Jump Start # 3690

Mark 4:41 “And they became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’”

It’s Halloween. Here and there one sees skeletons in yards, horror movies on TV and costumes that are so real that they seem real. I’ve got neighbors who really get into Halloween. They create a mini cemetery in their yards. Some have giant spiders hanging over the mailboxes.

Our verse today, taken from a section in Mark where there are a series of fast moving miracles, calming the storm, flowing into the next chapter and the casting out multiple of demons. The emotions within these two powerful sections are hard to fully understand. The disciples thought that they were about to die in the storm. They awaken a sleeping Jesus and say, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” Putting that into our words today, “We are about to die!” Have you ever been that scared? And, as Jesus calms the storm, our verse appears. They become “very much afraid.” This wasn’t due to the storm. The storm was over. They ought to be breathing easier now. They ought to be reflective and calming down. Instead, it’s just the opposite. Their fear level climbed.

And, as we turn the page in Mark, here comes this wild looking, naked man running towards them, screaming. I’d be back in the boat, if I were them. The text doesn’t tell us that they were afraid, but is that necessary? Can’t you imagine it and see it? What was this man going to do?

Now, on a night in which children dress up and go door to door to get candy, scary music and movies fill the air, it might be good to reflect about fear. We might get a moment of scare when a child hides behind a door and pops out to our surprise. We might get scared for a moment when a car nearly hits us. But those moments pass quickly and we don’t dwell upon them. In contrast, multiple times in the Gospels we find the disciples afraid.

• Seeing Jesus walking on the water, they became afraid
• At the transfiguration, the three disciples were ‘very much afraid.’
• At the tomb, the angel spoke to the women and said, “Do not be afraid’
• When the shepherds in the field saw the angels who came to announce the birth of Jesus, they became terribly frightened.

We don’t get scared much these days. I can only imagine what sitting through a hurricane would be like. Last year, I went sky diving and the moment I left the plane, that was scary. But most days, things are pretty calm and normal. Here are some thoughts:

First, fear reminds us that there are things beyond our control. Storms. Death. Crime. Violence. Many people have had to face terrifying things. Daniel in a lion’s den. The three Jewish men being thrown into a fiery furnace. Israel seeing the coming Egyptians, while they had a massive sea in front of them. Jonah inside the giant fish.

Sometimes, the fear is imagined. What if I run out of money when I am retired? What if the kids no longer want to visit? What if I have to go to a nursing home? And, those unknown and imagined fears can be as real as a thump in the night.

Second, it’s hard for others to understand your fear. When I read our verse today, it doesn’t make me fearful. I have the rest of the N.T. I know how the story ends. I know what happens. They didn’t. And, so it is with each other. I don’t understand the fear that a new widow has when she walks into an empty house and has no one to talk to. I don’t understand the fear that the parents of a prodigal live every day. What is it like to have more bills than money and more problems than options?

I may not understand your fear. But I can be there for you. I can pray with you. I can hold your hand. I can listen to you. I may not think you have anything to fear, but I am not in your shoes. Fear tends to lessen when we are with others.

Third, the one sure solitude is that God is greater than anything we fear. God is greater than death. He conquered it. God is greater than any health issue. God can be with us and is with you, when others cannot. When you walk into that dark, empty house, God is with you. When there is no one to talk to, He is there. He hears. When the medical results do not turn out favorably, God is there. His promises are sure. His word is comfort. His way is absolute.

On a night which people try to scare, remember the greatest fright is dying without knowing the Lord. Our choices. Our steps. Our decisions. They take us closer to the Lord and with the Lord or they ignore the Lord. But one day, we will stand before the throne of God. It will be a great day for those who have trusted the Lord and walked close to Him. It will be sheer terror for those who have closed their eyes to the Lord.

Fear—sometimes it can lead to good things.

Roger

Jump  Start # 3224

Mark 4:41 “And they became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’”

Our verse today comes from the powerful story of Jesus calming the storm. Jesus had told the disciples to cross over the sea to the others side. A mighty storm came. The waves were above the boat. The boat was filling with water. Mark uses the expression, “a fierce gale of wind” arose. Within those words are where we see the expressions of an earthquake. This wasn’t a gentle spring shower. This was violent. The boat was shaken. The disciples were drenched. I expect they were bailing water, pulling ropes and doing all that they could.

They awakened the sleeping Jesus with the plea, “We are perishing.” We are going to die. You understand the sudden shock and the rapid heart beat when a car pulls out in front of you and you nearly or you do have a crash. Fear is racing through their hearts. I expect Matthew, who had a desk job, was most fearful. When all hope seemed to be gone, they awaken Jesus. The Lord spoke and the sea became calm. Now, the Lord had to calm the disciples. Our verse ends this, with “they became very much afraid.” The storm was over, but not their fears.

In all of this, there are some important lessons for us to see:

First, storms come. They always do. For Israel, leaving Egypt, it was Pharoah’s advancing army after them. For the three young Jewish men in Babylon, it was a fiery furnace. For the prodigal, it was a famine. For us, it’s the phone call in the middle of the night telling us that a loved one has passed away. It comes as the doctor looking over our latest tests has a serious frown upon his face. What he is about to say is not what we want to hear. It comes when one of our grown kids tells us that he is getting a divorce.

There are always storms. It’s hard to predict and know when they will come, but they always do. And, unlike airplanes approaching an airport, storms in our lives do not wait one at a time. They often come from all directions at one time. And, these storms make us scared. They steal our sleep at night. They make us worried and stressed.

Second, those close to Jesus get scared. That’s what we see in our passage. Their faith wasn’t as strong as it should have been, but these are the ones who have seen Jesus do the impossible over and over. Sometimes the shepherds get scared. Sometimes the preacher gets scared. Storms will do that to us.

Third, faith makes all the difference. That’s the point Jesus was trying to get the disciples to see. Had they only believed deeply, they would have not been so shaken. Their faith wouldn’t stop the storm, but it would have clamed their hearts. We cannot control what happens around us, but we can keep the storms from coming within us. In the midst of a crisis, one often doesn’t think things out. Did they believe that Jesus came from Heaven and hand picked each of them so they would all drown in the sea? Is that how this story was supposed to end?

We need to realize that our faith won’t make the storms pass, nor will it immediately bring sunshine to dark nights. But our faith will put a perspective, a hope and a promise before us. Our faith will remind us that God is bigger than any problem we face. Our faith will help us to see that God continues to reign from Heaven. He has not left His post, not for a moment.

Fourth, in time storms pass. They do physically and they do spiritually and emotionally. There are days when one wonders if he will ever smile again, but he will. Will I ever move past the tears, the pain and the fear? The answer is yes. Time heals. God heals faster. And, the hope we know is that none of these storms will pass through to Heaven. There won’t be any storms in Heaven. Troubles and trials will all stay on this slide of life. So, looking at this in the big picture, tells us that storms are temporary. Heaven is eternal. Storms are for the moment. Heaven is forever. We just need to hold on, look upward, and keep on with the Lord.

Through this powerful story we see the mighty hand of God. We see the compassion of Jesus. We come to understand that God is greater than anything we face. There are lots of things bigger than we are. But nothing is bigger than God. And, as long as we are with God, we’ll get through this.

I can only imagine these disciples telling others about how large the waves were and how intense the wind was. And, Jesus spoke and everything stopped. They understood that the storm didn’t just pass by. They knew that Jesus stopped the storm. It was the hand of God that changed things.

And, if Jesus can stop a storm on the sea, don’t you believe that he can stop a storm in your marriage? If Jesus can change the weather, don’t you think that Jesus can change a person?

Storms are bad…but they are no match for our God.

Roger

Jump Start # 2848

Mark 4:41 “And they became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Just who is Jesus? Our verse is the reaction the disciples had when Jesus calmed the sea. Wet, scared, thinking death was imminent, they witness Jesus stopping the storm. No one can do that. No one can control the weather. We can predict the weather. We can endure the weather. But no one can change the weather. Jesus did.

And, what is fascinating about this question they ask, “Who then is this…” is who answers it for them. It wasn’t Jesus. He didn’t say, “I’m God.” As that boat landed upon the shore, and we flip to the next chapter in Mark, coming running and screaming at Jesus is a demon possessed man. He must have been frightful to see. Bloodied from cutting himself with stones, naked, possibly dangling chains that he had broken, it is this demon possessed man who answers the question.

He cries out with a loud voice, “What do I have to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me.” And, with those words, the disciples have their answer. Who is Jesus?

First, this demon possessed man knew Jesus’ name. It is very likely that this was the first time they met. The demon knew.

Second, this demon possessed man knew who Jesus was. He was the Son of the Most High God. He is God’s son. Is it any wonder that He can change the weather, raise the dead, cure the leper and in a moment, cast these demons out. He’s God.

Third, this demon possessed man knew what Jesus could do. He not only could cast the demons out, but He had the authority and power to cast those demons into torment. The demons were no match for Jesus. They plead for sympathy. They gladly would rather be in pigs than in torment. But they can’t get into the pigs without Jesus’ permission.

Who then is this? This is Jesus. Right before them, the apostles got the answer to their question. It came from a most unusual source. It was rightly spoken.

And, all of that reminds us of some lessons:

First, truth is truth, no matter who says it. Sometimes truth is spoken from very unlikely sources, like our demon possessed man in Mark 5. Sometimes things are rightly said by those who are not living rightly. Sometimes things are spoken true by those who do not believe in truth. Sometimes it is our children who remind us of how we ought to behave. The frightened disciples were astonished at what Jesus could do. The demons were not. They knew.

Second, we can discount and ignore what is said because of who says it. How easily these disciples could have thought, ‘What does a demon know about Jesus?’ But the demons know. The demons believe. The same could be said of us. We may not pay attention to what someone says because of who they are. What do they know, we think? Yet, they may know exactly what we don’t. We do not have a corner on truth. We are not the only ones who understand the principles of God.

Third, God reveals Himself through nature and a number of means. Paul in Romans 1 says that God’s eternal power and divine nature are clearly seen in the world. The birds, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6, remind us of God’s divine care. The flowers, also in Matthew 6, reminds us of God’s creative beauty. We must have the Bible to learn the principles of righteous living, but God is not confined in a book. All around us, from the songbird, to the rainbow, to the gentle rain, God’s presence and hands are seen.

Fourth, as the fifth chapter of Mark unfolds, the disciples question, “Who then is this” gets answered over and over again. Three rapid miracles fill Mark five. Demons. Disease. Death. And, what we see is that Jesus continually redefines the impossible. No one could control the demon possessed man. Jesus cast the demons out. The woman with the issue of blood could not be cured. Jesus did. And, the little girl who died at the end of the chapter was raised by Jesus. He showed that He was the Lord of Heaven and Earth. He showed compassion in all three miracles. Jesus does care. He showed that He has all authority. He showed that He was greater than Satan. Death, Satan’s greatest tool, destroyed by Jesus. Disease, sent by Satan, cured. Unclean spirits, went fleeing by the power of God.

Who is this? This is Jesus. This is the one who can turn your life around. This is the one who can forgive your sins. This is the one who can fill your heart with hope and goodness. This is the one that you need to bow to and submit your will to. This is the one you need to follow. His name is Jesus.

Roger

Jump Start # 2692

Mark 4: 41 “And they became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Our verse today ends the fourth chapter of Mark. There was a violent storm on the sea. The disciples did all they could, but it wasn’t enough. They thought they were going down. They truly believed that they were going to die. Scared, they awoke Jesus who had been sleeping. Mark’s account reveals three words Jesus said, “Hush, be still.” Those weren’t magical words. Had the disciples said those same words, the storm would have continued on in intensity. It was Jesus. He is Lord of Heaven and Earth. He has all authority. No, it wasn’t the words, it was the power of God that stilled the sea.

Then our verse. Hearts pounding in fear, the sea settled and the storm over, wet, shaken, they look at Jesus and become even more frightened. No one has ever done what He just did. No one can stop storms, but He did. No one can calm a sea, but He has. Just who is this Jesus? Their minds were swirling with thoughts.

After the storm. I just finished a short little book called “The Post Quarantine Church.” There are about five or six sentences that are good, and the rest, not so hot. It’s written by someone who doesn’t understand the place and purpose of the Biblical church. But what the book does create is the idea and thoughts of what happens after the storm. What happens after the pandemic is over? And, instead of waiting until we are there, it is good to start thinking, planning and envisioning what the post quarantine church will be like.

Here are a few of my thoughts:

First, experts and stats indicate that more people are injured and killed after a storm than during the storm. This is true physically. After a hurricane or tornado, people start cleaning up the debris. Live electrical wires, unsafe walls, exposed nails and things like that cause more harm to lives than the storm does. Taking that thought spiritually, once all the videos stop and the classes resume and the assembling returns, there may be more spiritual causalities than what the separation created. It’s been a long time since folks sat in a Bible classroom and many have gotten use to watching videos when time allowed, there may be some attitudes, emotions and feelings that need adjusting. There is not too much of a team spirit and being a team player when one is separate. Unity, fellowship, tolerance, getting along, subjection may be some themes that once again need to be addressed. Understanding the role of being a member and the value of gathering together are some fundamentals that may have been lost during the storm.

Second, returning to normal may not be the best thing. So many are talking about getting back to the way things were. This is a good time to evaluate how “good” normal was. Did the way we do things truly help people and reach people and move people closer to the Lord? There may be some “new” normal that come out. This is being talked about in the business community. Many are finding that working from home works. The real estate that so many businesses were leasing could be dumped and better productivity comes from the home. Restaurants are looking at better ways of using menus. Everyone touches those menus. Maybe a cleaner, safer way is better. And, for congregations, we’ve had to make many adjustments to navigate through the quarantine period. Rather than passing communion and contribution plates, which everyone touches, maybe a stationary basket for contribution and disposable communion which people pick up on their own is the way to go. Maybe offering video classes will be a permanent part of the future.

The adjustments made during the pandemic may have opened our eyes to better ways of doing things. The old normal may not have been the best way to do things. Often, we do things just because we always have. We have survived a year without Gospel meetings. Could it be that the purpose and the way we do those will now be looked at more carefully?

After a terrible storm has destroyed a home, it is not uncommon for the owners to rebuild. But what is rebuilt is often different, better and stronger than what was standing before the storm. A thought for us as we try to rebuild after the pandemic storm.

Third, the use of videos, livestream, podcasts and blogs has shown for many, many congregations that they have a wider and larger audience than what shows up on Sunday morning. For us, in the height of the quarantine, we had more than a thousand people watching our Sunday services. Even after congregations started returning to assembling, we have a continual steady number in the hundreds who are engaged with what is being sent out. We have received emails and texts worldwide. Once the storm passes, should these things stop? Ought a congregation draw the circle inward or should they continue to spread the message out as far and as wide as possible? I know the answer for us. It’s global. There are many lives being touched that will never assemble in our church building, but what is the focus and point? Build up the size of the Sunday attendance or grow the kingdom worldwide?

After the storm—there is always some cleaning up to be done. There is always some work that needs our attention. But there is also a window of opportunity to make things better than they were before. Now is the time to put some thought into that.

Roger