Peace in the Midst of the Storm

Mark 4:35-41; 05/03/2026; BCBC/IOUC; Brother Zhao He

Introduction

We all face many challenges on the journey of life, don’t we? They may come in different forms—perhaps our health is failing, our family is struggling, our children are disobedient, or there is a lack of unity between spouses. Maybe we feel uncertain about the future after graduation, or see no hope in our work. These could be challenges we are facing right now or ones we will face in the future.  Are we afraid? Do we have the assurance that Jesus is with us?  Now, let us look at the first point:

Let us go over to the other side

In this passage, Jesus had just taught the crowd the Parable of the Sower by the Sea of Galilee. Most of His ministry took place in Galilee. It was by the Sea of Galilee that He called His first four disciples—Peter, Andrew, James, and John—and they were all fishermen. Jesus preached, healed the sick, performed miracles, and trained His disciples in Galilee.  Now, the place they were about to go was the region of the Gerasenes. This is where Jesus later commanded a legion of demons to come out of a man and enter into about two thousand pigs, which then rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned.

First, it is because of the Great Commission. Proclaiming the gospel to all nations is the Great Commission that Jesus gave before His ascension. As it is written in Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  The Great Commission is given to the whole church—not only to pastors, preachers, or certain brothers and sisters. As members of one body in Christ, we share this calling together and bear the responsibility of fulfilling the Great Commission.

Jesus Himself set the example. He led His disciples and went through towns and villages, preaching the gospel, bearing witness, healing the sick, and casting out demons. This time, He commanded His disciples to go to the region of the Gerasenes.

In the past, our church’s short-term mission trips were mainly focused on Northern Europe. In recent years, we have begun to go to different parts of Europe. And this year, God has called us to a short-term mission in Turkey.  We thank the Lord for giving us a church with a sense of mission.

Second, Jesus was in the boat. When God gives the Great Commission, He also gives a promise: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)  Every time we go out to share the gospel, we experience a peace that surpasses expectations, along with a deep sense of fulfillment. This kind of satisfaction cannot be found in the emptiness of lying around scrolling through videos, nor can it be compared to the temporary pleasure we feel after exercising.  Because only when Jesus is with us does our life have true meaning and real fulfillment. Do you agree?  But this fulfillment does not necessarily come from a life without storms—it does not mean there are no difficulties or challenges.

Finally, there are other boats that are going along as well. We may be in the church—reading the Bible, praying, or even participating in short-term mission trips, healing the sick, casting out demons, and performing miracles—yet still not truly believe in Jesus. If Jesus is not in our boat, that would be truly unfortunate.  However, there is still hope when we come to church. As we see the transformed lives of our brothers and sisters through the presence of Jesus Christ, perhaps one day, by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we too will invite the Lord Jesus to be the Lord of our lives.  Even if we do not go on a short-term mission trip, we can still pray for the mission team and journey with them in prayer. Do you see it? Are you willing? Lord, have mercy on us.

Suddenly, a great storm arose

The journey of faith is not always smooth. Especially when we respond to the Great Commission, live out our faith, and step out to do missions, we will encounter many kinds of storms. This is because Satan is never willing to give up so easily.  Jesus told us that in this world we will have troubles: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)  Yet our Lord also assures us that He has already overcome all suffering and tribulation.

First, the boat was already filling. When the storm hit the boat, the disciples were extremely uncomfortable. I once spent a week at sea, and I still remember how, when the waves crashed against the ship, I was literally thrown off my bed. Seasickness can also be extremely distressing—almost like a feeling of being worse than dead.  On a boat in a storm, there is basically nowhere to escape and no way to retreat. All one can do is endure the discomfort. And now the boat was filling with water—the disciples were essentially stepping into the valley of the shadow of death, easily driven into panic and fear.  Have you ever thought about what people are really afraid of when they fear death? In reality, it is often the fear of pain. Do you agree? When people are healthy, they may feel as if they are not afraid of death at all. They may not even think about death or understand the weakness of those in suffering.

That is why, when Jesus was crucified, the crowd shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” We can only begin to understand the cost of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross when we ourselves have experienced pain or are going through suffering. Only then can we develop compassion and love for those who are struggling in pain. Do you agree?  It is like the criminal who was crucified with Jesus—one of them came to understand and respond in faith. Of course, suffering can also be wasted, as seen in the other criminal who mocked Jesus.

Second, Jesus was sleeping in the stern. The fact that Jesus could sleep even while the boat was being tossed by waves shows, on the one hand, how exhausted He must have been. On the other hand, it also reveals the deep peace and confidence in His faith.  Do you remember Jonah? God told him to go to Nineveh to preach the gospel, but instead he boarded a ship heading in the opposite direction to flee. Then the Lord God sent a great storm, and Jonah was asleep in the lower part of the ship. Although Jonah was disobedient, he still had faith in God—so much so that even from the belly of the great fish, he cried out to God in prayer and praise.  As human beings, we are limited and cannot fully understand God. But we must not be without faith. For “without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Finally, the disciples began to complain. According to our old nature, when pain and challenges come, bitterness and grumbling can quickly rise within our hearts. Even after believing in Jesus, we still often find ourselves reacting this way, don’t we?  The disciples were no exception. In their hearts they may have thought, “We have believed in You and followed You to preach the gospel and bear witness. Why then do You allow us to go through this storm and seem to ignore our safety?” Even John the Baptist once expressed a similar kind of doubt toward Jesus.

Yet the Bible teaches us:“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

 

The storm calmed down

Jonah prayed to God from the belly of the fish, offering prayer and praise, and the Lord commanded the fish to vomit Jonah onto dry land. The disciples, in their fear and panic, came to seek Jesus, and Jesus then calmed the wind and the waves.  However, God is not someone we can control or manipulate through certain methods or formulas. He is the Lord. What He desires is that we would enter into a real and living relationship with Him through faith. Do you agree?

First, He rebuked the wind and the sea. The storm that Jonah encountered was sent by God Himself. But the storm the disciples experienced on their way to mission was an attack from Satan.  So here, together in the name of the Lord, we rebuke every attack of Satan against our short-term mission team. Satan, be still! Step back!

Second, faith without fear. Jesus rebuked His disciples, saying, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” God disciplines those He loves.  When we face God’s correction or the discipline of His servants, how do we respond? Do we walk away and start something on our own? Do we attack or slander the pastor? Do we try to tear down the church? Or do we respond according to Scripture: “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11)  Do not be afraid; only believe!

Finally, the disciples were built up. Through experiencing peace in the midst of the storm, their understanding of the Lord became deeper, and their faith also grew.  Jesus led His disciples by taking them through towns and villages to proclaim the gospel. In our church, we have short-term mission trips every year. I have seen how, time and again, brothers and sisters experience God through these trips and are greatly encouraged.  Because of my own shortcomings, I have not been able to participate in short-term missions frequently or many times. Yet each time I do go, I experience God’s abundant grace, and my life is renewed and strengthened.  Only when we personally go through it can we truly understand it deeply.

Conclusion

Thank the Lord! May we find peace and calm in the midst of the storms. May we have the assurance that Jesus is with us, so that we will not be afraid.  If the Lord is in my boat, I will not fear the storm—no matter the storm, no matter the storm, no matter the storm!

Let us pray together.

 

³⁵ On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”

³⁶ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.

³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

³⁸ 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?”

³⁹ 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.

⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

⁴¹ 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?”