Muzzle It!

 Mark 4:39- “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” NKJV

https://anchor.fm/martie-susberry/episodes/Muzzle-It-e17arb1

It is a common belief that the Sea of Galilee was a place of many storms. This phenomenon is something that the disciples should have been prepared for since they lived in the region and several of them were fishermen. And yet, on this particular afternoon, we find them in a storm that frightens them.

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”

Mark 4:35 NKJV

Who hasn’t heard a sermon about Jesus telling the disciples to cross over to the other side? It’s a classic! When Jesus made this statement to the disciples, of course, it was a done deal! At least from our perspective, which is a classic state of hindsight. And when He initially spoke it to the disciples, they felt the same way. As Jesus gets comfortable and falls asleep, the men may have been contemplating all they had seen and heard that day. Maybe they were even having some male bonding time on the crossing, when suddenly a storm comes out of nowhere.

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 

Mark 4:37 NKJV

According to the commentaries, this was a pretty severe storm, for even the fishermen in the boat were concerned about their safety! The winds caused huge waves to beat into the boat, causing the boat to take on water. I’ve never been in this type of situation, but I have watched enough movies to know that things weren’t looking to good for the people in the boat.

But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Mark 4:38 NKJV

I know that you have heard or read this passage on many occasions, but have you ever really stopped to wonder how Jesus managed to sleep through all of this? After all, the winds and waves were kicking up a fuss! Then there had to be some pretty loud shouting between the men as they tried to save themselves. So, with the ruckus of the storm and the yelling of the men, they should have been able to wake the dead, yet, Jesus slept! Apparently He had no concerns about the weather and what it thought it was going to do to them; and therefore, He slept peacefully!

Things got so bad that they finally woke Him up! Did they cast lots to see who would wake Him up? Or did Peter just volunteer? We don’t know and I’m just teasing! But we do know that they had to wake Him up, and when they did, they accused Him of not caring that they were perishing! Here’s my wondering: Didn’t they realize that if they were dumped in the water, wouldn’t Jesus have also been dumped?

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Mark 4:39-41 NKJV

As soon as Jesus got up He rebuked the wind! Then He spoke to the sea, “Peace, be still!” When Jesus met the demoniac in Mark 1, He rebuked the spirt and told him to be quiet, and to come out of him. The same terminology is used both times, and it really means, “muzzle it”! And both times, He was obeyed! Demons obeyed His command! Sickness and disease obeyed His command! And now we see that the natural realm responds to His commands! Glory!

This was a supernatural miracle in response to a natural phenomenon that could have cost the lives of His disciples. But on that day, because Jesus was in the boat, they got a miracle! Some believe that this cannot happen again. Even in the commentary that I use, it is said that it cannot happen again, but I beg to differ! Miracles over nature, can and will happen, wherever we dare to believe for it.

When we speak of faith, we act as if the disciples exercised some great faith as they hung out with Jesus! But in this instance, Jesus asked them how could they have no faith? You would think that since they woke Him up that showed their faith! But Jesus said they had no faith! Nothing! Nada! And yet they got a miracle!

I’m sure that you have been in your own place of no faith! The waves and the winds of life have been fierce at times. It seemed as if you were perishing and Jesus didn’t care. Then you received a miracle! With no faith! He’s just good like that! But most of the times that we receive a miracle from God, it will be because somebody is operating in faith! In the case of this passage, Jesus operated His faith and brought about a miracle! Maybe in your darkest moment, a friend, a family member, a stranger was praying before God for your deliverance and their faith got your miracle!

The one thing that we can be sure of in this life is that we will all experience a storm from time to time. Your storm may not be like my storm, but it is still a storm. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, the loss of finances, the loss of a home, or the loss of dreams, you can be assured that Jesus will be with you in the midst of your storm! And not only can He still speak to the storm, but He has given you authority to speak to your storms! (See Mark 11:22).

There’s no need to wake Him, He’s not sleeping! There’s no need to cry out to Him to see if He cares, He does! We just need to take Him at His word! Had the disciples taken Him at His word, they wouldn’t have panicked. But the good news is that even in the midst of their panic, Jesus still arose to the occasion and brought their deliverance!

Spiritually or naturally, Jesus muzzles storms. When He tells them to stop, they cease their activities. When He tells them to shut up, they quieten down. He still has power over the storms of life!

This action of calming the sea caused the disciples to have great fear of Jesus! They had just witnessed a powerful miracle and they were afraid! This we don’t need to mimic! We actually need to do the opposite and have a sense of peace in our hearts that He is in the storm with us! And because He is in the storm with us, we will cross over to the other side!

Who can this be, the disciples asked? None other, than Jesus, the Son of the living God! Jesus, the miracle worker! Jesus, the waymaker! Jesus, the promise keeper! Who can this be? Jesus, our Savior! The One who calms raging seas, and causes the wind to obey Him!

I only have one more thing to say!

 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever

Hebrews 13:8 NKJV

If He has done it before, He most certainly can do it again. Expand your mind, your heart and your spirit to know the God of miracles, like never before! Wonderful Jesus!