“The Servant’s Power”
Mark 4:35-5:43
”And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!’” – Mark 4:41
Power under control; is what many have defined the word “humility.” And I’d say, that is a great definition.
Years ago, we got our first Rhodesian Ridgeback, and we named him Samson. He was a hundred pounds of pure muscle. I used to love to wrestle with him [I was much younger then]. He was trained, and as soon as I said “wrestle!” we would go at it, and we’d start wrestling until one of us had to quit. But occasionally, his teeth would catch my clothes, or even worse, a finger or a hand, and then I’d have to call “timeout,” our codeword for quit. It was never serious, though. I mean if he really wanted to do damage he could have. But he loved me, and I loved him and so it was all fun and games. Samson was power under control; a gentle and sensitive guy, but one who could really do damage if he wanted to.
And so, in our passage this morning we are going to see the perfect example of power under control; yes, perfect humility. It comes in the Person of Jesus Christ. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” [Mk 10:45]. This verse, as we have referenced several times, is the key verse in Mark. Jesus, fully God, veiled His glory to take on flesh and bones and become a servant. He is the ultimate Servant-King.
But this Servant is no ordinary servant. He comes with power. He is meek and humble and His strong way is displayed in humility. We must remember that meekness is not weakness; it is power under control.
We have seen Jesus serving the multitude. He’s healed every disease and sickness and ministered the way of the Kingdom from early morning to late night. But here in our passage we see the Servant’s power that extends to every aspect of life. He has power over the natural realm [Mk 4:35-41]; power over the supernatural realm [Mk 5:1-20]; power over life [Mk 5:25-34]; and power over death [Mk 5:35-43].
“The Servant’s Power” is on full display in these verses, and it is power that we can by faith tap into today.
