep. The fishermen are used to water and boats, but are desperate.

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 4:38 ESV

Why do they not ask “can you help us?”. They accuse Jesus. They have become hard towards God.

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 ESV

Jesus calms the storm

Jesus rebukes the wind and it becomes still.

This is similar to Psalm 107.

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. [29] He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

Psalm 107:28-29 ESV

Jesus them rebukes his disciples

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Mark 4:40 ESV

Not for having woken him up, but for being afraid. He says the panic is wrong.

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 4:41 ESV

They’re now more afraid of who is in the boat. They hadn’t experienced anything like this. This is the Son of God.

Application

1. Jesus is the son of God

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Mark 1:1 ESV

King Canute was king of Norway, Denmark and Britain. Everyone thought he was amazing, but he wanted to make a point. He put his throne at the mid-tide mark and commanded the sea not to come in. When he got wet he said: “see how limited the power of kings is compared with the eternal king”

He placed his crown on the crucifix of Jesus and never wore it again.

2. Trust in God

If you’re on a train and it goes through a tunnel and things get black, do you jump off or do you trust the engineers and the train to carry you through?

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Ephesians 3:20 ESV

Pray to Him and ask for help.

3. Remember why Jesus came

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

Mark 4:38b ESV

He came to die for us. He cares that we are perishing from sin.

Will you trust in Him?

Resources

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