Mark 4:30-41, Mustard Seed,
Calms a Storm October 28, 2017
Today, I would like to
continue with another of Jesus parable, the Mustard Seed, how the Body of
Christ started small and will continue to grow until the time Jesus
returns. We can look at our lives, how
we start as a babe in Christ and grow until maturity until our death or our
change when Jesus returns.
Then Jesus calms a storm,
how we have fears and lack faith in what Jesus can do in our lives.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Mark 4:30 Then
He said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?
Kingdom of God – Disciples in Acts 1:6
ask one last question: Will You at
this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Kingdom
of God: Includes everything like angels and things like
that. God’s Kingdom began prior to the Earth’s creation and includes all
Creation.
Kingdom of Heaven: Matthew
only. Physical, it has location. Mankind only; earthly. A
political institution (Dan 2:44 - set up a kingdom).
Jesus still is speaking to the
disciples in private.
What shall we
liken? Opening a discussion with a question seems to have been what
Jesus usually did; plus the Jewish teachers. Here Jesus includes His
disciples (‘we’) who were also to teach
about the kingdom of God,—a hint that Christ’s way of teaching is still to be
followed.
Luke 13:18-19 Then He said, "What is
the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? (19) It is like a
mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a
large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."
Interesting, Jesus in this parable uses the method of
beginning
with the least or smallest and ending with the
greatest.
Matthew 13:31-32 Another parable He put forth to them, saying:
"The kingdom of heaven is like
a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, (32) which indeed is
the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs
and becomes a tree, so that the birds of
the air come and nest in its branches."
The
Jews grew mustard in their gardens. Its round seed was previously spoken of as
the smallest thing, as it was the smallest seed planted.
Mark 4:31 It
is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than
all the seeds on earth;
This plant has yellow flowers and its pods smooth, square,
and close to the stem. Its seed was probably the smallest known to the Jews;
and though its ordinary height does not exceed four feet, yet a species grows
to the height of from three to five cubits, with spreading branches.
Mark 4:32 but
when it is sown, it grows up and
becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the
birds of the air may nest under its shade."
God
uses this parable, beginning with the least and ending with the greatest. This is the same with the Kingdom of God.
Are these the same “birds” that stole the seed in
v.4? Birds if we remember =
workers of Satan.
Mark 4:33 And
with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.
Parables were Jesus'
primary teaching tool to the public.
Able to hear: This comment occurs only in the Book of Mark.
Mark 4:34
But without a parable He did
not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.
This is astonishing; Jesus only spoke in public
with parables, explaining the parables to the disciples in private.
Remember,
the turning point was Mark 3, when Jewish Leadership accuses Jesus actions
to Satan. Jesus shifted gears; He
did not speak in public, except in parables.
Similar to Matthew’s account, which is more detailed and
includes a total of seven parables.
Matthew took them down in shorthand.
Explained
all things to His disciples: Jesus was
teaching the disciples the spiritual meaning of the parables, so they could go
out and instruct others in this Way.
The Sea of Galilee
In Jesus’ day this beautiful
body of fresh water, 13 miles long and seven and one-half miles wide, was dotted with populous
towns.
The lake abounds in fish, with fishing an important industry, in this culture.
Have you heard before why so many were sick around the
Sea of Galilee? The sunny climate,
with health-giving Sulphur springs
near Tiberias,
made it a mecca for the sick, and a fruitful
scene for Jesus’ healing ministry.
We have that here too, example, Lake of the Ozarks, Arkansas.
The lake lies 700 feet
below sea level and enjoys a healthful semitropical climate. The Israeli
Defense Force is the only air force that
must have special
altimeters to fly up the Jordan Valley: below sea level.
Why is this small lake was often subject to sudden and violent
storms, because as the cold air from snowy Lebanon collided
with the warmer
air above the lake and below sea level.
The lake is surrounded
by mountains that rise three to four thousand feet above sea level on the west,
north, and east. Tropical conditions prevail around the lake's surface, where
even bananas are grown today. Yet the higher elevations can produce chilling
night air
Think about our own location, when the winds from the
north meet the winds from the south, we get these strong thunder storms.
The valley on the NW side, near Magdala,
there are two large mountains: “The Horns of Hattin” which create
a venture effect that can cause a
surprising strong storms quickly on this small body of water. The
heated air about the sea invites the rush of cold waves from the mountains. (side of house)
Jesus Calms a Storm - Trusting
Mark 4:35 On
the same day, when evening had come,
He said to them, "Let us cross over
to the other side."
Evening had come:
Mark was definite on this and when Jesus spoke
the parables
Cross over: command indicates a sudden departure. Jesus could seek some rest in the boat.
Mark 4:36 Now
when they had left the multitude,
they took Him along in the boat as
He was. And other little boats were
also with Him.
This detail also is given only by Mark. Some
people had got into boats to get close to Jesus. There was a crowd even on the
lake. Wondering
if these boats was in the storm?
*Matthew 8:23 Now when He got into a boat,
His disciples followed Him.
The Galilean Fishing Boat (see picture)
In 1986 a Roman-era fishing boat was discovered in the mud during a drought when the lake was at a record
low. It was 26 ft long and 7 ft wide; of Lebanese cedar and oak. It was radiocarbon dated 85 B.C. - 15 A.D., and thus appears typical
of the Gospel period.
After careful chemical treatments, it has been placed on display in a specially built facility,
Yigal Allon Museum, since 1995.
Mark 4:37 And
a great windstorm arose, and the
waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. (ready to sink)
The resulting windstorm stirs up great waves
which make boating extremely dangerous on the lake. The warm tropical air from the lake's
surface rises and meets the colder air from the nearby hills. The resulting
turbulence stirs up great waves which make boating extremely dangerous.
It was night
when the storm arose. The lake was and is still subject to sudden storms, but
very few boats are seen there now.
*Luke 8:23 But as they sailed He fell
asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with
water, and were in jeopardy.
*Matthew 8:24 And suddenly a great tempest
arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was
asleep.
Mark 4:38 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?"
Jesus was soundly asleep when they were in danger. The boat was full of water, and ready to sink
and was going down at once to the bottom.
On a pillow - probably means a little bed, or hammock, such as are common in small
vessels. The mention of Jesus being asleep
on a pillow shows His true humanity. He was fully human and needed food and
rest just as all people do
Did Jesus know the storm was coming?
Of course He did. Can Jesus be
trusted in the storms of life? We
have to answer this ourselves.
For
myself, Yes, I can depend on Jesus, by His word.
These Apostles were not “landlubbers” unfamiliar with these waters: these were professional fishermen well acquainted with seamanship and the
storms characteristic of this area. This storm terrified them. Some believe that this was a supernaturally induced storm, not an normal storm.
Notice, the disciples were not praying but complaining,
They woke Jesus and said, save us or we are lost, you sleep while we are in
such danger, you have no concern for us.
Just as Satan raised the storms that destroyed
Job’s property and children, he may have been trying to destroy Christ before He could go to the Cross
or even across the lake.
Job 1:18-19 While he was still speaking,
another also came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and
drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, (19) and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck
the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are
dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"
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.
“Rebuked”?
Interesting term, Implies, it happen
suddenly.
Peace, be
still. Mark alone uses these words.
*Luke 8:24 And they came to Him and
awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" Then He arose
and rebuked the wind and the raging
of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.
*Matthew 8:26-27 But He said to them,
"Why are you fearful, O you of
little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and
there was a great calm. (27) So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this
be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
We find Jesus rebuked the wind and spoke to the sea and
also we find He rebuke the disciples for their lack of faith. Jesus statement was doubtless addressed to Satan, power of
the air,” how the storm had arisen.
Wind ceased: Jesus' command over the wind
and the sea demonstrates His full and complete deity. Only God the Creator can
calm wind and sea by His word of command that was given to both elements at
once. As soon as Jesus spoke the
word, at once, the wind ceased, and
the sea was calmed: a clear proof that Jesus is the Lord.
Mark 4:40 But
He said to them, "Why are you so
fearful? How is it that you
have no faith?"
Why are you so
fearful: Strong correction. Jesus was with them in person, whose power to keep and
preserve them, they had no room to question, when they reflected on the
miracles they had so lately seen performed by him:
Notice
Jesus defers this rebuke till He had first removed the danger, in the midst of
which the disciples would not have been in a state to listen to anything.
You
have no faith: Having already had such proofs of Jesus unlimited power
and goodness
and the miracles the disciple had seen performed by Jesus. Jesus
numerous miracles. Mark, in many instances, brings out the weakness of the
disciples, a significant fact, if we remember that Peter was his authority.
Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to
one another, "Who can this be,
that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"
*Luke 8:25 But He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And
they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be?
For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!" (their
faith?)
They feared exceedingly: Did they fear
the storm or what Jesus did. This
seems to have been the language of all in the boat
This command
over the wind and sea was a new revelation of Christ even to his disciples. What about later when Jesus raises Jairus
daughter.
Indeed! Can we imagine being in a life threating
storm and Jesus ends it. And the storm
stops, just like it started. They were Still fairly new around Jesus.
Jesus completed the lesson
and then gave His disciples an unexpected examination! They had listened
to the Word of God, and that Word should have increased
their faith.
*Romans
10:17 So then faith comes
by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Who can this be: Jesus could command the wind and the waves at
will as well as demons and drive out all diseases and speak such mysteries in
parables. This incident opened the eyes
and minds of the disciples to who Jesus was.
Unfortunately, they failed the test! It is not unusual
for terrible storms to come suddenly
on the Sea of Galilee,
although this one may have been satanic in origin—the
word “rebuked” is the same word Jesus used when dealing
with the demons in
chapter 1. Sudden storm in our lives.
Perhaps Satan was trying to keep Jesus from arriving at Gadara, where He would deliver
two demon from Satan’s
power. Was this storm cause by Satan.
An old saying: They were getting the message...“He was crucified on a cross of wood; Yet He made the hill on which it stood!”
The storms of life can come suddenly on us; but none take
Jesus by surprise. There is no life where sorrow
does not come. However,
earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
*Isaiah
43:2,3a When you pass through the waters, I'll
be with you; and through the rivers, they won't sweep over you. When you walk
through fire you won't be scorched, and the flame won't set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel,
your Savior;
It doesn't say "if," but
"when." They will happen.
It’s inevitable and unavoidable. But God still reminds us in His Word that He
will be with us in the midst of it all.
We should
remember that the presence of Jesus on the boat did not keep the storm from
coming. Faith is taking Jesus at His
word. Do we really understand who Jesus
really is. Is there anything more
important in my life.
Storms
can come for several
reasons and we let’s remember what the Apostle Paul tells us as we come
to the end of Mark 4.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No
temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is
faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but
with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to
bear it.
We will start chapter 5
next time.
Jesus boat pictures
Jesus boat pictures
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