MASTER, THE TEMPEST IS RAGING

Shepherd’s Guidance 1/2020

25 March 2020

 

Dear Members in Christ,

Master, the Tempest is Raging

 

“And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 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. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 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? 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. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41).

 

Before this incident of the storm at the Sea of Galilee, the Lord Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God. At that moment, God’s work through Jesus was nothing in the eyes of the world. His ministry did not seem to have any impact in the Holy Land. But eventually His Kingdom would grow and influence every part of the world. It is not due to the hard work of the disciples of Christ. It is because of the manifestation of the power of God. After this lesson, the Lord used a storm to check the faith of His disciples. Their level of faith in Christ will be revealed in due time. Similarly, our Christian faith will be tested from time to time. God uses hard times to tell us where we are spiritually. 

 

1. Severe tests reveal our helplessness (vs. 35 to 38)

This miracle was performed by our Lord in the evening time when the sky turned dark. The Lord directed His disciples to cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. The Lord was exhausted, humanly speaking. He needed a rest. He accompanied His disciples in their fishboat. He was resting on the boat. When we follow God’s way in our life, the Lord is with us though sometimes we do not realise it. There were other little boats that came along. These uninvited guests at their boats became eyewitnesses of the coming storm. Our Lord not only delivered His disciples but the nearby boat passengers also. Suddenly a great storm happened on the sea. Such storm happens quite frequently at the sea until today. The waves beat into the boats so that it was now full. Quite a number of the disciples who were experienced fishermen were so worried that the boat will sink quickly. The Sea of Galilee is deep enough to bury the boats. Even the disciples who were seasoned with such storms felt that this is life threatening. When we follow God’s will, it does not guarantee storm-free. God never promised sunny days all the time. Though He allowed many troubles in our life, He promised to go through with us and save us. Our experiences in life are useless in critical circumstances like this. We tend to give up hope.

 

When we see no help in sight, we may think that our Lord do not care for us. As a human being, the Lord Jesus was very tired after a long day of teaching. He just slept at the hinder part of the boat. Sometimes we may think God is indifferent to our crisis. We may be drowned at any time by the troubles, yet there is no help in sight. Like the disciples, we go to Christ and even rebuke Him for not caring for our life and death. The boat is ready to sink, yet the Master did nothing. He seems to be relaxing. Is He heartless in our life’s struggling moment? Though the Lord was asleep when the tempest was raging, He was fully aware of what He was doing. “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4). The Lord purposely waited for His disciples to cry unto Him. He arose and helped them in the nick of the moment.

 

2. Divine help and His assessment of our faith (vs. 39-41)

Jesus woke up and rebuked the wind. The ferocious wind obeyed at His rebuke and He said, “Peace, be still” at the raging waves. And there was a great calm. It is very clear that the wind and waves obey the Lord because He is the Maker of heaven and earth. Even the most experienced mariners were shocked by what they saw. Nobody ever managed to control the winds and waves. Men are at the mercy of wind and waves at the sea. Such tempest may end their lives any time. But the Lord controlled them. Isn’t it amazing? 

 

The Lord asked His disciples two questions: Why are ye so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? They have been with Jesus for quite some time. They were the eyewitnesses when Jesus casted out demons and healed those hopeless patients. He brought deliverances for such pathetic people. Nobody can do this except they are with God’s power. Did they learn it by heart? Why were they so fearful as if they have not known Jesus? Is it that they have not seen the power of God? Certainly, human beings tend to be fearful of the storm. But these disciples should not be so fearful. Christ was not judging His disciples prematurely. His disciples should have learned from the previous miracles that He had performed and His teachings. They should have strong faith in Him who was with them. The Lord did not leave the boat during the storm. Why should they think they will lose their lives? 

 

Before they reached the other side of the shore, they would not perish. Before God’s will is accomplished in us, we will not perish. The Lord is sustaining us moment by moment. Their faith should have increased with the time they spent with Jesus. But alas, it turned out to be disappointing to the Master. Somehow, they have been living by sight and not by faith. They only saw the wind and waves. But the Lord was with them through and through. They need to learn the lesson of faith again. After this, the disciples feared Christ exceedingly. They asked among them this question, What manner of Man is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him?

 

How is our faith today? Are we living by sight and not by faith? Do we apply the spiritual lessons we learn before in the present trouble? 

 

Psalm 89:8-9, “O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.”

 

Trust in the Lord even though our environment turns darker and darker and the tempest is raging. It is the time whereby God will show His power and grace to His people. God is in the same boat with us. He does not forsake us. But rather care for us. By all means, call on the Lord Jesus and ask Him to grant peace in this critical hour.

 

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

 

Pastor Lee Kim Shong