Hanging out with Jesus XII: Mission the Other Side

Hanging out with Jesus XII: Mission the Other Side

Mark 4:35 - 5:20               Jesus’ Words - v35, 39, 40, 8, 19

Threatened by a violent storm on the way and welcomed by a violent maniac. The two stories in the passage record what perhaps was the most dangerous and dramatic mission for disciples following Jesus. They were however amazed by how he breathed peace wherever he went.  The following words of Jesus in the passage form an outline for this message.

Let us cross over (4:35)

The words of Jesus ‘Let us cross over to the other side’ triggered the mission. When Jesus decided to go to the other side, he had seen a person there with a need he wanted to meet. To apply the lessons from the stories realize that the other side matters to Jesus.  His compassion stops at nothing to reach the other side. It is the place with needs Jesus targets to meet. It can represent areas in your life where you need Jesus. Maybe you need healing from sickness, forgiveness and cleansing from sin, deliverance from bondage and emotional well-being. The other side stands for your spiritual, emotional, mental and physical needs. You alone know what is on the other side.

Jesus looked for people to go with to the other side.  Jesus seeks for people to work with him in meeting needs of other people.  He calls his disciples, those who are with him not only to receive but also to be equipped to help others.  The disciples obeyed the instruction to go to the other side.  Obedience is a mark of disciples of Jesus.

They obeyed even though it was evening time and the weather was bad. They were a part of Jesus’ team when he went preaching and healing off the coast. They must have been tired and would have wished to go home and take a rest. Then abruptly Jesus said let us go over the other side. On the way drama unfolded when they faced a great storm. Being experienced fishermen sea travel was not new. They must have read the weather signs. They however chose to obey. Jesus must have also known the dangers facing this mission. But he did not hesitate to send them into a dangerous storm. Not as long as it developed them and enabled him to reach the other side. When Jesus commits to showing compassion, the hindering storms are least of his worries.

The storm was so harsh it beat on the ship and tossed it. The ship was filling with water as a result. The situation seemed to be worsening with each moment. The initial response of the disciples is anyone’s guess. They fought hard to keep water outside the ship. They disagreed on how best to do it. They responded according to their personalities. Perhaps Peter worked frantically hard,  Thomas wanted to jump out, Judas only put eyes on the purse and John perhaps protected Jesus so his sleep could not be disturbed.

Thank God, THEY HAD JESUS in their ship. When they set off from the coast, some little boats came along. They did not have Jesus and you do not want to imagine what happened if they had not already returned. Maybe they capsized or the sailors jumped.  With Jesus when the storm hits it is not time to jump off but to trust him.

Peace be still (4:39)

In the midst of the storm, the prince of peace was asleep on a pillow. Yes, he needed rest and slept on the voyage. The beating must have been so strong to wake up anyone. Jesus is not woken up by the storms of life but by the calls of his people. He also demonstrated how you could find sleep in a storm. He is a call away. He hears the faintest whisper of your heart. Trying to save the ship with your own effort is harder. They work him up to help save the ship for it was their hope in such hostile waters. He did not need their helpless buckets. He did not rise up to help get water out of the ship. He instead arose to stop the storm. Often the prescriptions you give God to bless are not even the means he will use. He wants to deal with the root cause.

When he said, ‘Peace, be still’, the wind ceased. With those words, he addressed all storms within the reach of his voice. The disciples had strong emotional storms in their hearts. Those also ceased. Why not call early. Do not wait until last minute. They only called when hope was lost and were waiting to perish. They said to Jesus do you not care that we perish. Initially the disciples forgot his promise. He told them they were going the other side not under. They forgot that he was present with them with all the power they needed. If you take matters into your own hands, God will sleep while you mess up your situation. Every step of faith faces some test. Often the things you put confidence in have to be rocked to shake your trust off them on to Jesus.

Someone is watching and depending on your faith and prayer. When Jesus speaks peace for you the little accomoanyi9ng boats if they are still in the waters also benefit. Those who look to you also benefit. Your community also benefits. Those in your circles of relationships also benefit.  And those on the other side will benefit.

 Why are you fearful (4:40)  

When the storm was over it was lesson time. Jesus said ‘Why are you so fearful. Why are you still lacking in faith. Fear of storms is absence of faith in God. Their fear showed lack of faith. Their view of Jesus as a last resort showed lack of faith. Their panic and lack of peace showed lack of faith. Their confession of perishing showed lack of faith. When you have nothing positive to say maintain silence and simply say halleluiah. That is the lesson from how the people of God caused the walls of Jericho to fall.

Jesus did not rebuke their effort but their attitude… Jesus did not say sit back and do nothing but do it out of faith. The storm exposed their level of progress in faith. Sometimes that is the only way God has to help us see our need for growth. Like a pressed toothpaste tube, it exposed what was inside them. The assessment concluded they had little faith. They doubted his word. In a storm, you need faith in his word not faith in your ability to keep the water out. Remember and hold on to the expected end given by his promise.

At the end, they were in awe of what Jesus had done. From being afraid of the wind, they were now positively afraid of Jesus. If you have not feared him, you will fear everything else. When you fear him, you have nothing else to fear. They had not realized his greatness and the awesomeness of his power (v41). They thought they knew him by now only to realize they were starting to discover him. Following Jesus is a discovery journey. When you think you know him you are about to discover him. So they asked, who is this person obeyed even by the seas.

Come out of him (5:8)

The question upper most on the minds of the disciples was ‘What's on the other side?’ why all the trouble at night for that matter.  It did not take long for them to see the answer. A maniac from the tombs in the land of the Gadarenes welcomed them on the other side.  The maniacs appointed time had come.  Jesus is concerned about the person heading for hell or not experiencing the full life of Christ. He is so concerned of that person more than his comfort and of his servants. That is why he came to die on the cross. He saw you on the other side of the cross. Naked, unwanted, feared, howling and living in the graveyard. Those who live in the graveyard are about to die or are dead. The demon possessed violently cut himself, had septic wounds and violently drove away those who tried to help. Luke tells us that he had been in this condition for a long time (Luke 8:27). All evil aims at pulling people to the tombs. BUT Jesus has done all that was necessary and born all the risks to come to the other side. Whether raving in the tombs, having sophisticated needs, or a civilized sinner in a hotel, your situation is as urgent as that of a self-damage inflicting maniac. 

The demons pleaded with Jesus not to torment them before the time. They knew their rights and destiny. To overcome you have to know your rights as well. Hell was not made for the eternal punishment of people but of satan and his demons.  They recognized Jesus for who he was - and responded appropriately by falling before him. You will have to recognize Jesus as he is and fall in worship to overcome them. They know what you ought to be doing and when you do not do it, they see an open door. Greater is he in you than the one in the world (1 John 4:4). Jesus demonstrated his power over demons when he commanded ‘come out of him’ and the legion of demons left. Legion was a military term that described a military regiment of about five thousand soldiers. So many and belligerent as they were they were overcome. Is it possible they were also responsible for causing the storm to keep Jesus away? They found him unstoppable. No weapon will succeed against you because Jesus has come to the other side. He has come to your side. If Jesus is for you, no one can be against you.

He allowed the demons to go into the pigs to remind us that human life is more important than many pigs. It is worth the life of God’s son. Also, to teach us that if God hears the pleadings of demons how much more will he hear his children when they call.

Go home and tell it (5:19)

It seems everyone pleaded with Jesus.  Demons pleaded with Jesus not to torment them before the time then pleaded with him to go into pigs.  The pig herders ran and told it everywhere. The Gadarenes came and saw the former maniac completely freed and pleaded with Jesus to leave their country. Before he left, the delivered man pleaded to go with him. Jesus would not let him come along.  Instead, he had a better plan. He would leave the land of the Gadarenes and the delivered man became the missionary to the Gadarenes. That is the power of Jesus to transform people from victims to God's servants.

In what area of your life are you on the other side? Rescue has come. He crossed over to the other side of the cross - a place in need of a savior. A place Jesus deploys his disciples. A place that is inconvenient to reach because the demons come as a legion to stop help, hope, and compassion to locate you. A place that needs Jesus’ unstoppable love - a love that will rescue and recruit you for his wonderful service. . Welcome him to your side today.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa