Because of the time and place in which we live there are many people who have a perceived familiarity with Jesus. That’s to say that they know some things about Jesus, but they don’t know Him truly or fully. Sadly there are many who reject Jesus even though what they know of Him may not be accurate or complete. Or perhaps a fuller revelation of who He is doesn’t fit with who they’ve previously understood Him to be. This is the case in Mark 6 when Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth.

Do Not Fear, Only Believe

As Jesus and His disciples sailed across the Sea of Galilee Jesus revealed Himself in a way beyond anything the disciples had witnessed. With the power of His Words He calmed howling winds and a raging sea prompting the question: Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey Him? That night on the sea they saw the power of Jesus to calm a chaotic storm (4:35-41) and just a matter of hours later they witnessed the power of Jesus to calm a chaotic man (5:1-20). Not only does Jesus have authority over the natural world, He has authority over the supernatural world. In both of these events we see Jesus revealed for who He really is: God Himself, the all-powerful One. And in His confrontation with a demon possessed man we also gain insight into the reason the almighty God came to earth. Jesus came to earth on a mission to save people and His mission continues as those who have witnessed His saving power tell others about the Person and the power that has changed them.

In Mark 4:35-41 we come to a familiar story that pushes us to ask an important question: Who do we believe God to be? And along with that a related question: how does our understanding of who God is impact the way we respond to difficult seasons in life? These are important questions and questions that at times have divergent answers. While we profess a high view of God and of His power and goodness, we may be tempted to view our situations and respond with worry and fear. We may determine that God is negligent or uncaring. The story of Jesus calming the storm is a story about the revelation of Jesus as God. In addition we have the reminder that He can be trusted. Like the disciples we must consider whether we will respond to the situations of our lives with faith in God or with fear of our situations.

The Scriptures are replete with promises and prophecies of the future of the Kingdom of God. We are told that a day is coming when all things will be made new and the rule of God will be recognized by all. God has promised these things and His Word is sure (Isaiah 55:10-13). However, for all of the promises of what it is to come, we may be tempted to look at the condition of our world and the state of the church and wonder how God intends to accomplish His plan. We may ask, is the Kingdom of God still growing and expanding in the world today? Questions about the Kingdom of God were common among the first disciples of Jesus and in Mark 4 Jesus provides two parables that explain the nature of the Kingdom and the certainty of its’ growth and success.

We live in a world that is hurting. We live world plagued by sin. And we live in a time and place where many people are familiar with the name of Jesus and even with His death and resurrection. But sadly, many have heard and yet remain deaf. They have seen and yet remain blind. Many have an awareness of Jesus but they don’t have saving faith. The question for us all is, will we take heed to what we hear? The call of Mark 4 is a call hear and more specifically to hear with ears of faith. In Mark 4:1-20 Jesus shares and explains the parable of the sower and the soils and describes four responses to Gospel. There are many who hear but who never truly hear. Within the context of the parable of the soils Jesus also acknowledges that for many, because of their hardness of heart, the parables don’t serve to reveal Him, but instead they further conceal Him. But the appeal of Jesus continues to be for all people to hear and believe.

This is our third and final week of considering a section of commands in Romans 12 with this in mind: that God intends to use His church, and our presence in this world, as a means of revealing His character and the power of the Gospel. We must speak the Gospel, but we also have the opportunity to live in a way that makes the power of the Gospel visible to a watching world. As we come to this final section Paul helps us consider how we as Christians should respond to those who come against us. • How do we respond when we are slandered? • How do we react when we are mistreated? In verses 17-21 Paul unpacks how we should and how we should not respond to those who oppose us, those who are our enemies. And the summation of his commands comes in verse 21: we should not be overcome with evil, but we are to overcome evil with good.