平靜風浪的故事 馬可4:35-4
- 馬克牧師
- Feb 20, 2024
- 6 min read
各位弟兄姊妹平安，今天我們要講的故事是耶穌平靜風暴的故事，記錄在馬可福音的四章35到41節。同樣的馬太福音的八章的23-27節也有對這段故事的紀錄。
我們先了解一下加利利海到底是什麼樣的一個水體。加利利海的面積是166平方公里，最深的地方僅有43米，是以色列最大的淡水湖。在周圍其實很容易發生這樣的風暴，因為他是一個盆地跟峽谷之間的一個湖，所以風在其中受到的壓力會用很高的風速衝向湖面，原本平靜的湖面會馬上變成洶湧波浪，所以今天我們所看到的這一段風暴其實對當地人來說是很常見的。
我們看這個故事的時候，很明顯，這是耶穌所行的神跡，他是上帝的兒子，他當然有能力平靜風暴，但如果我們僅僅把它當成是一個物理上的神蹟現象，當成是用來印證耶穌是上帝的一件神蹟的話，我們就會錯過其中的屬靈含義。我們看聖經中的故事的時候，請把自己放進這個故事中。因為這些故事都會與我們們今天的生活有所關聯。
首先，耶穌並沒有預先阻止這件風暴的發生。他在船上的時候，風暴依然發生了。耶穌這個時候是在船尾睡覺 ，當耶穌被門徒呼喊的時候他才醒過來。
其次是門徒的慌亂，從他們最後的疑慮的話語中我們可以看到，這時候的門徒還沒有很清楚耶穌到底是誰，他們這時候把耶穌當個老師，但是並沒有明白耶穌的真實身份。出於人性，門徒們陷入慌亂，他們把耶穌呼喊起來，卻又沒有真正明白耶穌能做什麼，要做什麼。當我們看門徒的行為的時候，可不要嘲笑他們。因為他們表現出來的都是最真實的人性，如果我們也在那船上，可能我們都會驚慌失措的。這就是，當我們讀聖經的時候，不要覺得我們是在讀 “別人的故事”而我們都可以在每一個故事中找到自己的樣子。
在人生之中我們必定會遇到風暴，無論是生活的困難，家人的離去，或者事業工作上遇到的重大問題，我們人生中可以注定的是，我們都會面對到一些風暴，而且這些風暴有的時候來得又快又猛，突然間臨到，我們手足無措，無法反應。在風暴裡，好像一切事情都混亂了，失去控制了。天很黑，雨很大。看不見希望，看不見災難的結尾。
在平靜安穩，陽光溫暖，風雨和諧的生活之中，我們不容易有深切的體會和感恩的心，甚至，有可能會生出驕傲的心，忘記了一切都是恩典。而在巨大的困難和風暴之中，我們會特別緊緊的抓住耶穌，在人生的苦難之中，可能正是我們最能貼近上帝的時候。
在風暴裡，我們才明白到耶穌的同在是何等大的平安和保護。真正的勇敢不是沒有害怕的事情，而是在危險中和恐懼中依然勇往直前。而在這裡耶穌告訴我們，真正的平安並不是萬事順心，而是就算在逆境之中，上帝也給我們往前進的勇氣和平安。當我們明白耶穌真正的身分，我們用生命去經歷祂的同在的風暴，這樣的平安就變成了不可奪去的，我們與祂同行的經歷，我們生命的見證。
當我們面對到人生的十字路口我們不知往何處去，感到憂愁，感到疑慮。我們要轉向上帝。我們相信他必定帶領前進。真正的困難其實並不是我們不知道該做什麼，而是我們在困難之中才明白謙卑，不再堅持用自己的方式，把自己交托給上帝，當我們把我們的困難放下，交給祂，我們才真知道祂在風暴中依然與我們同在。
如果你曾經經歷風暴，相信你更會感恩有耶穌同在的平安，如果你正在風暴之中，請你相信耶穌也跟你在風暴之中。祂就在你的船上，沒有拋棄你，並且祂要對你的風暴說，住了吧，靜了吧！這會成為你的見證，成為你生命的動力。
感謝各位的聆聽，明天的故事是耶穌趕鬼的故事。
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today we're going to talk about the story of Jesus calming the storm, recorded in Mark 4:35-41. The same story is also found in Matthew 8:23-27.
Let's first understand what the Sea of Galilee is like. The Sea of Galilee covers an area of 166 square kilometers, with a maximum depth of only 43 meters. It's the largest freshwater lake in Israel. Because of its geographical location, storms are quite common there. Being situated between valleys and basins, the pressure of the wind in this area can swiftly turn its usually calm surface into tumultuous waves. So, the storm we see in this story was quite familiar to the locals.
As we look at this story, it's evident that it's a miracle performed by Jesus, the Son of God. He certainly had the power to calm the storm. However, if we merely see it as a physical miracle to prove Jesus' divinity, we'll miss its spiritual significance. When we read stories in the Bible, let's place ourselves within them, as these stories often relate to our lives today.
Firstly, Jesus didn't prevent the storm from happening. It occurred even while He was on the boat. Jesus was sleeping at the stern of the boat, and it was only when the disciples cried out to Him that He woke up. He didn't seem particularly concerned about the situation.
Secondly, the disciples' panic reflects their lack of understanding of who Jesus truly was. Out of human nature, they panicked and called out to Jesus without fully comprehending what He could do or what He intended to do. When we observe the disciples' actions, let's not ridicule them. They were exhibiting the most genuine human reactions, which we might have had if we were in that boat. This reminds us that, when we read the Bible, we can often find reflections of ourselves in its characters.
At this moment, what Jesus said and did carries significant messages and truths.
In our lives, we will inevitably face storms—difficulties in life, the departure of loved ones, or major challenges in our careers. It's predetermined that we'll encounter storms in life, and sometimes they come suddenly and fiercely, leaving us bewildered and unable to react. In the midst of a storm, everything seems chaotic, out of control. The sky is dark, the rain is heavy, and we can't see hope or the end of the disaster.
In times of peace and tranquility, when the sun shines warmly and the weather is harmonious, we might not deeply appreciate or feel grateful. We might even become proud and forget that everything comes from grace. But in the face of great difficulties and storms, we'll cling tightly to Jesus. It's in the hardships of life that we often draw closest to God.
In the storm, we realize the immense peace and protection of Jesus' presence. True courage isn't the absence of fear but continuing forward bravely even in danger and fear. Here, Jesus tells us that true peace isn't the absence of adversity but the courage and peace to move forward even in adversity. When we understand Jesus' true identity and experience His presence in the storm of life, that peace becomes unshakeable, a testimony of our journey with Him, a testimony of our lives.
When we come to a crossroads in life and don't know which way to go, when we feel worried and doubtful, we turn to God. We believe He will lead us forward. The real difficulty isn't that we don't know what to do; it's that we persist in handling things our own way in difficulty without surrendering to God. When we let go of our difficulties and surrender them to Him, we truly know that even in the storm, He is with us.
If you've ever experienced a storm, you'll especially appreciate the peace of having Jesus with you. If you're currently in a storm, please believe that Jesus is with you in the storm. He's on your boat, not abandoning you, and He will speak to your storm, saying, "Peace, be still!" This will become your testimony, your strength in life.
Thank you all for listening. Tomorrow's story will be about Jesus casting out demons.
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