Pilgrim Path---Mark's Gospel 4:35--41 (5--19--20)

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

---v.35---"Let us go across"---Do not fail to see that the LORD put them in the path that was ahead. He had arranged the trip. He had a purpose in the passage. He had a reason in the voyage. That is just like life. He asks us to follow Him as we go "across" to the other side. He always knows what He is doing...Fate is not in charge, but the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is working all things after the counsel of His Holy Will (Ephesians 1:11).

---v. 36---Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat...That is really all that matters---right? That the Living Christ is "with" us in the boat? In all sailing, the Master of the Sea is with His Own...(many storms come---He is with us John 16:33).

---v. 37---Life threatening storm arose: Or so it seemed. Nothing is more than the LORD intends. Interestingly, the disciples were certain that the Lord Jesus was unaware and perhaps just more than a bit out of touch..."the boat was already filling"

---v. 38---Living Lord: He was in the stern, asleep...The Lord Jesus was well aware of what He was going to do. What were His disciples going to do? How were they going to behave? The sheer fear and frustration cannot even be contained, "Teacher don't you even care we're about to die?" To their credit, they went to the God-Man---but they treated Him more like a man than God. And, they did not acknowledge him as a caring man at that moment. Sadly, because of unbelief---I question God, His purposes, His timing, His wisdom, and His love. Oh---the taint of indwelling corruption (sometimes more than taint).

"He has ordained the best, would we have him vary? He hath determined all things wisely, would we have him determine otherwise? That which happens to us occurs because in the judgment of infinite wisdom and goodness it is on the whole best that it should be so, would we wish the LORD arrange otherwise?" Charles H. Spurgeon

---v. 39---Like The Master He Is: "Peace!" "Stop!" And the God-Man calms the sea...He who made the sea may clam the sea. He who made the human heart may change it and bring peace into it...From Spurgeon: ""you are getting gradually poorer and poorer, or you are becoming more and more afflicted in body, and you had hoped that God would have taken some extraordinary method to deal with you, but he has done nothing of the sort. My dear brother, do you know that sometimes God works a greater wonder when he sustains his people in trouble than he would do if he brought them out of it..."

---v. 40---"Let this grip you"---The Lord Jesus wants them to know that when He is with His Own---they need not give way to fear---but be overwhelmed with trust in Him. Many a Puritan would say to me, "use your faith---apply it, work it, engage it, pray it,"

---v. 41---Looking around at each other, they were afraid---"Who controls nature like this?" No need to be afraid, He is the LORD of Glory---and Our Redeemer...

From the Scotsman Horatius Bonar, The Lord Jesus will one day soon speak Peace to The whole World:

"Peace be Still"

---As a Prophet

---As a Priest

---As a King, to give the very calm of Heaven to Earth!

Once a sinner near despair

Sought thy mercy-seat by prayer;

Mercy heard and set him free;

Lord, that mercy came to me.

Many days have passed since then,

Many changes I have seen;

Yet have been upheld till now;

Who could hold me up but thou?

Thou hast helped in every need,

This emboldens me to plead;

After so much goodness past,

Wilt thou let me sink at last?

Grace & Peace in Jesus Christ Our LORD, Pastor Jason