shadows a person at work

Why are you fearful?

Christ and the apostles in the storm on the sea of Galilee. Wellcome V0034903

 

The main scripture for today comes from Mark 4.  But to look at it in context, it is good to mention a few things that happened prior to what is recorded in Mark, chapter 4.

In Mark Chapter 1, it is recorded, that Jesus calls disciples, casts out a devil, and heals a fever.

Mark 1:34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

 

He heals a leper.

Mark 1:39  And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

 

In Mark, chapter 2, more works are recorded.

Mark 2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

 

Jesus deals with Pharisees and teaches.  He continues to deal with them as recorded in Mark chapter 3.   Jesus continues to heal.

Mark 3:4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

 

He continues to heal and deliver.  Jesus ordains his disciples and gives them power to heal and cast out devils.

Mark 3:10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

 

Jesus continues to teach.

By Mark 4, we see more recording of the teachings of Jesus.

Mark 4:33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

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?

 

It is important to realize that what is recorded in the New Testament is a representative sample of what Jesus did on a regular basis.

We have a term “shadow” in the context of “shadow a person at work”.  If a person “shadows a person at work”, he or she follows the footsteps of the person that they are shadowing  and finds out what the person does on a regular basis.  It does not mean that that is the only work that is ever done.  It is simply the work of one representative day.

The Apostle John, who wrote the book of John, one of the four gospels (the four gospels in the New Testament are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), John the Apostle said this:

John 21:24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

 

In other words, Jesus did a lot more than is recorded in the Bible.  We wouldn’t be able to carry a Bible in hand if everything were recorded.  But we are told enough.

The background is needed to show that this was not the disciples’ “first day on the job” so to speak.  A lot has happened.  They have seen and heard Jesus do a lot of teaching, healing, and delivering.  They themselves have been given authority to heal and cast out devils.

So, to repeat part of chapter 4:

Mark 4:35 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?

 

Why did he rebuke them?

I believe it is because that by now they should have begun to comprehend that he wanted them to be actively using the authority he gave them.  It was time to grow up.  Why didn’t they rebuke the wind and command it to be still?

Not only did they have the example of Jesus taking authority over sickness and demons, as Jews, they also knew of the miracles God had done in times past, through servants of God, operating under the authority of God.

  • Moses with his rod opened the Red Sea.
  • Joshua and the priests parted the Jordan River and walked across.
  • Joshua commanded the sun and moon to stand still so that a battle could be finished.
  • Elijah stopped the rain for three years, and then started it again.

There had been “weather miracles” in the past.  Why didn’t they do something about the weather?

I think that is why Jesus rebuked them.

The work was theirs to do, if they had operated in faith.

Mark 16:20 They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.

 


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