Mark 4:35-41 - Why Are You So Afraid?
Hey, before you sit down, or if you’re on your way down, would you say hi to your neighbor? We’re too serious here today. Just say hi to your neighbor, and maybe tell them where you’re going to take them after the service. Tell them, “I’m going to invite you to the taco trucks. I invite, you pay.”
I am so grateful to be here with you today and grateful for the opportunity to bring God’s Word. If you don’t know me, my name is Joe—or as my wife calls me, Jose. I am from the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere: Haiti being number one, and my beautiful country of Nicaragua being number two.
I have two things working inside of me right now. One of those things is that I am Latino, and Latinos don’t do things halfway. I am passionate about life; I am passionate about every detail of my life. That passion comes out when I preach. The other thing inside of me right now is a cup of coffee. My wife checked on me earlier and told me to only have one cup of coffee, because once that caffeine and the anointing of God come together, oh, it’s on!
You also have to understand something about me: I spent eight years of my life working in an African American church. God has an interesting sense of humor—He puts a Latino in an African American church! So I have a mix of Latino passion and a little bit of soul. When you mix soul and passion, oh my goodness! That is why my style might be a little bit different than what you’re used to hearing. When you get to heaven, you can ask God, “God, why did you make this Latino a little bit loco?” But that’s just how God made me, and I’m grateful to Him for that.
For those of you who don’t know, we have a Spanish ministry here at The Well. We meet at our Fig Garden campus at 11:00 every Sunday. I get the honor and privilege of bringing God’s Word in the second most spoken language in the world and the language of heaven, which is Spanish. And for those of you who don’t know, the food of heaven is tacos—and I’m not talking about those hard shell tacos that some of you eat. I’m talking about tacos al pastor, tacos de asada, tacos de carnitas. And God’s people say, amen! If you’re Latino, ¡Gloria a Dios!
Questions That Jesus Asked
Let’s go into God’s Word today. Open your Bibles with me to Mark chapter 4. I know some of you have just come from a long day of work. I’m not here to bore you, and I’m not here to entertain you. I am here to deliver a message of hope and restoration, to inject some hope into you. In the world we are living in, we need hope, and that hope is only found in Jesus Christ.
There are over 3,000 questions in the Bible. In this series, we’ve been looking at the questions that Jesus asked. Jesus spoke primarily in two ways: He spoke in parables, and He spoke with questions. Jesus was the master question-asker; He asked over 300 questions in the Gospels. He used questions to teach, to draw people close, to reveal their hearts, and to help them move forward. My hope is that these questions have challenged you. If you are seeking truth, I hope these questions open your eyes to who Jesus is.
We’ve looked at questions like, “Who do you say that I am?” and “Who touched me?” The purpose of every question Jesus asks is to draw you closer to Him, to examine your faith, and to transform your life.
My prayer for you tonight is simple, and I’m just going to be honest: my prayer is that you are not able to sleep tonight. You might ask, “Pastor, why would you pray that?” I hope you can’t sleep because you’re wrestling with the truth of God in your life. I hope you’re wrestling with the reality that God wants to be your Lord and Savior.
At Iglesia La Fuente, my congregation talks back to me. They are lively and passionate. So do me a favor: look at the person sitting next to you—the one you like or the one you don’t like—and tell them, “Neighbor, God is going to speak to your life right now.” If they’re falling asleep, tap them on the shoulder and say, “Wake up! God is going to speak to you.” If you’re an “amen” person, I’m your “amen” pastor. If you’re a “hallelujah” person, I’m your “hallelujah” pastor. Let’s get ready for what God has for us.
What Is Your Storm Theology?
Every single person in this room has what I call a “storm theology.”
A storm theology is what you believe about God when the storms hit your life. When a crisis comes, what is your view of God? Is He a good God or a bad God for allowing this to happen? When you pray during a storm, do you see God as caring or uncaring based on how quickly He answers you?
Storm theology is what you believe about God when things go horribly wrong. Storms in life have the unique ability to bring to the surface what is truly inside of you. That is what crises, trials, and hardships do—they reveal our hearts. Storms reveal whether you are living by fear or living by faith. They reveal whether your heart is full of trust or full of doubt. The way we react to God during a storm exposes what we actually believe about Him.
In the Gospel of Mark, we see a continuous display of miracles demonstrating that Jesus is the Messiah. Mark is showing us that Jesus is God incarnate, holding ultimate power and authority. In Mark chapter 4, Jesus has been teaching the crowds all day through parables. Afterward, He pulls His disciples aside for a private explanation.
Mark 4:33-34 (NASB)
With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
Jesus was explaining everything privately to His own disciples, setting up the laboratory where their faith would be tested. The Great Teacher was about to take His disciples to school.
Mark 4:35-41 (NASB)
On that day, when evening came, He said to them, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself 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 got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’
Crossing the Sea of Galilee was inherently risky. While it was about seven miles wide, it was infamous for sudden, violent storms. Mount Hermon sat to the north at 9,200 feet above sea level, while the Sea of Galilee sat nearly 700 feet below sea level. When the cool air from the mountains rushed down and collided with the warm, humid air over the lake, massive squalls would form in minutes.
Notice that the disciples were smack in the center of the will of God. Jesus had told them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” They obeyed Him. They got into the boat with Jesus after the sermon. Yet, while in the exact center of God’s will, with the Lord in their boat, they encountered a terrifying storm.
That leads us to our first principle.
Principle 1: Storms Are Tests
Storms are tests. It is during the storms of life that you discover what you really believe.
The disciples had front-row seats to the kingdom teachings and the miracles of Jesus. But now, Jesus gave them a practical exam to see how much they had actually learned. Hearing God’s Word is intended to produce faith, and faith must always be tested.
Romans 10:17 (NASB)
So faith [comes] from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
It is one thing to know God in theory; it is another thing to know God by experience. Many people have head knowledge. You might know the Bible verses, you might know when to say “amen,” and if you’re Latino, you know when to say “¡Gloria a Dios!” But have you experienced Him? Sitting in my car, holding my sick wife’s hand on the way to the hospital, I have learned more about God’s goodness and faithfulness than simply reading about it. God wants to move you from theoretical knowledge to personal experience.
Look at what Jesus says in verse 35: “Let us cross over to the other side.” That statement reminds me of the “other side” of life. On this side of the lake, Jesus was performing miracles, confronting Pharisees, and the crowds were cheering. Everything was comfortable. But on the other side, their faith was going to be tested.
Some of you are heading to the other side right now. On this side, you have health, but on the other side, there might be an unexpected diagnosis. On this side, you have the honeymoon, but on the other side, marriage requires hard work and perseverance. How will you respond when the storm hits on the other side?
Do not be surprised when trials come.
1 Peter 4:12 (NASB)
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
The Three Storms in Every Crisis
In this passage, there are actually three storms occurring simultaneously.
First, there is a circumstantial storm. The wind was howling, the waves were crashing, and the boat was taking on water. It was entirely out of their control. Your money cannot stop a circumstantial storm. Your status cannot stop it. You can be in the center of God’s will and face circumstances that leave you feeling utterly helpless.
Second, there is an emotional storm. Verse 40 reveals that the disciples were terrified. They were emotionally overwhelmed by their uncontrollable circumstances. When bad news hits, your emotions can feel violently uprooted.
Third, there is a theological storm. In the middle of the crisis, the disciples ran to Jesus and cried out, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Mark 4:38 (NASB)
Jesus Himself 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?’
Notice they called Him “Teacher” instead of “Lord.” Their circumstances were out of control, their emotions were frantic, and suddenly their theology began to collapse. They were essentially asking, “Jesus, does what I’ve learned about You actually work in real life? Because what I see right now doesn’t match what You promised. I’m drowning, and You are asleep!”
If we tell the truth and shame the devil, we have all asked that question. Like Mary and Martha when Lazarus died, we say, “Lord, if You had been here, this wouldn’t have happened.” We find ourselves praying like the psalmist.
Psalms 44:23 (NASB)
Arouse Yourself, why do You sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not reject us forever.
Principle 2: Storms Come with His Presence
Here is the good news: storms come with His presence. A storm is designed to increase your faith and give you a deeper experience with God.
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. In His humanity, He was exhausted from ministry. But His sleep is also a profound picture of complete sovereignty. He was at perfect peace in the middle of the storm. He was resting while they were sweating.
Jesus did not prevent them from entering the storm, but He entered the storm with them.
Never confuse God’s silence with a lack of compassion. He cares deeply for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NASB)
casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
The boat carrying the Son of God could not sink. If you are feeling overwhelmed right now, hold onto this truth: Christ is in your boat. He is in the middle of your pain, your diagnosis, your financial hardship, and your broken heart.
When the disciples woke Him, Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind and the waves, saying, “Peace, be still!”
Mark 4:39 (NASB)
And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.
The Greek word Jesus used literally means to be muzzled. He used that same command when confronting demonic powers.
Mark 1:25 (NASB)
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be quiet, and come out of him!’
What He creates, He controls. When Jesus spoke, the wind died down and the sea became perfectly still.
Psalms 89:9 (NASB)
You rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them.
Normally, when the wind stops, the waves continue to surge for hours. But that night, both the wind and the waves stopped instantly. Nature recognized the voice of its Creator.
Notice that Jesus addressed the circumstance after they woke Him. Many times, our crisis continues because we try waking up everyone else except the Savior. We call our friends, we call our family, we seek help from people of influence, but we fail to bring the situation before the Lord.
When Jesus turned to His disciples, He asked them two direct questions.
Mark 4:40 (NASB)
And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’
Jesus had already said, “Let us cross over to the other side.” He didn’t promise an easy journey, but He guaranteed their destination. Yet when the storm arose, their circumstances overrode His promise.
God never asks you to deny your reality. A storm is a storm; you don’t have to pretend it’s a sunny day. But He never wants your circumstances to override His Word or His presence.
Principle 3: Storms Will Stretch Your Faith
Storms are not sent to destroy you; they are sent to develop you. The greatest storm that night was not on the Sea of Galilee—it was in the hearts of the disciples.
God uses storms for three distinct purposes:
1. To deal with our fear. Jesus asked, “Why are you so afraid?” Fear and faith cannot comfortably occupy the same heart. When fear dominates, it reveals a lack of active trust in God’s care.
2. To grow our faith. Faith is measured by our walk, not just our talk; by our feet, not just our feelings. God allows the boat to rock so that your faith can move from head knowledge to practical application.
3. To increase our awe of Him.
Mark 4:41 (NASB)
They became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’
The disciples were afraid of the storm, but they were overwhelmed with holy awe in the presence of Jesus. They realized they were standing before Almighty God, who commands creation with a word. Like Isaiah in the throne room, they saw His holiness.
Isaiah 6:5 (NASB)
Then I said, ‘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.’
When you truly reverence God, you will not live in terror of the storms of this world.
Back in the Oven: Trusting God’s Timing
Before I became a pastor, I worked in food service for over twenty years. I was a bivocational pastor—ministering in the morning and working in kitchens in the afternoon.
I used to roast whole turkeys. When I was starting out, I would set a timer, put the turkey in the oven, and wait. When the timer went off, I would pull the turkey out. It looked beautiful and brown on the outside. But when I carved into it, the inside was still raw and pink.
A sous chef pulled me aside and taught me: “You can’t just look at the outside. You have to take the thermometer and check the internal temperature. If it’s not ready, you put it back in the oven, turn the heat on, and let it finish cooking.”
There are a lot of turkeys in the church today. On Sunday, we look good on the outside. We know how to clap, we know how to say “amen,” and we look fully cooked. But God looks past the exterior. He wants to know if our faith is real when the heat is turned up in the middle of the week.
If our faith isn’t fully formed, God will allow us to stay in the oven a little longer. In the heat of the trial, God does His finest work. He works behind the scenes to transform our character, purify our hearts, and build an unshakable trust in Him.
Not every storm comes to disrupt your life; some come to clear the path. God uses trials to remove unhealthy attachments, wrong priorities, and toxic habits. Let the storm do its work, and trust the Hands that are holding you.
Conclusion: Is Jesus in Your Boat?
There were many boats on the Sea of Galilee that night, but only one boat carried the Lord of glory.
The defining question for your life today is this: Is Jesus in your boat?
If Jesus is in your boat, you do not have to despair. You can praise Him in the middle of the storm. You can trust Him in the middle of the uncertainty. The One who spoke to the wind and the waves is with you, and He has the power to bring peace to your soul.
I want to invite you to stand with me right now. Let us lift our voices and worship Him. Whether you are entering a storm, in the middle of a storm, or coming out of one, praise Him because He is faithful, He is in control, and He will carry you safely to the other side.