HEY PAPA, LET’S PASS OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE

Having grandchildren reminds me of how trusting they are of their parents and grandparents.  No matter what the situation is, they just put their complete trust on you.  As long as Lucas has his parents or grandparents with him, he has no fear – of anything!  He will jump into a boat and eagerly want to get across the lake to the other side.  So, who cares if the boat has holes in it?  As long as “papa” is with him, he has nothing to fear – right?  I mean, after all, what could possibly go wrong?

Reminds me of the disciples – on a boat – with Jesus – in the midst of a storm, in Mark 4:35-41.

“³⁵ And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. ³⁶ 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.  ³⁷ And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. ³⁸ 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? ³⁹ 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. ⁴⁰ And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? ⁴¹ And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

So here are the disciples, who have walked with Christ, who have been taught personally by the greatest Teacher of them all, and the minute a storm comes up, they cry out “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” 

Understand that many of these men grew up on the Sea of Galilee, they were fishermen by trade.  They knew what to do in the midst of a storm and I believe they did everything they knew to do before they finally went to the Lord and cried out “MASTER.”

Now, I can’t help but wonder if it would have been much easier for them if they would have just went to the LORD in the first place.  Maybe He should have been their first resource rather than their final recourse!

Look folks – Jesus is asleep!

• The wind is howling across that ship;
• The waves are crashing into that ship.

AND JESUS IS ASLEEP!

• The ship is full of water;
• It should be sinking.

AND BY THE WAY, a ship full of water is supposed to sink isn’t it?  But this ship didn’t sink.  And I might just add, there wasn’t enough water in the whole Sea of Galilee to sink this Ship.  WHY?  Because Jesus said, “LET US PASS OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE!”  He gave them His Word!

• When this ship was rocking back and forth – it didn’t wake Jesus!
• When the waves were crashing into the ship – it didn’t wake Jesus!
• When the ship was full of water – it didn’t wake Jesus!

But when they Cried “MASTER,” verse 39 said “And He arose!”

• It only took one cry!
• It only took one plea!
• It only took one call!

THEN “He arose and rebuked the wind and the sea and said “PEACE BE STILL.”

And the Bible says, “There was a great calm!”

Now folks, don’t miss this:  When the disciples were sitting there looking at each other in amazement, they didn’t say:

• What manner of storm is this;
• What manner of waves is this;

No friends, they said, “WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS”

I think they were shouting “What a God!  What a God!”  And folks, I am here to tell you today:

• Our God is bigger than your storms;
• Our God is bigger than the waves crashing into your ship!
• Our God is bigger than your valleys!

Father, give me the child like faith of my grandchildren, to trust you NO MATTER WHAT!