Adversity And The Conquering Christ

Adversity And The Conquering Christ

Our times are filled with many adverse circumstances: the AIDS epidemic, violent crime, kidnapping, conflicts in families, the high rate of divorce, and the threat of terrorist attacks internationally. Mark 6 records some adverse circumstances, including the execution of John the Baptist, the 5000 without food, and the disciples toiling in a storm at night.

Is there hope in the midst of trouble? Yes! Jesus Christ has overcome every adverse circumstance, defeated Satan at the cross, demonstrated victory over the world, the flesh and the devil, and is now exalted to the highest place of honor at God’s right hand. Satan may have great power, but it is limited. The Lord has unlimited authority in heaven and earth (Mt. 28:18).

Here are four steps to help us respond to adverse circumstances.

1. Communicate with the conquering Christ.
When John the Baptist was beheaded, the disciples “came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb. And the apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught” (Mk.6:29-30). They came to Jesus and told Him what was on their heart. What a privilege that we can come into the presence of our Father in heaven and tell Him of our hurt and failure. The Lord Jesus, who knew their hearts and their adverse circumstances, said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while” (Mk. 6:31). Do we spend time in His presence, release our burdens to Him in prayer, listen to His voice and follow His instruction? If so, we will overcome our adverse circumstances because our response will be one not of panic, but prayer.

2. Commence with what we have and commit all to Christ.
When faced with the problem of feeding the 5000, the disciples had concern, but Jesus had compassion. They first told Jesus to “send them away.” When He refused, they said, “Shall we go and spend ... on bread?” Jesus’ answer was, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” (Mk. 6:37-38). We may come to the end of our reserves, but never to the end of God’s resources. When they commenced with what they had and gave Jesus the five loaves and two fish, He took them, “and looking toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them ... and they all ate and were satisfied” (Mk. 6:41-42). Christ was the producer, and the disciples were the distributors. Little is much when we place what we have in His hands. If we commit ourselves, our situations, and our limited resources to Christ, He will bless others through us, even in our adverse circumstances.

3. Confide in Christ to calm storms or keep us calm in storms.
The disciples were in a storm and their boat was about to break. However, when they told Christ, He “rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm” (Mk 4:39). After feeding the 5000, Jesus made His disciples get into a boat and go to the other side of Bethsaida. Even though they did what He said, they encountered a storm: this reminds us that being in the Lord’s will does not exempt us from problems. The Lord was not physically with them, but His eyes were on them. “Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them ... He came to them, walking on the sea ... they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they ... were frightened” (Mk. 6:48-49). If we are preoccupied with our storm, we may see a ghost instead of God, and panic. But if we see Christ, we will have peace, even in the storm.

4. Cheerfulness for Christ’s power and presence with us.
The disciples, facing contrary winds, now heard His comforting words: “‘Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.’ And He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped” (Mk. 6:50-51). He conquered the fury and calmed their fears. The outward look may be bleak, but the upward look is bright! We can be cheerful because our Lord has gone up to heaven, watches over our every step and is coming back to receive us to Himself. Through Christ, we can conquer our adverse circumstances. It is better to be with Christ in the storm than to be without Him in the calm.

By Emanuel V. John