Let us Pass over to the Other Side.
Mark 4: 35 “And the same day, when the even was come, He said unto them, Let us pass over to the other side.”
The Lord Jesus had just been teaching by the sea side. He had been preaching all day, and so at eventide, He spoke to his disciples that it was time to move on.
Mark 4:36 “And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships.”
Now Jesus had said “Let us pass over to the other side”,…..and there was not a fisherman there, that did not think they could do that,….with no problem.
They were experienced fishermen, what could happen?
So they began. Other boats followed along, as well.
But suddenly a storm arose, which they had not foreseen.
Mark 4:37 “And there was a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.”
This was some sudden storm! The boat was filling up, from the wind whipping up the waves! This was not the usual lake travel; not for fishermen or others.
May I ask each of us, have we not been in this situation?
Quite certain that we could do something the Lord Jesus had given us to do?
(After all, we have been saved, and know quite a bit about the Lord; and about His work for us)
But then, some sudden “storm” of words, resentment, or shaming comes up from others, and we are suddenly at a loss as how to deal with it.
Worse, it seems as if we are “sinking”, and the Lord does not seem to be helping.
And may I also ask, haven’t we felt as if the Lord should come to our rescue, immediately?
I know I have; and have felt the fear, and (yes, shamefully) the resentment toward the Lord, that He did not help me, as I thought He should.
But, as the Lord reminded me: “Didn’t I think I could handle this myself?”
You should have seen me trying to excuse myself!
“Oh no, Lord, I never think I can do something without You.” (But, of course, I had)
Soon, I confessed, instead of excusing myself. I set it right with Him first.
Then I asked Him to show me when I was going to do the same thing: Whenever I began to think I knew what I was doing!
We need guidance, His word to us;
and His Presence with us whenever we do anything for Him.
And we need faith, to see it through, no matter what comes up.
Mark 4:38-40 “And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awoke Him, and say unto Him, Master carest thou not that we perish?
And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”
Faith sees God; and that puts everything else in it’s proper place, under Him.
Now, Jesus had said, “Let us pass over to the other side”; not go out into the sea and drown.
They should have trusted His Word, and by faith, claimed it when they were in the storm.
But as the wind and waves grew greater, their fear grew as well. His Words became just words; which they aren’t.
Guidance we need. (They had that)
His Presence we need; always. (They had that)
What then did they lack?
First, a knowledge of their own inability to see what might come up against them.
As fishermen they would have known the night sky: whether there was a storm coming. So the one that came, surprised them.
Second, they lacked a firm faith in the Word of Christ to them.
Their faith should have steadied them; then they would have been able to trust. (Hold on to what Jesus has said.)
They would have been able to say to the wind and waves: that Jesus had given them His Word, and that He was with them….
And passed over to the other side.
Not without a struggle, this is true; but faith acted on, empowers and enables us to see the duty done.
Let us have faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, and trust His Word, and Presence with us.
Every storm has a lesson, let us look to Him, and learn from Him.
2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 