Scripture Reading : Mark 4:25-41
Theme : Jesus Calms a Storm
- Fear of Death. A few of the disciples were fishermen by trade, before they followed Jesus. They would have seen many storms before when they were out fishing at sea. Based on their experience, this storm was so severe that they believed they would not make it back to shore alive. Jesus, in contrast, was able to sleep peacefully in the midst of the storm. Jesus was extremely tired after all the things He had done to serve the people, and Mark noted that He was not even able to eat at times (Mark 3:20). However, to be able to sleep in the midst of a severe and life-threatening storm demands more than physical tiredness, but supreme trust in God the Father. The disciples did not have such faith, and so they feared for their lives.
- Faith in Jesus. The Apostles were given authority to cast out demons (Mark 3:15), and they witnessed Jesus healing the sick and performing all the miracles. Yet, when it came to a life-threatening situation, they were still fearful. Jesus rebuked the Apostles for their lack of faith in Him.
- Fear of Jesus. Jesus demonstrated that He had authority over the physical realm by healing the sick. He also demonstrated that He had authority over the spiritual realm by casting out demons. Now, He demonstrated that He had authority over the realm of nature by calming the storm. The disciples were thus filled with fear of Jesus.
Praying the Scripture
- Do we allow our life experiences to distract us, or do we trust in the Lord? Or maybe we trust in our own experience, that we know better than God? Pray that we will trust in God and not depend on our own wisdom in all circumstances (Proverbs 3:5-8).
- We can claim to have faith in Jesus in different circumstances, but the real test of our faith in Jesus comes when our lives are threatened. Let us pray that we will be willing to “take our cross” and to give up our lives to follow Jesus.
- The Apostles asked, “Who then is this?” (Mark 4:41) Do we believe that Jesus is the Son of God? After reading the Bible and seeing that Jesus had authority over illnesses, demons and nature, we should believe and not doubt. Pray that we will place our trust in Jesus and not doubt in our hearts.
经文：马可福音4:25-41
主题：耶稣平息风浪
- 害怕死亡。一些门徒在跟从耶稣以前是渔夫。他们在海上扑鱼时必经过许多风浪。以他们的经验而谈，这暴风是如此猖狂，叫他们相信自己是无法生存的。相反的，耶稣在风暴中竟能安宁沉睡。在事奉的一切后，甚至时而无法吃饭（3:20），祂确实感到非常疲惫。可是，能在猖狂及致命的暴风中沉睡并非只因肉体的疲乏，而是对天父的全然信靠。门徒们并没有这信心，所以他们为自己的性命感到害怕。
- 相信耶稣。使徒们已领受赶鬼的权柄（3:15），也见证了耶稣医治及行神迹的能力。然而，遇上致命关头时，他们仍然胆怯。耶稣因使徒们对祂信心的缺乏而斥责他们。
- 惧怕耶稣。耶稣藉着医治展现了祂对物质界的权柄。祂藉着赶鬼展现了祂对属灵界的权柄。现在，祂藉着平静风暴展现祂对自然界的权柄。因此，众门徒都对耶稣大大地惧怕。
用经文祷告
- 我们是否容许自己生命中的经历分散我们的注意力，还是专心信靠主呢？又或者我们相信自己的经验，以为自己比神更明白？祈求我们凡事都会相信神而不是靠自己的智慧行事（箴3:5-8）。
- 我们在不同状况中都能宣称自己对耶稣有信心，但真正的考验是当我们碰上致命关头的时候。让我们祷告我们会愿意“背起我们的十字架”，舍命跟从耶稣。
- 使徒们问：“这到底是谁？”（41节）我们是否相信耶稣是神的儿子呢？读了圣经后，看到耶稣对疾病、魔鬼和自然界的权柄，我们当相信，不再质疑。祈求我们会信靠耶稣，不在心中质疑了。
