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Calming the Storm

By Joe Boot/ October 23, 2016

Series  Mark: The King and His Kingdom

Context  Westminster Chapel Toronto

Topic  Kingdom Of God

Scripture  Mark 4:35-5:20

The focus of Scripture is the redemption of all of life in the person of Jesus. The miracles related in the gospels are designed to advance the redemptive story.

Scripture: Mark 4:35-5:20

Sermon Notes:

  1. Mark's gospel has been emphasizing the lordship of Jesus and the nature and growth of the kingdom of God. Jesus has bound Satan and now His kingdom grows to fill the whole earth.
  2. Jesus delivers us from all our fears. As King and Priest He redeems us from slavery to sin, Satan and death.
  3. Because our world lies under the curse of sin, it is often a threatening place. Our society is safety obsessed; but despite all of the laws and safety measures we often do not feel safe.
  4. The disciples didn't yet fully comprehend who Jesus was, but they saw in Him hope for the restoration of their true humanity.
  5. Like the disciples in the boat, our faith is weak; we doubt whether the Lord will deliver us from each new threat.
  6. The sovereign Lord silences the storm with a word (Mark 4:39). Christ will do everything that will serve the redemption of our lives (cf. Rom. 8:31-39).
  7. The focus of all of Scripture is the redemption of all of life in the person of Jesus, i.e., the Kingdom of God. The miracles related in the gospels are designed to advance the redemptive story.
  8. Rational, scientific explanations of miracles are not appropriate in apologetics. We don't have rational insight into the ordinary outworking of creation (such as the nature of energy and the mechanisms of life), so why should we demand it when Jesus calms a storm?
  9. Miracles are extraordinary outworkings of God's regular governing and ordering of His creation.
  10. Prayer opens up God's holding and healing power over His creation. We are far too quick to restrict Christ's delivering power to other eras. That is to surrender to the rationalist spirit of our age.
  11. We often miss the grace and power of God manifest in the ordinary operation of His creation. Miracles are not contradictions of nature, but less ordinary demonstrations of God’s grace and power.
  12. Miracles are indications of history's root and direction. Thus, in the case of the resurrection, it was impossible for death to hold Jesus.
  13. Jesus heals the demon-possessed man, restoring his created humanity.
  14. Many people open themselves up to the demons so much that they lose all self-control. People will be led either by the Holy Spirit or by unclean things.
  15. Satan has a certain influence over wicked people; we have a calling to declare God's deliverance.
  16. Jesus' deliverance gets to the root of our lives and puts us in our right minds (cf. Rom. 12:1-2).
  17. The possessed man was set free to declare God's grace to the whole countryside. Likewise we need to tell others of the grace of God which sets us free from sin and all its consequences.

Application Questions:

  1. In light of the desperate need of the world, how do our personal fears stack up?
  2. What do people fear? How does Jesus deliver us from those fears?
  3. What are the implications of Jesus' control over the storm?
  4. How should we understand miracles in light of God's regular upholding of all things?