Peace be still

Peace be still

Mark 4: 37-39

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 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.

I think we all know this story very well that is documented here in Mark. If not in these three verses is documented the summary that took place.

 As we reflect on the story the disciples marveled at the fact in verse 41 that even the wind and waves obeyed him. We know and sing that Christ is the master of the sea, so we have come to expect him to say to the winds and storm in this story Peace be still and they listen.

We have come to expect Miracles in the bible, but we lack faith when it comes to the storms in our lives.

I ask that you indulge me for a minute as I speak under the caption, Peace be still

Let us Pray.

Although we know that Christ is the creator and as such he had the power to command the winds. I beg to ask the question, was Christ speaking as a man or as God that the winds and the waves obeyed him?

Note your answer is in verse 41. The disciples saw Christ as a man. This is the quandary of our age. We can clearly see Christ as God but struggle to see Him as man. They could clearly see Christ as a man but struggled to see him as God.

If you doubt even further that Christ spoke as man consider what he says to them in verse 40. Why did you doubt it? Where is your faith?

When Jesus was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peace. There was no trace of fear in word or look, for no fear was in His heart. But He rested not in the possession of almighty power. It was not as the "Master of earth and sea and sky" that He reposed in quiet. That power He had laid down, and He says, "I can of Mine own self do nothing." John 5:30. He trusted in the Father's might. It was in faith--faith in God's love and care--that Jesus rested, and the power of that word that stilled the storm was the power of God.  {DA 336.1}

This is a redundant question, but I have to ask it for emphasis  Were the disciples men? 

The obvious answer is that the disciples were indeed men, however in Christ’s statement was the implication that if they had faith, they could have done what he did. If they had faith they really had nothing to fear. If they had faith all would have been well.

 

Don’t get me wrong we are all striving towards that mark. Even the strongest of us, buckle sometimes under pressure. Do you remember the story of Elijah, i.e. after the monumental display of God’s power on Mount Carmel, Jezebel’s threat, sent the strong faithful Elijah running. Just imagine the one who called fire down from heaven that consumed a captain and fifty twice. This same Elijah buckled. 

Going back to ur story in Mark, it was not light circumstances that caused these hardy fishermen to buckle. Those hardy fishermen who had spent their lives upon that same lake, and had guided their craft safely through many a storm; were now affrightened as their strength, experience, and skill availed nothing. They were helpless in the grasp of the tempest, and hope failed them as they saw that their boat was filling.

 {DA 334.3}

No doubt absorbed in their efforts to save themselves, they had forgotten that Jesus was on board. Now, seeing that their labor was in vain and only death before them, they remembered at whose command they had set out to cross the sea. 

Jesus was their only hope. In their helplessness and despair, they cried, "Master, Master!" Their cry arouses Jesus. As the lightning's glare reveals Him, they see the peace of heaven in His face; they read in His glance self-forgetful, tender love, and, their hearts turning to Him, cry, "Lord, save us: we perish."  {DA 335.1}

 

Never did a soul utter that cry unheeded.

Just in case you have forgotten Christ is still near. He has the solution to your problem. He has the answer to your question and he is no less powerful now than he was back then.

Is he not still holding up the Earth right now in space? Is he still not warming the sun and holding it too in place?

Then you claim the promise, I have never seen the righteous forsaken, but the truth is you’re asking yourself, is it that I am not righteous enough that I’m being forsaken.

Again friends, if you look to yourself, you will feel lost, but if you look to Christ you shall be an overcomer.

Turn with me to john16:33

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Christ has promised that there will be tribulation. 

Notice the word that precedes tribulation. He said You shall have tribulation, in other words, this a certainty. Consequently, we should have the expectation of tribulation and as best as possible prepare for it.

Jesus endured in tribulation, Paul endured tribulation and you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. Be encouraged. It won’t last forever.

The sad part is that being human we don’t want to go through this tribulation.

But tribulation is necessary for our growth and development. Consider a nurse dressing a wounded soldier.  We see it in movies and I think we can assimilate when sometimes putting alcohol on the wound is a necessary evil.

God is our nurse and he knows just how much we can take, and he is administering the medicine although it is painful.

All you have to do is trust him with your life.

He created you. He bought you and he has a heart of love.

In your situation right now God is saying Peace be still.

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

The human response

Even right now you may be thinking of your sinful habits. As your conscience has been quickened by the Holy Spirit, you have seen the evil of sin, of its power, its guilt, its woe; and you look upon it with abhorrence. However you feel the more you struggle to escape, the more you realize your helplessness.  You see that your life has been filled with selfishness and sin. You long to be forgiven, to be cleansed, to be set free. Achieving harmony with God, and being like Him seem like an impossible goal to achieve. What can you do to obtain it?  {SC 49.1}

 It is peace that you need--Heaven's forgiveness and peace and love in the soul. 

Money cannot buy it, intellect cannot procure it, wisdom cannot attain to it; you can never hope, by your own efforts, to secure it. But God offers it to you as a gift, "without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1. 

It is yours if you will but reach out your hand and grasp it. The Lord says, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." Ezekiel 36:26.  {SC 49.2}

     You have confessed your sins, and in heart put them away. You have resolved to give yourself to God. Now go to Him, and ask that He will give you the peace that He has promised.