Don’t you Care??? Part 1 of 3
I invite you to turn with me to the book of Mark and look over a few familiar verses. We need not get ahead of the story but look with me at what God might show us with these accounts that are recorded here in God’s holy word. …
Mark 4:35-41
Wind and Wave Obey Jesus
(Matt 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25)
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
39 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. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, (What manner of man is this,KJV) that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” NKJV
I wrote most of this sermon on August 11, 2014, the day that Robin Williams died of suicide of Lewy Body Dementia. (I know depression) I also know what it is like to ask God the question that the disciple asked. “don’t you care?”
“I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it’s like to feel absolutely worthless and they don’t want anyone else to feel like that.” Robin Williams
I also know what it is to walk with God.
In our text: Jesus has been teaching parables all day and he is tired.
Mark 4:1 The Parable of the Sower
Mark 4:10 The Purpose of Parables
Mark 4:13 The Parable of the Sower Explained
Mark 4:21 Light Under a Basket
Mark 4:26 The Parable of the Growing Seed
Mark 4:30 The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Mark 4:33 Jesus’ Use of Parables
33: And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.
I ask that you come with me and get ready for a little boat ride. As we get in this boat with the Apostle and of course with Jesus.
And just because you get in the boat with Jesus does not mean everything will be smooth sailing from here on out…
Jesus needs rest after a long day of Preaching and teaching.
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”
Jesus said let us pass over… when Jesus says you going to the other side, you are going to the other side.
Jonah had to take a fish ride to where he needed to be and learned that it is a lot easier if we do it God’s way!
36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.
Sometimes He leaves the multitude and deals with the few or with the individual.
When you are sitting in a Church with a couple thousand people sometimes, He singles one person out and it seems that He is only talking to you
Others get caught up in our storms “And other little boats were also with Him.”
It never just affects us. People are watching, you are not alone in the storm others are with you going through it with you, maybe even because of you.
WE NEVER WALK ALONE people are watching.
Charles Stanley: How to handle your adversities “Nothing speaks louder to an unsaved world than a Christian that suffers successfully ”
37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat so that it was already filling.
Ben Turner had said several times “You either are going into a storm, you are in a storm or coming out of a storm.”
We can have bright sunny days, but they are few and far between.
If Satan is not after you and things go great all the time it is because you are no threat.”
The Greek word for storm here is; NT:2978 ailaps (lah’-ee-laps); of uncertain derivation; a whirlwind (squall): KJV – storm, tempest.
NT:3173megas (meg’-as); [including the prolonged forms, feminine megale, plural megaloi, etc.; compare also NT:3176, NT:3187]; big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application):
KJV – (+fear) exceedingly, great (-est), high, large, loud, mighty, (be) sore (afraid), strong, to years.
exceedingly, great, high, large, loud, mighty (squall): – storm, tempest.
Life is going well then, suddenly out of nowhere storms arise.
They were seasoned fishermen and knew how to read the weather, red at night, sailors delight, red in the morning, sailor take warning. It is even in the Bible;
Matthew 16:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.
Do not miss this, you are going through what God said to do. v35 He (Jesus) said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”
They were not warned at all about the rising storm.
The ship is filling with water and the circumstance causes them to forget who they are with.
I do not blame them
Is your ship sinking around you?
After teaching a lesson called “Can you sleep on a stormy night?” A lady in my class wrote and brought me this poem.
“Why Trials Come Our Way.”
By Norma Head
It seems when times are getting hard,
And things are looking bad,
That’s when we call on the Lord the most,
When we are very sad.
But if you stop and think a while,
We need Him most of all.
When things are good and we can smile,
But then we seldom call,
Why trials come our way?
They help to keep Him in our hearts,
When on our knees, we stay.
Back to our text: Big, Big Storm is here BUT.
He did not leave them in the storm He said “But” which tells me there is more to the story.
AND their story is not over, and neither is your story over He is not done!
38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
stern, = NT:4403 prumna (proom’-nah); feminine of prumnus (hindmost); the stern of a ship: KJV – hinder part, stern.
We see Jesus in his humanity sleeping.
He laid down (His humanity)
Laid His head on a pillow, likely a sandbag used as a ballast
They forgot who was on the boat with them. We seem to forget way too often!
Can you sleep on a stormy night????
How to Sleep on a Stormy Night
Matt 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Matt 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Matt 7:26 And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Matt 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Matt 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Matt 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Been there not just read about it.
What is your spiritual life built on????
Ps 11 if the foundation be destroyed what will the righteous do?
What kind of foundation are you built on, and can you sleep on a stormy night?
38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Ever feel like God is asleep and not there? He is not asleep!!!
Psalms 121
God the Help of Those Who Seek Him
A Song of Ascents.
121:1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills —
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore. NKJV
Then the question.
Do You not care that we are perishing?
