72. IS THERE A STORM IN YOUR LIFE?What did Jesus do that no other prophet could do?
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Have you ever been in a situation and you didn’t know what to do? How did you feel? Who did you turn to or ask for help? At this point, you can probably guess that the Bible recommends we turn to God. He alone has the power to save and protect us. He alone controls our circumstances. Only He can remove our greatest afflictions. But it also true that God has given His authority and power to Jesus. In this lesson, we will see that nature submits to the will of Jesus just as it does to God. Let's start with a short story.
Haluk was a seasoned sherman who lived in the Black Sea coastal town of Görele. Like all fisherman, he felt most comfortable when he was in his boat. Of course he had to work on land sometimes. But while he was mending nets, repairing his boats, and selling his fish, he was always thinking about the next voyage.
Only those who live near the sea know the freedom that one feels when you are far from land with the wind blowing across your face. Just like every sherman, Haluk loved going out early in the morning before sunrise and watching the first rays of the sun glimmer across the open sea. If he could guess what heaven was like, it would be like one of those mornings. The only difference being that he wouldn’t be alone. All his friends and family would be there with him.
But there were mornings, and sometimes whole days, that were the complete opposite to those heavenly mornings. Moments and hours that could only be described as “hell on earth.” It doesn’t matter how much experience you have or time you have spent on a boat, in those moments you know that your life is hanging in the balance. One strong wind gust, wave, or slip could mean death.
On one particular winter day, Haluk went further out into the sea in search of sardines. He didn’t like to venture too far from the coast in the winter because violent northwestern storms can pop up out of nowhere. But he needed the money and thought that the chance of success was greater than the chance for failure. Unfortunately, he guessed wrong.
After a beautiful sunrise, Haluk was backtracking to check his nets when he noticed the winds were getting stronger. The slowly undulating sea had become a churning mass of medium sized waves. For a few minutes he thought about what to do next:
“The storm is coming from the northwest. Just my luck! It could easily change directions or pass over quickly. Then again, it could get stronger. If the sea stays like this, I can wait a little longer to collect my nets and return home with a good catch. But if it worsens, I may lose all my nets.”
Haluk didn’t dwell on the thought, but he knew that if the storm got stronger he might not even make it home. After a few minutes, he decided to retrieve all his nets and start heading home. But his worst nightmare was unfolding before his very eyes. As each minute passed the waves got bigger, the boat started violently rocking from side to side, and Haluk’s priorities quickly changed. The sea became so rough that he abandoned his nets and started working to save his life. It was too late to escape from the storm, so he started to plan his next moves. He tied a rope around his waist, put on a life jacket, and steered the boat into the oncoming waves. As he crested each wave, he cried out to God for help, “God please help me. I don’t want to die. I want to see my family. Thank you for blessing me with a long life. But please, please let me live!”
As soon as he finished praying, the boat exploded over the top of a 5-meter wave and Haluk came face to face with a wall of water at least 10 meters high. Instinctively, he shifted the engine into full throttle and went straight towards the wave. As the boat started moving up it lost speed and Haluk wasn’t sure if he would clear the wave before it collapsed. And then it happened!
The boat slammed through the wave’s ridge and for a split second, Haluk was able to look out over the horizon. In the distance, he could see the sun’s rays seeping through the clouds. God had answered his prayers! Thirty minutes later, the sea was calm and smooth as glass.
When Jesus began his ministry of teaching and healing, he chose several men to be his students. They ate, slept, walked, and laughed together. Jesus knew each one of these men and for his own reasons chose them to be his disciples. Among those men were two sets of brothers. All of which were shermen. Their names were James, John, Peter, and Andrew.
Jesus spent a lot of time travelling in the eastern parts of Israel, especially in the towns and villages surrounding the Sea of Galilee. Sometimes, instead of walking they would cross the sea by boat. So these brothers’ experience with sailboats was very beneficial. Let’s begin looking at an extraordinary event they all experienced by reading Mark chapter 4 verses 35-36:
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
At the end of the day, after hours of teaching, Jesus told his disciples it was time to leave. As the crowd of people began to disperse, they pondered the words that Jesus had just spoken. He had been telling them stories all day, but his last story was puzzling. The disciples themselves must have been talking about it as they prepared the boat.
It was about a man who went out to sow seeds.50 As he was sowing, some of the seeds fell along the path, some among rocks, some among thorns, and obviously some fell into good soil. Even though all the seeds sprouted, only the ones that fell into the good soil grew to maturity and were harvested. Birds ate the seeds that fell on the path. The sun dried up the seeds that fell onto the rocks. Whereas the seeds that fell among the thorns never got enough sunlight, were choked out, and died.
It was only because they asked, that Jesus’ disciples were able to understand the true meaning of that story. It was so simple and yet so deep. The seed was Jesus’ words, the teachings of God. And the places where the seeds fell (i.e., path, rocks, thorns, and good soil) represented people’s hearts. The birds, sun, and thorns symbolized the things that prevent us from fully trusting what Jesus says. Most likely, the disciples didn’t know that their hearts would be put to the test that very night as they crossed the sea.
They knew their journey would be long, so they untied the boat and started across the sea. Let’s continue with verses 37 and 38:
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
As stated earlier, Peter, Andrew, James, and John were experienced sherman. They had grown up fishing these waters and were tough men. So if they were scared, you know this wasn’t a little storm! While they were fighting for their lives, trying to control the boat and bail out water, Jesus was sleeping.
Have you ever been sleeping in your bed and been woken up by a storm outside? Not a little storm, but a big storm. A storm filled with the sounds of howling wind, rain slamming into the windows, and floud thunder. If we can’t stay asleep in our beds during a storm like that, how do you think Jesus stayed asleep in a boat? Do you think he was tired from healing and teaching all day?
Before waking up Jesus, the disciples had tried everything they could to survive. They were tired, soaking wet, and waiting to die.
“Wake up Jesus!” They probably yelled to one another. “Let him know what is happening. Maybe he can help!”
Maybe it was the disciple sitting closest to Jesus that woke him up. Maybe it was someone on the other side of the boat who had to wade through the water and squeeze by the other students frozen in fear. Regardless, they cried out:
“Jesus wake up! Don’t you realize we are about to die?”
What do you think Jesus did? Let’s nd out in Mark chapter 4 verse 39:
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Jesus commanded the storm to stop. And it did! The Bible doesn’t say that the storm passed over them or that it slowly calmed down. It says that when Jesus spoke, nature reacted. Think about that for a minute, Jesus can control nature.
In a previous lesson, we learned that God had given Jesus the authority to judge and give life. It was a privilege that had never been given to any other prophet. In addition to that authority, we see that Jesus also has power over nature. Who else has the power to control nature? The Creator! It is obvious from the Bible texts that God has also given Jesus power or authority to alter natural law, to control what we call “acts of nature”. If this is astonishing, wait until we see what Jesus does in a later lesson. Let’s see what Jesus did next in Mark chapter 4 verse 40:
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
The men just sat there stunned as they listened to Jesus speak. This holy man, this teacher, the Messiah had just stopped a terrible storm by saying three words. Then he looked at them and, although the Bible only records two sentences, with that same voice he basically said,
“Why are you so afraid? You live with me, you listen to my teachings, and you have witnessed miracles. Do you not believe what I have taught you? When the wind blows and the waves get big, will your faith shrivel up like the seed that fell on the rocks? The next time you are afraid, remember what happened today!”
How would you have reacted? What would you have said? Let’s see what the disciples did as recorded in verse 41:
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
When the Indian leader Gandhi was killed, many people mourned. Dignitaries from all over the world attended his funeral and journalists remembered his life accomplishments. Albert Einstein himself said,
“Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”
Did you know that Gandhi liked to read the Bible? In fact, a lot of his ideas came directly from Jesus. Yes, he led his nation to independence. Yes, he preached non-violence. And yes, his fasting encouraged people not to fight. But he never stopped a storm by speaking three words! Albert Einstein’s comment may have been appropriate for Gandhi. But it was better suited for a man like Jesus.
Discussion Questions
1. Have you ever cried out to God and seen immediate results?
2. Reread all of Mark chapter 4. What part of that chapter stands out the most to you?
3. What types of things in your life are like the sun in Jesus' parable?
4. What types of things in your life are like the thorns that Jesus spoke about in the parable?
5. Did you realize that the sun, birds, thorns, and storm are all part of nature? If Jesus has power over nature, which the Bible says he
does, do you believe that he can help you with the problems and obstacles in your life?
50 You can read the full story in Mark 4
Haluk was a seasoned sherman who lived in the Black Sea coastal town of Görele. Like all fisherman, he felt most comfortable when he was in his boat. Of course he had to work on land sometimes. But while he was mending nets, repairing his boats, and selling his fish, he was always thinking about the next voyage.
Only those who live near the sea know the freedom that one feels when you are far from land with the wind blowing across your face. Just like every sherman, Haluk loved going out early in the morning before sunrise and watching the first rays of the sun glimmer across the open sea. If he could guess what heaven was like, it would be like one of those mornings. The only difference being that he wouldn’t be alone. All his friends and family would be there with him.
But there were mornings, and sometimes whole days, that were the complete opposite to those heavenly mornings. Moments and hours that could only be described as “hell on earth.” It doesn’t matter how much experience you have or time you have spent on a boat, in those moments you know that your life is hanging in the balance. One strong wind gust, wave, or slip could mean death.
On one particular winter day, Haluk went further out into the sea in search of sardines. He didn’t like to venture too far from the coast in the winter because violent northwestern storms can pop up out of nowhere. But he needed the money and thought that the chance of success was greater than the chance for failure. Unfortunately, he guessed wrong.
After a beautiful sunrise, Haluk was backtracking to check his nets when he noticed the winds were getting stronger. The slowly undulating sea had become a churning mass of medium sized waves. For a few minutes he thought about what to do next:
“The storm is coming from the northwest. Just my luck! It could easily change directions or pass over quickly. Then again, it could get stronger. If the sea stays like this, I can wait a little longer to collect my nets and return home with a good catch. But if it worsens, I may lose all my nets.”
Haluk didn’t dwell on the thought, but he knew that if the storm got stronger he might not even make it home. After a few minutes, he decided to retrieve all his nets and start heading home. But his worst nightmare was unfolding before his very eyes. As each minute passed the waves got bigger, the boat started violently rocking from side to side, and Haluk’s priorities quickly changed. The sea became so rough that he abandoned his nets and started working to save his life. It was too late to escape from the storm, so he started to plan his next moves. He tied a rope around his waist, put on a life jacket, and steered the boat into the oncoming waves. As he crested each wave, he cried out to God for help, “God please help me. I don’t want to die. I want to see my family. Thank you for blessing me with a long life. But please, please let me live!”
As soon as he finished praying, the boat exploded over the top of a 5-meter wave and Haluk came face to face with a wall of water at least 10 meters high. Instinctively, he shifted the engine into full throttle and went straight towards the wave. As the boat started moving up it lost speed and Haluk wasn’t sure if he would clear the wave before it collapsed. And then it happened!
The boat slammed through the wave’s ridge and for a split second, Haluk was able to look out over the horizon. In the distance, he could see the sun’s rays seeping through the clouds. God had answered his prayers! Thirty minutes later, the sea was calm and smooth as glass.
When Jesus began his ministry of teaching and healing, he chose several men to be his students. They ate, slept, walked, and laughed together. Jesus knew each one of these men and for his own reasons chose them to be his disciples. Among those men were two sets of brothers. All of which were shermen. Their names were James, John, Peter, and Andrew.
Jesus spent a lot of time travelling in the eastern parts of Israel, especially in the towns and villages surrounding the Sea of Galilee. Sometimes, instead of walking they would cross the sea by boat. So these brothers’ experience with sailboats was very beneficial. Let’s begin looking at an extraordinary event they all experienced by reading Mark chapter 4 verses 35-36:
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
At the end of the day, after hours of teaching, Jesus told his disciples it was time to leave. As the crowd of people began to disperse, they pondered the words that Jesus had just spoken. He had been telling them stories all day, but his last story was puzzling. The disciples themselves must have been talking about it as they prepared the boat.
It was about a man who went out to sow seeds.50 As he was sowing, some of the seeds fell along the path, some among rocks, some among thorns, and obviously some fell into good soil. Even though all the seeds sprouted, only the ones that fell into the good soil grew to maturity and were harvested. Birds ate the seeds that fell on the path. The sun dried up the seeds that fell onto the rocks. Whereas the seeds that fell among the thorns never got enough sunlight, were choked out, and died.
It was only because they asked, that Jesus’ disciples were able to understand the true meaning of that story. It was so simple and yet so deep. The seed was Jesus’ words, the teachings of God. And the places where the seeds fell (i.e., path, rocks, thorns, and good soil) represented people’s hearts. The birds, sun, and thorns symbolized the things that prevent us from fully trusting what Jesus says. Most likely, the disciples didn’t know that their hearts would be put to the test that very night as they crossed the sea.
They knew their journey would be long, so they untied the boat and started across the sea. Let’s continue with verses 37 and 38:
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
As stated earlier, Peter, Andrew, James, and John were experienced sherman. They had grown up fishing these waters and were tough men. So if they were scared, you know this wasn’t a little storm! While they were fighting for their lives, trying to control the boat and bail out water, Jesus was sleeping.
Have you ever been sleeping in your bed and been woken up by a storm outside? Not a little storm, but a big storm. A storm filled with the sounds of howling wind, rain slamming into the windows, and floud thunder. If we can’t stay asleep in our beds during a storm like that, how do you think Jesus stayed asleep in a boat? Do you think he was tired from healing and teaching all day?
Before waking up Jesus, the disciples had tried everything they could to survive. They were tired, soaking wet, and waiting to die.
“Wake up Jesus!” They probably yelled to one another. “Let him know what is happening. Maybe he can help!”
Maybe it was the disciple sitting closest to Jesus that woke him up. Maybe it was someone on the other side of the boat who had to wade through the water and squeeze by the other students frozen in fear. Regardless, they cried out:
“Jesus wake up! Don’t you realize we are about to die?”
What do you think Jesus did? Let’s nd out in Mark chapter 4 verse 39:
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Jesus commanded the storm to stop. And it did! The Bible doesn’t say that the storm passed over them or that it slowly calmed down. It says that when Jesus spoke, nature reacted. Think about that for a minute, Jesus can control nature.
In a previous lesson, we learned that God had given Jesus the authority to judge and give life. It was a privilege that had never been given to any other prophet. In addition to that authority, we see that Jesus also has power over nature. Who else has the power to control nature? The Creator! It is obvious from the Bible texts that God has also given Jesus power or authority to alter natural law, to control what we call “acts of nature”. If this is astonishing, wait until we see what Jesus does in a later lesson. Let’s see what Jesus did next in Mark chapter 4 verse 40:
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
The men just sat there stunned as they listened to Jesus speak. This holy man, this teacher, the Messiah had just stopped a terrible storm by saying three words. Then he looked at them and, although the Bible only records two sentences, with that same voice he basically said,
“Why are you so afraid? You live with me, you listen to my teachings, and you have witnessed miracles. Do you not believe what I have taught you? When the wind blows and the waves get big, will your faith shrivel up like the seed that fell on the rocks? The next time you are afraid, remember what happened today!”
How would you have reacted? What would you have said? Let’s see what the disciples did as recorded in verse 41:
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
When the Indian leader Gandhi was killed, many people mourned. Dignitaries from all over the world attended his funeral and journalists remembered his life accomplishments. Albert Einstein himself said,
“Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”
Did you know that Gandhi liked to read the Bible? In fact, a lot of his ideas came directly from Jesus. Yes, he led his nation to independence. Yes, he preached non-violence. And yes, his fasting encouraged people not to fight. But he never stopped a storm by speaking three words! Albert Einstein’s comment may have been appropriate for Gandhi. But it was better suited for a man like Jesus.
Discussion Questions
1. Have you ever cried out to God and seen immediate results?
2. Reread all of Mark chapter 4. What part of that chapter stands out the most to you?
3. What types of things in your life are like the sun in Jesus' parable?
4. What types of things in your life are like the thorns that Jesus spoke about in the parable?
5. Did you realize that the sun, birds, thorns, and storm are all part of nature? If Jesus has power over nature, which the Bible says he
does, do you believe that he can help you with the problems and obstacles in your life?
50 You can read the full story in Mark 4