Jesus Stills a Storm
“35 On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ 39 And waking up, he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Be silent! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him’” Mark 4:35-41?
This story isn’t just about danger and rescue. Apart from fishermen, the Jews were not a seafaring people. But the sea came to symbolize, for them, the dark power of evil.threatening to destroy God’s good creation, God’s people, God’s purposes. So when we witness Jesus rescuing the disciples from a storm, we are witnessing God’s sovereign power being unleashed.
And in this story we see God’s Kingdom is at hand!
No doubt the forces of evil are aroused, angry and threatening, but Jesus is so confident of God’s presence and power that He can fall asleep on a pillow! But Mark wants to ask us all this question: Don’t you yet have faith?
So today, ask yourself that question: Do I have faith? Make amends for the aspects of your life where your faith has taken a back seat to your own desires and wants and needs. Pray for forgiveness. And the next time someone sins against you, forgive them immediately.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“And without faith it is impossible to please God” Hebrews 11:6.
“Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” Matthew 21:22.
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” Romans 10:17.
“We walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7.
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