– Mark 4:37-41 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” ————————
I have never been a fan of strong storms. Growing up, they scared me. What calmed me was sitting around and watching how the adults kept calm. As long as they kept talking and laughing and I didn’t see them panicking, I knew everything was going to be ok. If fear would rise up again, I’d once again look at the adult faces around me and calm down. As an adult I have said to my daughters many times, “If I’m not worried, don’t YOU be worried!”
I can’t imagine the disciples fear in that storm. But, I know there have been many storms and waves in our world and in our personal lives. It can easily set off a state of panic that has us looking for a “calm face” to reassure us that everything is going to be ok.
I see this passage as a teachable moment. The disciples knew who Jesus was but, they were also learning more of Him. He was always teaching them. They had become so “whacked out” by all the choas around them, they thought their sleeping teacher didn’t care that they appeared to be perishing. It was almost as if they were offended that He was sleeping when it seemed like all was lost. I’m sure we’ve all been there at times.
They had been with Him enough to know He wasn’t just anybody. They had seen Him heal, cast out demons and teach. Is it possible to surmise that the circumstances around them were so BAD that, although they ran to Him for assistance they didn’t have a clue on HOW He was going to get them out of that particular situation? I mean, they had not encountered THIS particular situation before! I believe this became an opportunity for Jesus to reveal even more of Himself to them. He took them into a DEEPER knowledge and strengthened their faith in Him. The same man who performed those miracles they witnessed on dry land could also do it at sea when all appeared lost. When they saw Jesus rebuke the wind and speak to the sea and it obeyed, they were FLOORED! This act opened their eyes even more to WHO was on the boat with them and the magnitude of the POWER He carried. Their fear switched from the tormenting fear of hopelessness to a reverential fear and awe of Jesus! He showed them that He had power in ALL things, not just SOME things. HE GOT THIS! The more they walked and talked with Him, the more they learned and the more He showed them. Relationship.
Do we believe Him for some things but not all? (Jeremiah 32:27) Is He our “calm face” that we look in when things around us are chaotic? (John 14:27) Do we realize that He gave us His Word to be our safe place? (John 14:16,26) We can meditate/ speak it just like He did to calm our seas of fear and doubt. We can HIDE in it and let it cover us! (Psalms 91) Sometimes we can feel like He’s sleeping but, He’s not. He never sleeps. (Psalms121:1-4) (John 14:18) REMEMBER, IF HE’S ON YOUR BOAT, IT CANNOT SINK!
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