Jesus absolutely loved the Sea of Galilee! Did you know that? It’s mentioned in the Gospels more than forty times! And Jesus gets in and out of boats nearly as many times… Then again, at other times, we’ll see Jesus walking on the lake shore. It’s not hard to imagine why this is. The Sea of Galilee is absolutely captivating…
When I have a day off—in good weather—one of Jane’s and my favorite things to do is to take our lawn chairs, a picnic lunch, and some reading material … and go spend a couple of hours at Governor Dodge, plopping ourselves down on one of the lake shores. It’s relaxing; it’s renewing; it’s a real breather that we need in the midst of some of our very hectic weeks… And I believe that this was the same for Jesus…
Also this: ask anyone who’s been to the Holy Land in the past and most will tell you that at least one of their favorite locations was ‘on the water’—taking a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee … or just walking along its shores… It’s still captivating today!
And I’ve told you in the past that that was my mother’s favorite place in the whole wide world—the Sea of Galilee … a place where she could just let go of the cares of life … and give thanks for the Lord of her life, whose ministry took place there—where my mother’s cremains were scattered a few years back…
Folks, some of the most beloved stories from Jesus’ ministry occurred at the Sea of Galilee. There are actually 3 stories that came to mind, as I prepared to share this part of Jesus’ ministry years with you, but I’m only going to have time to take a look at one of those today. Here’s today’s story (Mark 4:35-41, NLT):
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
Have you ever been in the midst of a storm in your life … and didn’t really feel like bringing God in on the situation? Jesus had taught his disciples better than the way they’d acted on this day. They were still trying to work out the answer to the question, “Who is this guy, Jesus?” But, as they went through the ministry years together, one thing gradually changed: the disciples learned to trust what Jesus said … and to act without questioning on what he told them to do … even in the midst of life’s storms!
One pastor calls it ‘the great reversal.’ (Illustrate with hands…) Have you ever felt like you wanted to tell God you had a better idea? I’m sure I’m talking to some today who’ve hesitated when God’s made something clear to them or wanted them to do something in particular. If so, then let me give you a simple example of what our attitude should be like when it comes to listening to God’s direction for our lives, at all times…
Mary, Jesus’ mother, once said this to some who were hesitating about whether to listen to Jesus or not. She said, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5, in Cana). Again, we need to do what Jesus says to do in our lives as well! Otherwise, we’re going to miss out on God’s very best! And heaven forbid if any of us does that! Folks, when we walk through this life—experiencing the storms of life, we need to learn these things: First…
DON’T FORGET TO TAKE JESUS WITH YOU… Verses 35-36 say, “As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.’ 36 So they took Jesus in the boat [italics mine] and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).” How often do we crowd Jesus out of our lives … and then wonder where he is when the storms of life hit … and hit hard? We’ve got to get in the habit (daily) of remembering to ‘take Jesus with us!’
Simon Peter learned the importance of that in one of the other Sea of Galilee stories from Luke
5:1-11. Peter spoke words that would come to define his life … and should define our lives as well! Peter and the other fisherman, including his brother Andrew, had just come in from a night of fishing on Galilee. They were tired; they were beat; they were discouraged because the fishing hadn’t been good on that particular day. Then comes Jesus … and he asked two (2) things of Peter:
# 1 – Can I borrow your boat? In other words, ‘would you allow me in your boat?’ (Has Jesus ever asked to borrow something from you? And would you be willing to lend it to him?) So, Peter blessed Jesus in this way (as he used the boat to preach/teach)…
# 2 – Could you please push your boat out a little further and let down your nets again? Luke 5:5a, NLT, records Peter’s response: “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing….” (Has God ever asked you to do something when you just didn’t feel like doing it?)
So, Jesus asks Peter to push his boat out, gets Peter’s initial response, then … oh, that pregnant pause; Jesus simply waited for the correct response from Peter … and it came pretty quickly (Luke 5:5b, NLT): “…But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” Those were the words that came to define Peter’s life from there on out!
You know the rest of the story, don’t you? When Peter pulled the net in, he had to call for help! This was a catch that even a seasoned fisherman like Peter could get excited about! And Peter learned, from that moment on—I believe, not to ever go anywhere with Jesus… He would make sure that Jesus (Holy Spirit) was always in his boat! “Yes, Jesus, borrow my boat … PLEASE! It’s yours whenever you need it!”
So, he learned to not forget to take Jesus with him in life (DON’T FORGET TO TAKE JESUS WITH YOU) … and he also learned this:
THEN LISTEN TO WHAT JESUS HAS TO SAY… Verses 37-40 tell us, “But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, ‘Silence! Be still!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’” That day, Jesus brought PEACE in the midst of the storm…
There’s a lesson in this for today, too, as we will all—most likely—face a situation in our lives where we are terrified: It may be an illness that strikes us or someone dear to us; it could be divorce, an extended period of unemployment, or any number of other things. Individually and collectively, we will face strong winds and huge waves in the middle of the night … when it seems that we have no life jackets! In those moments, Jesus wants us to remember that if we invite him in, he will always be in the boat with us…
Folks, I am so thankful that prior to my heart episodes that began back in December, I’d both invited Jesus into my boat … and also learned to hear his voice! Because of that relationship, this whole heart ordeal was much different than it might’ve been just a few short years ago…
I knew literally hundreds of people throughout this country, as well as overseas, were praying for me as I anticipated this very serious surgery. That brought me great comfort—without a doubt. However, the one thing that absolutely floored me was this: In the midst of Advent, talking this year in particular about the Advent gifts of HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE … I was able to experience all of these in ways that I’d never experienced them before!
Folks, when you come to a point in your life (and we all will) where you face your own mortality, will your faith—your relationship with Jesus—be real or not? Will you—even in the midst of life’s storms—be able to experience God with you like never before? The GOODS NEWS is … I did!
As I was being wheeled into surgery (I’d just said good-bye to Jane and Josh), I prayed with
confidence and said to God: “O.K., God … whether I remain here … or I’m with you in heaven, I am yours. You’re stuck with me. I’m yours either way.” I then relaxed and absolutely surrendered my entire life to Christ—let go of everything, knowing that he was in my boat … and his power was real!
What am I saying? Basically this: Because I’d invited Jesus into my boat (life), and had learned to listen to his voice … daily … I KNEW NO FEAR! At what should have been the scariest time of my life … I knew God’s PEACE … and could absolutely rest in that! That day, Jesus brought PEACE in the midst of MY storm…
Verse 40 says, once again: Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Our faith, folks, can carry us through the storms of life. I’m not just here today to tell you that—out of blind faith, but I’m here to tell you that now … from experience! FEAR has no place in the life of one who’s invited Jesus into their boat … and who’s learned to listen to his voice! The disciples learned that on this day … and we need to learn that today, too!
Verse 41 ends this section with what was really going on here: “The disciples were absolutely terrified. ‘Who is this man?’ they asked each other. ‘Even the wind and waves obey him!’” You’ll notice that there was still fear involved, even after Jesus had taken care of the problem (or maybe because Jesus had taken care of the problem!)… It’s a process to grow in your faith; but, I’m here to tell you … the very PRESENCE of God can displace all FEAR in your life!
The truth is this: I never expected what I’ve had to go through these past several weeks; we never do! But storms will come… Just ask anyone who’s lived for awhile; they’ll tell you…
Are you ready?
Who’s in your boat?
Don’t wait until it’s too late … to invite Jesus in…