Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Apr 16th, 2011 The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Reading: 1Kings 1-2, Mark 3-4, Proverbs 16

Today’s Passage: Mark 4:35-40

After reading the last part of Mark chapter 4, I was reminded of a song from a cassette given to me to listen to. The passage I’m referring to is Mark 4:35-39. Jesus and His disciples are in a ship, crossing over to the other side of the sea. All of a sudden, a storm hits. The winds sent waves of water which filled the ship threatening to sink it. Where was Jesus? He was asleep on a pillow in the rear of the ship. Well, preaching takes a lot out of you. He must have been exhausted. Besides that, He is God: what did He have to fear? Nothing, of course. Just remember, as the Bible says in Philippians chapter 2, God the Son humbled Himself and was obedient to God the Father’s will, even the death of the cross (see Phil 2:5-8). So, here is Jesus, asleep in the back of the ship, while all His disciples are in a panic because they think the ship is going to sink. I would guess they did not understand just how powerful their God really is. They did not understand that they were in the same boat as the Creator of the universe. And they woke up Jesus saying, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” Of course He cares, He was on His way to die on a cross so we would not 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?” (Mark 4:39-40).

Do you see the world in turmoil? It’s just a sign that we are getting close to the Lord’s return. All the prophecy that needed to be fulfilled has been fulfilled. We are just waiting because the Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2Peter 3:9). That brings me to the song I heard. It was from the album, ‘My Favorite Hymns’ by Roy Clark, and called ‘Safely In The Arms Of Jesus’. The first verse and chorus go like this…

I said, old time preacher man

Help me understand

What you’ve got that’s always got you smiling

I’m afraid to die

And I don’t know how to live

He raised his worn out Bible and he said

I’m safely in the arms of Jesus

Held like a mother holds her babe

And safely in the arms of Jesus

I will be when he calls me away

You see, even though the world around us is in turmoil, the winds of change are blowing, and the worldly waters could wash us all away, we are all in the same boat with Jesus. We are safely in His arms from our second birth to our appointed time. Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:37-40).

How about John 10:27-30: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”

Let me paint a picture, and please don’t be offended because this is for every Christian…

Jesus is taking a nap, while He waits for you wake Him. Instead we run around like a chicken with it’s head cut off, in a panic from whatever tumult is attacking our lives. Isn’t that a sight for the unbelievers eyes. Is it any wonder that Jesus would ask, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”

Before we get overwhelmed by life, let’s run to Jesus first. Allow Him to demonstrate in your life just how powerful of a God He is.

Peace. (Mark 4:39)