Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

 Sermon Text: Mark 4:35-41

 Other Readings: Job 38:1-11 and Acts 27:13-26



  1. Examine our stained-glass window which depicts this account. What do you like about it? What jumps out at you?
     
  2. Explain why Jesus not only wanted to leave the crowd, but leave them behind as he and his disciples set course for “the other side” (v. 35 NIV) of the Sea of Galilee.
     
  3. The disciples already had seen many miracles. Why do you think that the disciples were so awestruck after this miracle?
     
  4. Compare the way that Jesus spoke to the disciples in the boat to the way that God spoke to Job from the storm in Job 38:1-11. What’s similar? What’s different? What can we learn from the similarities or differences?
     
  5. Jesus used only his word to calm the storm. Explain how that fact can shape our attitude about worship.
     
  1. Answers will vary based on personal perspective.
     
  2. There are probably a few factors involved that explain why Jesus wanted to go to the other side. 1) By putting distance between the crowds and himself, he was forcing the crowds to meditate on the truths he had just taught them, which Mark tells us were “as much as they could understand” (Mark 4:33 NIV). 2) Jesus himself was tired and needed ample time to rest and recover. 3) The destination was known as the Decapolis and had a mixed population of Jews and Gentiles; so, Jesus was desiring to carry the gospel to those people as well.
     
  3. Commentators often point out two factors. First, this was the first miracle that displayed Jesus’ power over weather. Additionally, this was the first miracle that directly benefited the disciples. All other miracles had been done to primarily help out others.
     
  4. We might note the similarity that God speaks to Job primarily in questions, and Jesus speaks to the disciples in questions. We might note the difference that God’s tone with Job seems more combative than Jesus’ tone with the disciples, which (perhaps) seems more disappointed.
    If we accept those points, then we can learn that God often doesn’t answer our questions. Job wanted to know why God let him suffer, and God answers only in questions back at Job. In the same way, the disciples asked if Jesus cared about them, but Jesus doesn’t directly answer that. God doesn’t owe us answers. But we can also see the loving way that God wants to deal with us, based on our circumstances. Job had gotten defiant with God and demanded a court date; therefore, God took the stance of a tough prosecutor to humble Job. The disciples had already been humbled by the storm; so, Jesus took a gentler tone with them.
     
  5. God’s Word is such a dominant part of public worship, and from this text we can be assured that when God speaks, he does things through that word! So, worship is not just about passively receiving God’s Word, it’s about trusting that God is going to go to work through the word that is read, proclaimed, sung, and attached to the sacraments! Through this word, God calms and stills our souls with his word of forgiveness.