A Short Voyage of Growth by John.

A SHORT VOYAGE OF GROWTH
Mark 4:33-41

1. Nowhere in the Scripture are we told to pray to the
Holy Spirit, or to Jesus, but Jesus does tell us to pray to the Father in the name of the Son, and we are to be in the Spirit as were the disciples on the Lord’s Day in Acts.
2. Discovering the relationship of the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit is a part of the growing pains of discipleship, but in the pain, our faith and strength increase as we discover the glory of God’s care for us.
3. This portion of Mark reveals Jesus in an entirely
new way to the disciples as they make a short voyage of Growth.

I. I WANT YOU TO SEE FIRST OF ALL THE NATURE OF JESUS.

1. He was completely human.
(1) Mark 4:35, “that day” means that same day, and what a day it was! He taught inside and out! He was accused of casting out demons by the Prince of demons, Beelzebub! (3:23) All of the people in the boats were hysterical! There was no time to eat! There was no place to rest!
(2) His body cried out for relief, and all He could get was a ride with a leather-covered seat for a pillow! He suffered as a human being!
2. He was completely God, too.
(1) His disciples had seen the miracles, but miracles had been recorded before. (They may have doubted the miracles they had not seen.)
(2) Now Jesus reveals His control over His creation in two separate actions.
Wind be still! (Not just a wind, but a cyclonic wind (lialaps) blowing down into that 13 mile long below sea level lake.
(3) To the sea He said, ”silence! Be being quiet!” (Do you know much about the seas? They usually remain rough for a long time after the wind stops.
3. We don’t see this as anything unusual now because we have heard about it so many times, but who can do this now? Who can silence the sea?
(1) When a Navy ship goes to pick up someone in the water, they go up into the wind, turn sharply to create a slick in the water. Then they let a boat over the side. That boat goes and gets the person in the water.
(2) The same maneuver has to be done again to take the small craft back on board the ship.
(3) When our elder daughter was 13, she and I crossed Greer’s Ferry Reservoir in a ten foot Jon boat with a 3-½ horse motor. The water was more than 500 feet deep, but she wasn’t afraid! She trusted her Daddy!
4. Do you trust the Lord Jesus to carry you through the deep waters of life? Commit yourself to His care! He is God, but He became a man so that He could experience everything that we experience. He understands us!

II. NEXT, I WANT YOU TO SEE THE GROWING PAINS OF DISCIPLESHIP.

1. The disciples were with Jesus on the hilltop glorying
in the miracles and fame of Jesus.
2. How often things go wrong when everything seems so right! (Ill. W/great revival, new building, whatever.)
3. Their first reaction to the wind and the sea was, “We can handle it!” and they tried, but couldn’t.
4. Their next reaction was predictable: “The coach got us into this!” “The referees aren’t calling the game right!”; “We are just unlucky!” “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” v 38.
5. They had not yet learned that Jesus can handle everything! Everything!!! Ill. Years ago our 7 year old son John Mark wanted to ride the roller coaster at the Mid-South Fair in Memphis, TN, but he didn’t believe it would be safe even with Daddy. He thought the Ferris wheel would be okay, but he screamed and cried on the Ferris Wheel until the attendant let us off. He had no faith when his feet were off the ground! Can you trust Jesus to take you through the scary things of this life?

III. NOW LOOK AT THE GLORY OF GOD’S CARE.

1. Look at the parables, devices of division, but full of the love of God.
(1) Unbelievers who did not want their lives changed only heard Jesus stating what they were doing wrong.
(2) Seekers and believers heard Jesus giving them spiritual truths that they didn't understand.
(3) When the disciples were alone with Jesus, He explained the parables to them.
(4) Note that the unbelievers and believers neither understood the parables. It took the special care of the Master to enlighten them.
2. V. 36. There were other boats with them in the sea, and they were saved, too. God would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah for just ten righteous people! Has it ever occurred to you that God spares this sinful nature because of you? And other believers like you?
3. Jesus expected more from the disciples. He asked, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” v 40.
4. I think He was disappointed in them, and I think He is disappointed with us!
5. I believe He loves us so much that He continues working with us in spite of the disappointments we give Him.

Conclusion:

1. Jesus knows you – He remembers what it is like to be human!
2. Jesus can save you – He is God.
3. Jesus knows pain attends growing, and He wants us to know growth is more important than the pain we experience.
4. Jesus cares about you!
5. Isn’t it time for you to step into the loving hands of your heavenly Father?


Emmanuel Community Church Bassett 02/18/2007