While you're turning there, we
will not have services this evening, and the Wednesday service will
be Friday. We're going to have a New Year
service together and observe the Lord's table together, and
then maybe by next week, normalcy, whatever that is, will return.
But Mark chapter 4, beginning in verse 35. And the same day, when the even
was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other
side. 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. And there arose a great storm
of wind, and the waves beat into the ship so that it was now full.
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? 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. And he said unto them, Why are
ye so fearful? How is it that you have no faith. And they feared exceedingly,
and said one to another, What manner, what sort of man is this,
that even the wind and the sea obey him? I have entitled this
message the raging sea stilled. And what inspired this message
is I was preaching, preaching, I was reading Psalm 89. And at the time, in my spirit,
in my soul, whatever that means, I felt turmoil. I felt like there
were raging waves. And I read that scripture And
I felt like there was peace. And I thought, you know, only
the Lord can speak peace to the raging waves of my soul. And
I thought of this passage of scripture and read it and thought,
I want to preach on this. This event that I just read about
is recorded three times. in the New Testament, and each
narrative gives us some different information as to what took place,
all of which is very helpful. Verse 35, Mark chapter 4, ìAnd
the same day when the evening was come, he saith unto them,
Let us pass over unto the other side.î You see, on the other
side of that lake there was an elect sinner who was demon-possessed. that he was going to come after
and save. You see, everything he does,
he does with a purpose. So he said, ìLetís pass over
to the other side.î Verse 36, ìAnd 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, and there arose
a great storm of wind. And the waves beat into the ship
so that it was now full. They thought they were going
to sink. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a
pillow. The great shepherd is in this
ship. And here we see the humanity
of Christ. Asleep. Tired. Worn out from the day. Asleep on a pillow. And here we have the perfect
humanity of Christ. Sleeping through this storm. Why? He wasn't worried. He didn't know what it was to
worry. He had perfect faith. He wasn't concerned about this
storm in any way because he trusted his father perfectly. He wasn't worried. Everybody
else was. Everybody else was scared to death with these raging
storms taking place, the raging waves, the ship filling up with
water. But he never worried. The disciples are scared to death
in the storm. And beloved, you will have storms. You will have raging waves. But the master is in the ship. Is there anything to worry about?
Who controls the waves? Who controls the storm? He is in utter and complete control
at all times. The three different accounts,
Matthew, Mark and Luke, give us three different responses.
Three different responses. Now, one may wonder, is that
a contradiction in the scripture? No, it's just a reminder to us
that we're many layered. We're many layered. And all three
of these responses go on in our minds when we're going through
the storm. Matthew's account says, Lord,
This is what the disciples said. Lord, save us. We perish. And in Mark's account, they said,
Master, don't you care that we're perishing? Are you not troubled
by this? Don't you care? And Luke's account
says, Master, Master, we perish. And in one account, we have faith
and unbelief presented. Lord, save us. There's faith. we perish. There's their unbelief. In Mark's
account, harsh views of Christ through this trial. Don't you
care that we're perishing? And then in Luke's account, no
faith at all. Master, we perish. Verse 39, and he arose and rebuked
the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still, literally be
muzzled. And the wind ceased. And there
was a great calm. Instantly there was perfect tranquility. The water was like glass. Now begin to imagine what that
must have been like to see all that. A raging storm, waves beating
on the ship, and then the authority with which he spake, Peace, be
muzzled. And immediately there was a great
calm, peace, serenity, tranquility. Only he can say to the raging
going on within, Peace be still, and then there is a great call. Now, in Matthew's account, he
said to his disciples, after they came to him, he said, Why
are you so fearful, O ye of little faith? Have I given you a reason to
doubt my power? Have I given you a reason to
doubt my mercy? Have I given you a reason to
doubt my wisdom? Have I given you a reason to
doubt my love? I'm in the ship. Why are you
filled with fear? I'm in the ship. How is it that
you have such a low opinion of me? Remember, he's the master
of the sea. Billows, his will obey. In Mark's account, the Lord asked
him, how is it that you have no faith? What's the reason behind
you having no faith at this time? And in Luke's account, he says,
where is your faith? It's obviously not in operation
right now. Your actions and your attitude
are totally contrary to faith. How is it that your faith is
not in operation? Where is it? Have you ever asked
yourself that question? Where is my faith? I thought
I had it. I think I have it, but I sure
don't see it. Verse 41 of our text, And they feared exceedingly,
and said one to another, What manner, what sort of man is this,
that even the wind and the sea obey him? What a question. What manner
of man is this? Now here's the one issue that
you and I must deal with. What do you think of this man? What do you think of Jesus Christ? This is the one issue. What manner of man Is this, that
even the winds and the sea obey him? What manner of man is this? I could have very easily entitled
this message, What Manner of Man Is This? What manner of man
is this who could say, before Abraham was, I am? What manner of man is this who
could say, if you believe not that I am, you'll die in your
sins? Remember, I am is the name of
God. When God appeared to Moses in
the burning bush that was not consumed and Moses said, what's
your name? He said, I am. Not I was, not I will be. Not I should be, not I could
be. I am that I am. This is the name of God. Do you
remember when the soldiers came to arrest him? And he said, Whom
seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
And he said, I am. Remember what took place? They fell backwards to the ground. And he's letting them know at
this time, he's no victim. He's in control of everything
that takes place. What manner of man is this? A virgin has a child. What manner of man is this? Thou shalt call His name Jesus,
Savior, for He shall save His people from their sins. His name
shall be called Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with
us." What manner of man is this, born of a virgin? At the announcement
of His birth, a chorus rang from the heavenly host, saying, Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace. Goodwill toward
men. What manner of man is this? What
manner of man is this who said to his parents when they thought
they'd lost him when he was 12 years old? He said, how is it? Remember, they they said, son,
we thought you sorry. He said, how is it that you thought
me? Whiskey, not don't you know that I must be about my father's
business? What manner of man? What manner of man is this who
was tempted by the devil with the lust of the flesh, the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life? You remember when Satan
tempted him? If you're the Son of God, he'd
been fasting 40 days. If you're the Son of God, command
that these stones be made bread. Prove it. The lust of the flesh. The lust of the eyes. If you're
the Son of God, prove it. Show it to us. Let us see something.
Jump off this temple. And Scripture says the angels
of God will catch you if you do it. Prove it. If you're the Son of God, worship
me. I'll give all these things to
you. I'll give you all the world. There's the pride of life if
you just worship me. And you know, the Lord is the
only one who never gave in to temptation. No one else ever
has. You certainly haven't. I certainly
haven't. But he could say, which of you
can convince me of sin? What manner of man is this? When he walked upon this earth,
he controlled the weather. You know, it's snowing today,
and I was thinking, well, it seems like all the snow's on
the weekends. Lynn says it doesn't, but I always say it does. You
know, all the snow's on the weekends. It seems like that hinders church
attendance and all that kind of stuff. And I thought, why
am I talking like this? You know who brought the snow?
He did. He did. He's in control. What manner
of man is this that even the winds and the sea obey him? What
manner of man is this who can bring matter into existence
that was not there before? He actually demonstrated creative
power. What manner of man is this who
could heal the sick? What manner of man is this who
could raise the dead? What sort of man is this Demons
trembled at his presence and had to ask permission from him
to go from one place to another. They couldn't move unless he
gave them leave. What manner of man is this? What manner of man is this who
can say to that man that was paralyzed, son, be of good cheer. Thy sins be forgiven thee. And then those people listening
said, who is this that forgives sin also? Only God could forgive
sin. What manner of man is this that
can say to somebody, your sins are forgiven? And he said so
authoritatively. If he says to you, your sins
are forgiven, you know what? Your sins are forgiven. What manner of man is this who
could say, Regarding there was a man beating on his breast saying,
God be merciful to me, the sinner. And he said, I say unto you that
this man, this self condemned man went down to his house justified. By his own admission, he was
guilty, but yet the Lord authoritatively declares that this man is justified. What manner of man can say something
like that? What manner of man is this who
could say, I am the way? Not I'll show you the way or
I'll teach you the way, but I'm it. What manner of man is this
who could say, I am the truth? Not I'll give you the right information
or I'll tell you the truth, but I'm it. What manner of man is
this who could say, I am the life, not I'll teach you how
to live or I'll, not even I'll give you life, but I myself am
the life. No man comes to the father, but
by me. What manner of man could say
something like that? What manner of man could say,
he that has seen me has seen the father. You see me, you see
God. What manner of man can say something
like that? What manner of man can look at
that woman who was caught in adultery in the very act and
say, woman, where are those dying accusers? Hath no man condemned
thee? Neither do I condemn thee. What manner of man could say
to Nathaniel, before Philip called thee, when you were under the
fig tree, and I wasn't anywhere around, I saw thee? What manner
of man is this? What manner of man is this who
could say to that woman, if you knew the gift of God? And who
it is that saith to thee, give me to drink, thou would have
asked. And he would have given thee living water. What manner of man is this who
could pray, Father, I will that they whom you've given me be
with me? What man can say to the Father,
Father, I will that you do this? What manner of man is this? What
manner of man could say to Pilate when he said, don't you know
that I have power to crucify you and I have power to release
you? And he said, thou couldst have no power at all over me,
except it be given thee from above. What manner of man is
this? What manner of man is this who
can be hanging on a cross? His visage marred more than the
sons of men, so you couldn't even recognize him, seemingly
so defeated and so alone. And that thief looks at him and
says, Lord, he knew he was the Lord, even though he seemed so
defeated. Lord, remember me. You're not
going to stay on this cross. You're going to come back as
a mighty king. Remember me when you come into your kingdom. And
he said to that thief today, Thou shalt be with me in paradise."
What manner of man is this? What manner of man is this who
could say, all power is given to me in heaven and earth? Well, it's the same one who said,
all that the Father giveth me. shall come to me, and him that
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." What manner of man
is this who even the wind and the sea obey him? I'll tell you
what manner of man he is. The God-man. Jesus Christ is God. I love to say that. Jesus Christ
is God. Jesus Christ is man, the God
man. And in the following chapter,
he demonstrates to us just what that means. Now, he stills the
sea. There's a great calm. They get
to the other side. And now let's start reading in
chapter five. And they came over unto the other
side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. Remember, he was crossing the
sea because one of his elect was there. You see, the Lord always goes
after His sheep. And He won't lose one. Verse 2, And when he was come
out of the ship immediately, there met him out of the tombs, a man with an unclean spirit,
who had his dwelling among the tombs, death. And no man could bind him, no,
not with chains, because he had been often bound with fetters
and chains. And the chains had been plucked
asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Neither could
any man tame him. And always, night and day, he
was in the mountains and the tombs, crying and cutting himself
with stones." Now, this is one of God's elect. He's from death. Religion always
tried to tame him, always tried to bind him, always tried to
keep him. Bind him up. Chain him down.
Try to change his behavior. Tame him! That's what religion
tries to do. Tame him. Tame him. But you know
what? When the flesh called, those
chains would be broken. He had a raging storm going on
in his soul. And he was hurting himself. Crying. Cutting himself with stones,
this man could not be tamed. Verse six, but. But. I love that word, but but
God. But. When he saw Jesus. A far off. Oh, he couldn't see
Him clearly, but by the grace of God, because he was given
eyes to see, he saw Jesus afar off. He ran, and here's what
people do who see Him every time they worship Him. Now, if you ever see Him, guess
what you're going to do? You're going to worship Him.
You only worship a sovereign. You only worship an absolute
Lord. You only worship God. Now, look at this man's language. He cried with a loud voice and
said, What have I to do with thee? Now, here's what happens
when you find out who Jesus Christ is. What connection is there
between me and you? What have I to do with thee?
You're light. I'm darkness. You're good. I'm bad. You're holy. I'm evil. You're all powerful. I'm all weak. What connection
is there between me and you? Why would you want to have anything
to do with somebody like me? Not, well, I'm going to accept
you as my personal Savior. I'm of my free will. I'm going
to allow you to save me. No, he couldn't see why Christ
would have anything to do with him. And if you ever see who
you are and see who he is, this is going to be your cry. What
have I to do with thee? Jesus, thou Son of the Most High
God, I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not." All he
could think of was the Lord tormenting him. For he said unto him, Come
out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What's
thy name? And he answered, saying, My name
is Legion. For we are many. You know, I think it's very interesting.
It's quite often when the Lord would cast out demons. During
his earthly ministry, you can't figure out if he's talking when
the men talk, the demon possessed man, you can't figure out if
it's the men themselves talking to the demons. You know why? Because really, it much difference. That's why. There really isn't
much difference. When a man talks, it's not much
different than a demon talking. And when a demon talks, it's
not much different than a man talking. You can't tell who's
talking. Is the man speaking or the demon?
Yes, both. Where many? And he, verse 10,
besought him much that he would not send him away out of the
country. These demons couldn't go anywhere until the Lord gave
him permission. What manner of man is this? And he besought him much, that
he would not send him away out of the country. Now there was
there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine,
that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them
leave. The devil's on his chain, and
he can't make a move without the permission of the Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. And the unclean spirits went
out and entered into the swine, and the herd ran violently down
a steep place in the sea. And there were about 2,000, and
they were choked in the sea. And they that fed the swine fled
and told it in the city and in the country. And they went out
to see what it was that was done. And they came to Jesus and see Him that was possessed.
with the devil. Remember this one that nobody
could tame? They'd often tried to tame him, but he'd break their
chains and fetters. And you know how they see him
after he'd been with this one who controls the raging of the
sea? Sitting at the feet of the Lord Jesus
Christ and clothed Remember, he'd been naked. Now he's clothed. And in his right mind, he was
insane. He was crazy, but now he's in
his right mind. You see, if you're lost, you're
crazy. I mean, you're insane. If you
believe in salvation by works, you're insane. You're crazy. If you don't believe salvation
is all of grace, you're mad. But when God saves somebody,
He gives them a right mind. They have right thoughts of themselves.
You find out what you are. Nothing but sin. And you know,
when you find out that you're nothing but sin, it is real simple
to trust Christ as your righteousness before God. You're clothed. Clothed
in His righteousness. sitting at the feet of Christ. And they were afraid. Now, they
liked trying to tame him. Never worked. But when they now
see him sitting closed and in his right mind, they were afraid.
Verse 16, And they that saw it told them how it befell him that
was possessed with the devil. How did this happen to him? And
also concerning the swine. And you know what they did? They
asked the Lord to leave. They began to pray him to depart
out of their coast. They didn't like this. They didn't
like the fact that they lost all these swine. They didn't
like the way this man was now sitting at his feet. They asked
him to leave. And when he was coming to the
ship, he that had been possessed with the devil, prayed him that
he might be with him, howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith
unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things
the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. In Luke's account, when Luke's
giving this story, it says, Go home to thy friends, and tell
them the great things God have done for thee." And he departed
and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done
for him, and all men did marvel. What manner of man is this? This man is the only man who
can save you. This man is the only man who
can put away your sin. It's still going to be on you
if he doesn't put it away. This man is the only man who
can give you life. This man is the only man who
can speak peace to the raging going on within. This man is the one in whose
hands you are right now. And listen to me real carefully.
This man, if he's pleased, he can save you. He can have mercy
on you. He can make himself known to
you. And if he's pleased, he can leave you to yourself and
pass you by, and you'll go to hell. Your eternal destiny is
utterly in his hands, and you have absolutely no control. It's up to him as to whether
or not you'll be saved or whether you'll be damned. Now, that's
who this man is. Now, you know what I'd do if
I were you? I'd sue for mercy. Lord, have mercy on me. I mean,
I know my salvation is up to you. Lord, have mercy on me.
And you know what I'd do by His grace? I'd obey this command. Now, this is a command. This
is a command, an authoritative command to everybody in this
room. on the Lord Jesus Christ. That's a command. It's not an offer. It's not good
advice. Here's your right to believe.
Well, what makes me think I can believe on Him? I don't know
if I'm going to be left. I don't know if He died for me.
What makes me think I can believe on Him? What makes me think I
can come to Him? Because here is the command of the gospel. Believe. That's a command. On the Lord Jesus Christ, this
one who controls all things. Rely on the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Savior, the Christ, God's prophet, God's priest and God's
king. Here's your right to believe.
He commands you to. And if he commands you to, that's
the only reason you need. You don't need to try to figure
out whether or not you're one of the elect. God's command to you
is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. What manner of man is this that
can save you? Save me? The God man. Let's pray.