Lessons 69-71

LESSON 69 - Mark 4:35-41

Mark 4:35-41 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." 36Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38But 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?" 39Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" 41And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

Matthew 8:23-27 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Luke 8:22-25 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. 23But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. 24And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

I have included all three gospel's accounts of this crossing to give you an opportunity to compare them and see a true picture of what took place. See if you can answer these questions from the scripture and you'll be able to check them in the next lesson.

1.What did Jesus say to His disciples?

a. What did this mean that Jesus knew?

b. Where had He gotten the information?

c. Why was He going to the other side of the lake? John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 5:19,36 19Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: v.19 the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works ... I do,..

d. Did any others accompany them on the trip?

e. How many disciples were with Jesus?

2.What happened during the crossing to upset the disciples?

a. How bad was it?

b. Where was Jesus?

c. What was He doing?

3. Jesus wasn't worried, but the disciples were.

a. How do we know that?

b. Whom do they go to see?

b. In these accounts we see 3 reactions from different disciples.

What is the difference in their reactions to their jeopardy?

4. Why did Jesus speak both to the wind and the water? Why wasn't stopping the winds enough?

5. Why did Jesus criticize their faith or lack of it?

a. What connection did that have with what He had taught them previously?

6. The disciples went from being afraid of the storm and drowning to being afraid of Jesus.

a. These 3 accounts state 2 reactions of the disciples to the evidence of the amazing power of Jesus.

What were they?

b. What does each show about the speaker?

7. This purpose for this crossing of Galilee is shown in chapter 5 of Mark, verses 1-20. What was the purpose of this trip? (We'll look at this passage more in a later lesson.)

LESSON 70 - MARK 4:35-41 (CONTINUED)

The answers to the questions from the previous lesson will be contained in this one.

This passage illustrates the principle that after every lesson, there is an opportunity for application, to see how well the student listened and understood the precepts. In a math class, students are presented the concepts and examples, then are assigned problems to determine how well they can apply those concepts. In the same way, the disciples, as well as us today, were taught about living the life of faith and then were given a practical way to show their understanding of that truth.

When Jesus said to His disciples, "Let 's go to the other side," He wasn't giving a suggestion to them. He wasn't hoping that would be the outcome of their excursion. He was telling them their future. They were going to arrive on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. He knew that He and they would get there safely, because the Holy Spirit had already told Jesus to make the trip.

Since Jesus did not reveal a reason for their trip, I don't think He had been told why He was to make the journey, just that He was to go. (He could not use His omniscience which He had as God the Word before He came to Earth. He had laid all those powers down, limiting Himself voluntarily, in order to come to Earth as a Man and demonstrate what a Man filled with the Holy Spirit could do, walking in faith and obedience to God His Father.)

Jesus obeyed what had been revealed to Him. He told His disciples what He had heard. In speaking out the Word of God given to Him, He was testifying of His faith in what He had been told.

Principle: We need to speak and testify of what God has revealed to us through His Word.

P-2: If we only know one step of God's direction, then we need to obey that one step. God will reveal more as we move forward in obedience.

In obedience to His Father's direction through the Holy Spirit, Jesus got in a boat and, being tired from the long day, He moved to a protected area at the back (stern) and took a nap.

We don't know how many disciples were in the boat with Him. We are told that other boats of followers accompanied them.

The boat in which Jesus rode may have been a large fishing vessel belonging to one of the men with Jesus. The disciples started rowing, or more probably they put up a sail to speed the boat across the miles of water. (At its greatest, the Sea of Galilee, which is really a fresh-water lake, is about 8 miles wide.)

Then there arose a great storm. The Sea of Galilee is known for the sudden storms that sweep down on it from over the mountains around it. It was such a terrible storm that the waves were swamping the boat. The disciples, including some that had fished for a living and who were familiar with stormy waters, were afraid that the boat was going to sink. No doubt they were bailing water for all they were worth, yet they were losing the battle. It did not occur to them to speak to the winds and the waves to cease the uproar. It did occur to them to go to Jesus.

At least 3 men went to Jesus and awakened Him. One man said, "We perish." He simply stated the problem, although he assumed the worst. Another said, "Lord, save us; we perish." He believed Jesus could help them. He believed Jesus was the answer to their problem. The third man is the most troubling. He said, "Carest Thou not that we perish?" It sounds as if he were thinking Jesus didn't understand their danger or he was finding fault with the fact that Jesus wasn't helping bail water, wasn't worrying with the rest of them, and Jesus wasn't afraid. He may have even been criticizing the character of Jesus, as if Jesus didn't care about them enough to help them.

Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind. In a later account in Mark 6:45-50 of Jesus on the water again, He does not rebuke the wind. What's the difference?

One difference may be the cause of the storms. Jesus had the gift of discernment of spirits. He could discern whether something was generated by God, by humans, or by the devil.

In Mark 4 Jesus rebuked the wind. He would not rebuke a storm that God had caused. However, Jesus would rebuke a storm which was caused by the devil, who hoped to torment them and scare all of them, including Jesus. However, Jesus didn't become fearful; He was full of faith in what the Holy Spirit had told Him about going to the other side. So He rebuked the wind, knowing that the storm was the devil's attempt to cause Him and the disciples to disbelieve God's Word and to destroy their lives.

P: Christians have been given the authority and power over the enemy. Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out demons...

Jesus responded to those who had come to awaken Him by asking 3 questions: "why do you have no faith," "why are you afraid, o ye of little faith," and "where is your faith?"

He was revealing their conditions. The one that had questioned His character had no faith in Him. The one in Luke's account that had asked Him to save them had a little faith. When Jesus asked, "Where is your faith?" to the third disciple, He may have been saying, "You could have rebuked the wind yourself. Your faith in the Word that God had given to Me before we left the shore had power to accomplish what was needed." Jesus applied His faith in the Word of God to change the circumstances. He wanted them to see that they could do that, too, if they believed the Word of God without doubting, as He did. The ability and power to accomplish what God tells us is incorporated in the Word that is given. With the Word, when it is mixed with faith, comes the power.

Not only did He speak to the storm, but Jesus also spoke to the waves. He said, "Peace, be still." Why? Even though the winds had ceased, the waves would have continued to be boisterous for a while. By speaking to the waves, He caused them to calm, thereby keeping the waves from continuing to fill the boat.

The disciples had heard the teaching of the 4 kinds of ground, one of which was hardened to the Word of God. Another was affected adversely by affliction, and the third's fruitfulness was choked by the cares of the world and other things. Jesus had warned them about how they heeded the Word of God. He told them they needed to grow in faith. Here they had an opportunity to apply that teaching, yet it seemed to take them unawares. They were full of fear, instead of full of faith. Their hearts were not good ground, so as to produce an abundant harvest of faithworks in them. Jesus was the only One Who had learned the lesson of trusting what God says, no matter what the circumstances may look like or how long they go on. His faith in the Word He had been given and His corresponding action saved them.

The disciples marveled at what they had seen and yet were afraid. They had never seen anyone command the obedience of the wind and the waves. Some wondered, "Who can this be?" Others exclaimed, "What manner of man is this...?" Their eyes had been opened to see that Jesus was not just a Prophet, not just a Healer, as great as those offices were. Jesus was more.

If you would like to read the companion passages to get additional information, see Matt.8:28-34 and Luke 8:26-37. You'll notice in one of these that two maniacs are mentioned. Some think this was a different occurrence from the Mk 5; some think there were two men who were possessed, but the account only records the facts as if it were one, since there would be no need to say the same thing twice.

The Gadarenes were on the southeastern side of the Sea of Galilee.

First we will do a description study from this passage. Find all the words and phrases about the man Jesus was sent to help.

A. Before he met Jesus, the man:

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

9. 10.

B. After he was delivered from the demons, the man was:

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

 C. Who made the difference in this man's life?

D. What did Jesus do to deliver this man from the demons that tormented him?

1. What does that reveal about His words?

2. Do Christians have the same authority over demons? See Mark 16:17, Luke 10: 17-20, 9:1

E. The demons revealed several things.

1. What title did they use for Jesus?

2. Legion represented as many as 6000 demons. If that many occupied one body, what may be said about their size, the individual power of these?

3. What did their words show that they knew about Him and their future?

4. In Luke 8:31 The demons requested to be spared from being sent to "the deep." What did that show about them?

5. What did the demons want to do to the man? To the pigs?

F. Why do you suppose Jesus gave the demons permission to go into the swine? What did it reveal about the demons and about the owners of the pig business. v17

G. In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus showed that He had been given power over nature. In Mark 5:1-20, Jesus shows again that He has power over demons. In what other passages in Mark, have we seen Jesus' power over demons?

H. What applications does this account have to your life?

LESSON 71 - Mark 5:1-20

Answers to the questions in the last lesson

A.1. lived in caves of tombs...We'd call it a cemetery...outside the city walls

2. had an unclean spirit

3. supernaturally strong

4. could break chains and ropes

5. didn't respond to people's entreaty

6. restless night and day

7. crying (Greek text indicates he was crying from fear and pain.)

8. cutting self

9. tormented

10. insane v15

11. didn't wear clothes v15, Luke 8:27

12. had gotten progressively worse

13.Jewish (See Matt 10:5-6)

B.1. free of demonic spirits

2. not restless

3. clothed

4. in right mind

5. desired to learn from Jesus

6. wanted to travel with Jesus v18

7. obedient v19-20

8. evangelistic

9. enthusiastic, covered

10. city area.

C. Jesus

D. He spoke the Word with authority, knowing He had the power to make them leave the man.

E.1. Son of most high God

2. One demon is very tiny. Its power is small, unless it is united with many others. See Matthew 12:45

3. knew torment was in their future

4. Afraid

F. They wanted to be attached to and inhabit a body of flesh. They like being on the Earth better than being tormented by other demons in hell.

b. Satan wants to destroy everything that God has made.

G. Mk 1:23-27,over an unclean spirit; Mk 1:32-34 freeing people of demon possession, 3:11-12.

The evil spirits indicated that they knew Jesus was their Judge, and that they would receive torment at some time in the future. See Matt. 25:41, Revelation 20:10

The demons wanted to kill the man and the pigs. Demons will always try to destroy man and all that God has created.

Now let's look at the sequence of events. Jesus was told by the Holy Spirit to go to this area. He obeyed. He saw this naked, crazy man running toward Him. It didn't scare Jesus, because He recognized that He has been sent to help this man. The man fell down before Jesus (Lk 8:28). The leader of the evil spirits in this man spoke to Jesus, calling Him the Son of the most high God, begging Him not to torment them before the time (Mt 8:29) of judgment. (Mt 25:41, Rev 20:10, Phil 2:10) The demons gave Jesus more reverence and submission than most people do. In Mk 4:41, the disciples asked, "what manner of Man is this" of Jesus. In Mk 5:7 the demons knew the answer to that question and were afraid of His power. They knew they must obey Him.

Notice that the swine were quietly feeding before the demons entered them (v 11). Next they are running violently and killing themselves by drowning in the sea (v13). Demons caused their death.

There has been much discussion as to why Jesus gave the demons permission to enter the pigs. Perhaps the best explanation is the one that the people around Decapolis worshipped Jupiter by sacrificing pigs to him. If so, Jesus decimated their supply by that one action.

The swineherders fled to the city and told the owners and others (v14) about the loss of the herd. A multitude of people went out to see if it was true, and they found the maniac no longer crazy, but clothed, sitting and in his right mind. The people got scared and, instead of beseeching Jesus to stay with them and free them all from the devil's grasp, they asked Him to leave their country, showing they were crazier than the maniac had been! By the way, this was not the first time the people of the Decapolis area had heard of Jesus. Many had come to Him while He was ministering in Galilee (Matt 4:24-25). Jesus returned to the boat, after telling the healed man to declare to his family and friends what God had done for him. The man obeyed to such an extent that a multitude came to Jesus the next time He visited the area. Jesus came back to the area of Decapolis and healed another man and perhaps many in the crowd there (Mk 7:31-37).

Some lessons to be seen in Mark 5:1-20

The grace of God: Jesus was sent across the sea to the country of the Gadarenes so that He could save one man. God would go to that extent for you, in whatever you need, not because you deserve it or have earned it, but because God is full of grace and love.

The man and Jesus had a divine appointment to meet. See the people you meet and the opportunities you have as divine appointments.

The one man Jesus saved would, in turn, bring many to Christ. This is God's way of multiplication.

In saving this man, Jesus brought freedom to a captive, life to the virtually dead, restoration to him, his family, and their living. His salvation eventually was the vehicle to bring others to salvation in Jesus Christ. Our lives are to be the same.