Sermon Tone Analysis

*Jesus' Power Over Physical and Spiritual Laws*

*December 12, 1999                          Gospel of Mark*

* *

*Introduction:*

 

          So far in the Gospel of Mark we have discussed the power that Jesus has over sin, evil spirits, religious legalism and the topic of sickness\suffering

eed.

 

Now we will see this last category of his power in Mark's Gospel about his power over physical and spiritual laws.

Since all law has its origin in God, he must have the right to pre-empt them.

Since he wrote the book, he can freely edit it.

He has placed certain natural events in motion, but he is above them and not bound by them.

He is able to intercede in his creation at any time whether to teach us or protect us.

God is intimately involved.

He is not hemmed in by anyone's box, much less his own.

The boundless expanse is his habitation.

We live in a seemingly self-sustaining system created by God.

But it is not as self-sustaining as it seems.

He is actively involved, holding it all together (Col.

1:15-17; Heb.

1:1-3).

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

(Colossians 1:15-17 NIVUS)

 

 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

(Hebrews 1:1-3 NIVUS)

 

There are times when he chooses to act on our behalf outside of our normal expectations of the way we have come to expect things to work.

There are the physical laws of creation that sometimes buffet us with violence, but they also bring the weather patterns that sustain us.

There is the law of gravity that we don't often consider because it is so consistent.

But if it weren't for gravity we would all drift out into space.

God can suspend them at any time.

And there is another law of a spiritual and moral nature that says the wages of sin is death (Rom.

6:23), and since all sin, all will die.

The gravitational pull of sin and death is the bottomless pit of hell.

This death is an eternal death in separation from God.

But just like God can suspend any of the natural laws of creation, he can also suspend the natural law of eternal death.

The catalyst upon which God acts is our response to the faith he gives us.

The faith conditions he places on his promises are the keys that open them to us (Rom.

8:28).

Will we allow him to teach us this faith?

Will we use it to ask him to save us in this life and the next?

God cannot be mocked.

The laws he has placed in effect are there to teach us that he is there.

And they serve the double purpose of making us dependent upon him.

Although we depend upon the physical and moral laws of the universe to protect us and preserve our lives, we can sometimes run afoul of them.

It is then that we cry out to God for grace and mercy.

And he responds gladly to his children.

But he also purposely stretches our faith.

*E.

His Power over the Laws of Creation*

 

The power that earthly forces hold over us is a major cause of human fear.

We are helpless, so it seems, in the face of such random forces as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and other powerful displays of destructive power stemming from the forces of creation.

They are the normal occurrences of weather patterns that God also uses for good to bring seasons and to water the earth.

But the outer limits of these processes threaten life and damage property.

We question whether God really cares for us and whether he can control what he created.

Jesus proves he is God over creation and we need not fear.

*1.

His Power over Wind and Waves *(4:35-41)

 

          Jesus and the disciples were in a boat crossing over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee when a furious squall broke loose and waves washed over the boat that nearly swamped it (4:35-41).

These disciples were fishermen and they knew the danger of the sea.

Notably, Jesus was asleep during the commotion and the disciples awoke him with the question of whether he cared if they drowned.

He woke up and commanded the wind and waves to be still and it became completely calm.

He then asked the disciples why they had so little faith.

They are amazed at his power over earthly forces.

The situation was such that Jesus probably was not ignorant of what was happening.

He allowed the disciples to face fear as an instruction in faith.

If they had perfect faith they would have remained calm and commanded the waves themselves in his name.

At least, they would not have accused him of not caring.

And of course they were safe with him.

He is as near to us as he was to the disciples in the boat.

All we need do is call upon him.

But we too are challenged to have faith and not to fear.

Jesus is in the same boat together with us.

One of the politically correct catchwords of our day is that those who have physical disabilities are "physically challenged."

I think that the same term can be used in the spiritual sense.

The disciples, as well as us, are "spiritually challenged."

Sometimes we need heavy doses of faith therapy so that we can stay afloat.

*2.

His Power over Human Limitations *(6:45-52)

 

          Once again, the disciples are on the Sea of Galilee in a boat.

But this time Jesus is not with them and it is night (6:45-52).

He has stayed behind on the shore to pray.

The boat is in the middle of the sea and the disciples are straining at the oars against a heavy wind.

It is notable that Jesus could see their plight because it was at night and beyond human sight distance.

Late at night he went out to them walking on the water.

Jesus has capabilities beyond any mere human.

He can see in the spirit and walk without gravity.

And there was probably some translocation happening here too.

He took his time to reach them.

In fact, he had probably been praying for them that their strength and faith would not fail.

Surely they had learned from the last time they were in trouble on the lake.

He pretended not to see them and allowed them to see him first walking on the water.

He is not in the business of coddling his disciples like a mother hen.

They must learn to forage for themselves.

After all, they have his name to depend upon.

They must learn to apply his power by faith.

But they were terrified because they thought he was a ghost.

So he told them to be courageous and not to fear.

He got into the boat and the wind died down.

In their amazement they could not understand his power even after the feeding of the 5,000 the day before.

Perhaps they were even skeptical.

They were still coming to grips with the fact that he is God and they need not fear.

*3.

His Power over All Things Living *(11:12-14)

 

          Being hungry and seeing a fig tree upon leaving Bethany, Jesus went to gather fruit but found the tree barren with only leaves (11:12-14).