Lessons from the Midst of the Storm

Mark 6 puts the disciples right in the middle of a storm after a long, full day of serving the Lord. Jesus had sent them out two by two, given them power, used them to preach repentance, heal the sick, and cast out devils. The disciples had seen God do big things, but they had also gotten tired. The crowds kept coming, the day was far spent, and then five thousand people needed to be fed.

Jesus took five loaves and two fishes and fed the multitude until everybody was filled. The disciples had to keep working, organizing people by hundreds and fifties, passing out food, and cleaning up twelve baskets afterward. Jesus then constrained them to get in the ship and go to the other side. That word means there was no delay, no hesitation, no option to quit because they were worn out. Jesus knew they needed to keep going.

The ship entered the sea while Jesus went up into a mountain to pray. The wind became contrary, and the disciples found themselves toiling in the dark. Mark shows that people can be right in the will of God and still go through storms. These men had obeyed, served, sacrificed, and stayed faithful, yet they still faced a hard night on the water.

Storms also come to people who are running from God. Jonah faced a storm because God was changing his direction. Noah’s flood showed a storm of correction. The disciples’ storm shows that God can use hardship for perfection, maturity, and growth. The storm itself calls for honest questions: Is this making the heart better or bitter? Is there growth, adjustment, and a better spirit in the middle of what cannot be changed?

Jesus saw the disciples toiling before they ever reached the other side. Christ came walking on the sea, spoke peace into their fear, entered the ship, and caused the wind to cease. The disciples later stood amazed at what God had done. The storm did not mean Jesus had forgotten them. The storm became part of the road to the other side.

Christ calls tired servants to keep going, put one foot in front of the other, and cry out when the waves are too much. God’s people who are struggling in His will can run to Him for help. Those running from God must quit running, get right with God, and call upon the best Friend they will ever have.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Faithful servants still face hard storms The disciples were not out of God’s will when the wind became contrary. They had obeyed Christ, served people, and watched miracles happen, yet the storm still came. Hardship does not automatically prove that something is wrong spiritually. Sometimes a storm meets a person right in the middle of faithful obedience. [50:39]
• 2. Storms can bring direction, correction, growth Jonah’s storm changed his direction, and Noah’s flood brought correction upon corruption. The disciples’ storm became a place where Christ matured their faith. A hard season ought to bring honest questions before God: Is the heart growing, adjusting, and becoming more like what God wants? Bitterness wastes pain, but humility can receive its lesson. [55:17]
• 3. Jesus sees the toiling before rescue Jesus remained on the mountain praying while the disciples struggled on the sea. Christ saw every stroke of the oar and every contrary wind before He stepped onto the water. His delay was not neglect, and His presence was never absent from their need. The dark night did not hide the disciples from His eyes. [48:21]
• 4. Cry out instead of running away The disciples cried out when they saw Jesus, and Christ answered them with, “It is I. Be not afraid.” Those weary in God’s will need not pretend that the storm is easy; they can call upon Him. Those running from God must not sit like a lump on a log and refuse conviction. Both kinds of people need to run to the Lord.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [26:32] - Lessons From the Midst of the Storm
• [32:29] - The Ship in the Midst of the Sea
• [34:52] - Jesus Constrains the Disciples
• [36:29] - Sent Out to Serve and Trust God
• [38:56] - Compassion for the Waiting Multitude
• [41:08] - Feeding the Five Thousand
• [46:04] - Get in the Ship and Keep Going
• [48:21] - Jesus Prays and Sees Them Toiling
• [50:19] - Storms in the Will of God
• [55:17] - Storms of Direction, Correction, and Perfection
• [59:36] - Cry Out to God in the Storm
• [62:28] - Looking Back at What God Has Done

Bible Reading

Mark 6:45-51
“Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, 'Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.' And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,” [32:45]

Matthew 4:1
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” [54:14]

James 1:2-4
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” [33:40]

Observation questions

1. What had the disciples been doing throughout Mark 6 before Jesus told them to get into the ship, and what details show that they were likely tired?
2. In Mark 6:45-51, what actions did Jesus take while the disciples were on the sea, and what did He do when He came to them? [48:15]
3. What does the passage show about the disciples’ location and condition when Jesus saw them toiling in the wind? [48:49]
4. According to James 1:2-4, what can trials produce in a believer’s life when they are endured with faith?

Interpretation questions

1. Why is it important that the disciples were obeying Jesus when they encountered the contrary wind? What wrong conclusion about hardship does this correct? [50:39]
2. Jesus sent the disciples ahead while He went up to pray, and He saw them struggling before He came to them. What does this reveal about Christ’s awareness of a believer’s hardship? [48:33]
3. How can a person wisely consider whether a difficult season is bringing direction, correction, or maturity without assuming every hardship is punishment for sin? [55:17]
4. James says that trials can lead to patience and spiritual maturity. What would it look like for hardship to make a person better rather than bitter? [56:55]

Application questions

1. Is there a storm or burden in life that has caused discouragement because it seemed unfair after trying to serve God faithfully? How does the disciples’ storm help reshape that response? [53:35]
2. When exhaustion sets in, what are some faithful “next steps” that can help a person keep going instead of quietly giving up on the responsibilities God has given? [52:24]
3. In a present hardship, is there any attitude, habit, relationship, or area of obedience that God may be calling for adjustment? What would a humble response look like this week? [57:03]
4. Has a difficult season made the heart more patient and dependent on God, or more bitter and withdrawn? What is one honest prayer that could be brought to the Lord about that? [58:34]
5. When the waves feel too strong, is the usual response to cry out to God, to carry the burden alone, or to pull away from Him? What could it look like to cry out to Him specifically this week? [01:00:55]
6. Is there an area where someone may be running from God rather than following Him? What step of repentance or obedience would turn that person back toward the Lord? [01:01:58]