“Do You Care That We Perish?” PART #3 Mark 4:35-39 KJV “And the same day, when the even was come, He saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 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. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 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? 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? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mk. 4:35-41 KJV c.f. Matt. 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25). For the past two days we have had a conversation about an incident that took place on the Sea of Galilee. We’ve referenced our discussion from the above quoted Scripture in the gospel of Mark. The other two synoptic gospels also narrate the same incident that took place. Jesus and His disciples were on a voyage in a boat. From the context of our Scripture reading Jesus initiated and instructed the trip. And during this time, a terrible life threatening incident took place. Suddenly, a violent windstorm came in to buffet, rock their boat. The situation was such terrible. To the extent, the violent windstorm caused some havoc to the boat in which they travelled. Yet Jesus who had initiated and instructed the voyage was in a comfort and peaceful sleep at the stern, back of the boat. This terrible and life threatening situation was clearly out of the control of the desciples. It was an impossible task they could handle, perform. Yet His seasoned fishermen took matters into their own hands to remedy the impossible situation. They did all within their own physical abilities yet they could not prevail, curb the situation. It’s very fascinating to ponder and wonder why Jesus’ disciples did not want to call upon Him or involve in Him in their terrible ordeal. These inner core disciples knew Jesus more than any knew Him at that time. He had performed spectacular and amazing miracles, wonders and signs before their own eyes. He had healed incurable sicknesses and even raised the dead. Yet in deliberate or unconscious manner, the disciples completely ignored Him or, forgot entirely about Him or, considered Him irrelevant at this time of their desperate need. We may in haste consider their strange attitude and behavior, that they put up, as beyond any reasonable comprehension. We can go on and on for endless days, perhaps years of deep thinking and search for reasonable arguments yet we cannot fathom the reason behind their poor judgment, why they did not call upon Jesus. Sometimes or once, you’ve marginalized or wished for a spectacular encounter, experience with God. You might have even wished for such dramatic personal encounter that the Apostle Paul had with God on the Damascus road. You may have one day prayed or imagined that a dramatic personal experience with God could forever have changed your lackadaisical, lukewarm faith, attitude and relationship with God. And here were such fortunate disciples with Jesus the Christ, the God-Man in their midst and did not utilise and maximize such blessed golden opportunity. As we learnt from Scripture yesterday, we humans behave well in character and attitude from our ancestral stalk, Adam. We always play the blame game. We do so to exonerate and justify our guilt, innocence and conscience. Mr. & Mrs. Adam as well as even the serpent blamed each other and ultimately blamed God for the sin that they committed. Adam blamed God for creating Eve for her to entice him. Eve had the serpent that God created. Perhaps, the devil blamed God for Eve and the forbidden tree and its fruit. When the disciples finally went to Jesus to wake Him they were very mad, furious with Him. It’s all Your fault! You initiated and instructed this trip!! While we stay awake You slept!!! Who sleeps in the midst of such violent windstorm? You do good for other people but for we that follow You and suffer on Your behalf You ignore us! You do not care for us in such a desperate and needy time. With these and many in mind, they went to Jesus with their frustration and exploded: “... and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? The advantages you’ve that make your case worse than that of the inner disciples of Jesus who were with Him in the boat are manifold. They did not have the complete Scripture understanding. Jesus had yet died and rose from death. He had yet ascended to heaven. The Holy Spirit had yet come to reveal the full Scripture understanding to them. They did not have the Name Jesus, which is above all other names, to pray with. And finally, you as believer, Christian is ‘pregnant’ filled with the Holy Spirit 24/7. However, the disciples were yet to receive the Holy Spirit. Therefore with confidence in Jesus’ Name we often boast from Scripture that: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1Jn. 4: 4, 13-18 NLT). It’s also written in the book of Acts in this way: “For in Him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring” (Acts 17:18 NLT). In our day and age we have the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit indwelling in us 24/7. Yet like the disciples that were in the boat with Jesus that refused to talk to Him, we have also just refused to talk to Him in prayer. We’ve refused to call upon Him in prayer. We’ve refused to wake Him up in prayer. Yet we have the silly attitude and audacity to be very mad and furious with Him. Yet we accuse Him that all is His fault with our situations. We assume or assert inwardly that He has not kept His promises made to us. So now, we believe and take men’s promises as God’s. And when such do also not come through we lash our frustrations on God as if we have called upon Him in our persistent prayers and that He has not heard us or have refused to answer them. The Scripture cannot be more specific and right when it states in the book of Isaiah and 2 Chronicles in these ways: “Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Is. 40:30-31 NLT). “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (2 Chron. 7:14 NLT). Finally, I conclude with these questions. Are you mad or at loggerhead with Jesus called the Chris? Which needy and pathetic guy will ever live with a most-capable, almighty, all-loving, most-gracious, compassionate, kind, merciful, faithful and most-dependable guy like Jesus and will not want to talk with him or to him for no apparent reason? What’s wrong with you? And what’s your problem with Jesus? This Jesus the Christ, the God-Man lives not with you like His disciples. However, He lives in you 24/7. He has never ever said to you that He’s mad with you. Neither has He ever said that He has forsaken you or dismayed you. He has always said that He loves you unconditionally. All He wants you to do is to believe Him of all that He has informed you in Scripture and pray, talk continually with/to Him. Why don’t you want to talk personally with/to such a good and nice ‘Guy’ like this Jesus who is more than able to help you in any and every way? Please talk to the ‘Guy’ for me. And remember this, Say hi to Him for me also! Please let me hear from you if indeed you did talk to Him and He heard and answered your prayer. I love you with the love of God the Father through our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. And may the Lord God be with you all and favor you above measure. Amen! Your Beloved, Rev. Kwame Ankoma-Amoa.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 03:17:22 +0000
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