3. IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM (Mark 4:35-41)

Background: Among the disciples there were four professional fishermen, who knew the lake like the back of their hands.

1. Lake Gennesaret is 20 x 21 kilometres by size. How long will it approximately take to sail across it?

What would you think if somebody asked you to cross a lake of that size late at night?

Why didn’t the disciples resist at all when Jesus ordered them to cross the lake at that time of the day (35)?

2.What kind of person can soundly sleep in a boat even in the middle of a raging storm?

What might such a person think of God and his own death, if he can sleep in a storm?

Have you ever been in a storm and could you have imagined sleeping then?

3What do you think the disciples did to keep their boat from drowning after the storm had broken out?

Why couldn’t the disciples in this situation believe that God would help?

4. In what kind of situation have you felt that Jesus only slept and didn’t care how things would turn out with you and your family or friends (38)?

What kind of difficulties do you remember, difficulties where you would have needed help and no help was given?

Verse 38 contains in fact a prayer. What do you think about prayers after this?

5.Why were the disciples astonished when they got the help they needed?

Question yourself if you were similar to or different from the disciples when you were in a difficult situation.

6. Is it difficult or easy for you to believe that the wind and the waves really obeyed Jesus’ orders (39)? Give reasons for your answer.

Today Jesus stands in the middle of your difficult problems and says: ”Quiet, Be still!” (Jesus said this to the wind and the waves…) What can these words mean to you today in your own difficult affairs (domestic things, school and friends)

Jesus knows your troubles and wants to intervene in them. What can this mean in your difficulties?

7. How did the disciples feel when they heard Jesus’ words in verse 40?

Close your eyes, so I read these words of Jesus to you. Would you like to tell how it felt?

8. Why does Jesus help even those who lack faith?

How was the disciples’ faith changed because of this incident?

How would you hope your own faith to change through your present difficulties?

GLAD TIDINGS: The disciples were saved from dying by drowning, but Jesus was not. His crucifixion meant suffocation just like drowning means. Jesus had to pay with his own life so that he could save us to Heaven. When helping us Jesus’ perspective is always in the future, we see only this moment, but Jesus knows what is best for us later on … ( for example, it may be really important to go through some trouble so that we can believe in Jesus’ reconciliation on the Cross).