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Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor
The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
Series B
Option #1:
"When Jesus Seems Asleep in Your Boat"
Mark 4:35-41
Rev. Wayne Dobratz, B.S., M.Div.
II. Remember to trust His compassion for you--Matt 9:36; Mk 6:34, 14:14
III. Remember that He is the Almighty God who will help in His own way and time--Job 38:11; Psalm 89:7-9; Jonah 10:15-16; Matt 14:32; Mark 7:37; Heb 1:3
John F. MacArthur, Jr.:
The Portent: And the men marveled, saying, "what kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" (8:27)
Thaumazoô (marveled) refers to extreme amazement and can carry the idea of portending. The men could not imagine what kind of a man Jesus was, that even the winds and the sea obey Him. Mark reports that, along with their great amazement, the men were also "very much afraid" (4:41). They were now more afraid of the one who had stilled the storm than they had been of the storm itself. Many of them had encountered dangerous storms, but none had encountered such supernatural power as Jesus here displayed.
After God had declared His great power and majesty, Job exclaimed, "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees Thee; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:5-6). When Isaiah "saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple," he declared, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts" (Isa 6:1, 5). After Daniel beheld the Lord, he testified: "No strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground" (Dan 10:8-9). When Peter saw Jesus miraculously provide the great catch of fish, "he fell down at Jesus feet, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" (Luke 5:8). When Paul encountered the risen Christ on the Damascus road, "he fell to the ground And though his eyes were open, he could see nothing" (Acts 9:4, 8).
Gods majesty is so overwhelming that when He displays Himself in even a small part of His glory men cannot stand in His presence. These disciples suddenly realized that God was standing in the very boat with them, and they were terrified by His power and His holiness. On a similar and later occasion Peter walked on the water. But when the wind came up, he became afraid, and Jesus not only held up His faithless disciple but also caused the wind to stop. "And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, You are certainly Gods Son!" (Matt 14:29-33).
The same Christ who stilled the Sea of Galilee is the Christ who keeps every atom and every star in its orbit. He keeps the universe in balance and provides for each plant and animal. One day He is coming to restore the world that sin defiled, to make completely new the heavens and the earth. Even now He is the God who gives eternal life to those who trust in Him, and who will calm their every storm and give strength for their every tragedy.
From Matthew Henry's Commentary:
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Option #2: "Reconciled
Reconcilers"
2 Corinthians 5:14-21
Rev. Kelly Bedard, M.Div.
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