Scripture Passage
Mark 4:35-41
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Sermon Script
In 2025, we will have a monthly theme for our Sunday worship. We did something similar back in December, with Advent. The themes will cover different aspects of our faith journey. The message for each Sunday will tie into the month’s theme. Having these monthly themes will keep things focused for us.
The theme for January is, “Following Jesus”. The very basics of our faith. Who are we as Christians if we don’t follow Jesus? So, it is very fitting to begin the new year with this particular theme.
What does it mean to follow Jesus? When we think of “following”, we might think of going wherever the other person goes. Moving physically in the same direction. But if that’s the case, it will be hard for us to follow Jesus today. He isn’t physically with us, like the way he was with his disciples.
Following Jesus isn’t to be understood so literally. It means something much more significant.
To follow Jesus means to learn from Jesus. That’s what the disciples did. They didn’t just follow Jesus on foot. They spent every day with him, learning at his feet. That is why being a disciple means someone who is learning.
But it doesn’t end there. Following Jesus goes one step further.
To follow Jesus is ultimately about learning who Jesus is. Not just his teachings – but the teacher himself.
For the disciples, learning about Jesus took a very long time. His teachings alone were hard to understand at times. But their greatest stumbling block proved to be understanding who their teacher was. Some – like Peter – had no problem saying that Jesus was the ‘Messiah’ and the ‘Son of God’. But they didn’t know what they were really saying.
That’s what it is like to follow Jesus. It is a lifelong journey. It takes time. It is not just knowing with our head what he said and taught. Through different challenges and circumstances in our journey, we come to see and understand who Jesus is, bit by bit. Our ‘knowledge’ of Jesus deepens as we follow him. It becomes real for us.
In their early days with Jesus, the disciples learned something important about him. It wasn’t that he was this young but wise and charismatic rabbi. Neither was it that he was this gifted individual who can perform miracles and acts of healing. They learned that Jesus was their Rock.
The disciples didn’t learn this during the Sermon on the Mount. They learned it while they were out at sea with Jesus.
In today’s passage, we see the disciples caught up in a dangerous, life-or-death kind of situation. Mark paints the picture for us with this sentence—
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
Mark 4:37
Sheer TERROR and PANIC. The disciples were scared for their lives. They had no time to remain calm and composed. The only person that was totally calm during this storm was none other than their teacher – Jesus.
Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.
Mark 4:38
The disciples could not understand him. Who would have, in this chaotic situation?
The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
Mark 4:38
DON’T YOU CARE? We can totally identify with what the disciples are saying. There are times when we can’t help but wonder if God really cares.
In the storm, the disciples could not see a way out. They thought it was all over. But it was right at that moment that they experienced something extraordinary—
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Mark 4:39
All the noise vanished. SILENCE. Everything became completely still and calm. Simply because of what Jesus said. Ironically enough, this scared the disciples even more!
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Mark 4:41
Just when the disciples thought the storm was the greatest threat to their life and well-being, they encountered Jesus who was much greater than the storm and had the power to calm it. They experienced their teacher being the solid Rock of their life. Afterwards, they saw Jesus in a completely new light.
Last week, Rev. Kim reflected on our church theme for 2025: “BE THE ROCK”. Being the rock is to be NOT easily shaken by our circumstances. God has called us who are flimsy and shaky to be a solid rock. To be the rock, we must build our identity on God who is our Rock. There is no other way. Only in God, we can be strongly rooted as a person.
Hannah experienced this about God. The book of Samuel begins with the birth of prophet Samuel. His mother, Hannah, faced her own storms. She was rejected and ridiculed for not being able to bear children. But with God’s help, she was able to bring Samuel into the world. With Samuel began a new era for Israel. After his birth, she prayed these words—
There is no one holy like the Lord;
1 Samuel 2:2
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
Jesus came to reveal God who is our Rock. That is what the disciples experienced. That is what we experience when we follow Jesus. We see that there is no Rock like our God.
Don’t try to be your own rock. Let Jesus be your Rock.
We are so easily influenced and rocked by the smallest things. Our thoughts and feelings can run wild all of a sudden. In trying to deal with them on our own, we get more overwhelmed. We lose sight of Jesus who is right there with us.
Do not worry about anything. You have nothing to be afraid of. We have Jesus who is our Rock. No challenge or hardship we face will be able to swallow us up. Even though things may be stormy and raging, God will bring stillness and strength to our hearts.
That is PEACE. Power to be calm not in the absence of problems, but in the midst of our problems. When we follow Jesus, we receive the gift of peace. Towards the end of their time together, Jesus said to the disciples—
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
From peace comes strength. From peace comes confidence. From peace comes joy. It is peace that makes us whole and like a rock. When we are at peace, we can be a rock for others.
It is already the 3rd week of the new year. You began the second half of your school year this week. For many of you, finals are coming up soon.
In all things, walk with Jesus.
Follow him.
Get to know him.
It is a blessing to have him with us and by our side in our journey.
Experience Jesus being the Rock of your life.
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