It is very easy to get swept away, by the worries of this world. Having faith and trusting in our Lord can be difficult at times.That is why I want to bring us to Mark 4:35-41, Jesus Calms a Storm. Here is the passage.
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so 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?”
This has become one of my favorite stories in the bible. It speaks volumes as to who Jesus is. Before we really dig in, I think it is helpful to set the scene a little. This story takes place in the Sea of Galilee, which sits 700 feet below sea level. It is also North of Mount Hermon which stands 92 hundred feet high. When the cold air would hit the warm air from below very intense storms would break out. We all know that many of Jesus' disciples were fishermen by trade, and therefore they would used to these storms. However we see a great panic occurring among all the disciples which lets us know that this was no ordinary storm. The disciples are in pure panic! Their boat was taking on water, and they were sure they were going die. They rush to Jesus' side, who is sound asleep, and they cry out to him " Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Jesus simply cries out "Peace! Be Still", and then addresses his disciples. "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"
What does the text say next about the disciples? Verse 41, And they were filled with GREAT FEAR. After Jesus rebuked the storm they were even more fearful than they were during the storm. I love the picture Mark gives us. He states in verse 39 that after Jesus rebuked the storm the wind ceased AND there was great calm. There was no more wind. No more waves, Not even ripples in the water. It was COMPLETELY calm, and all this was by Jesus's simple words "Peace! Be Still!". I imagine at this moment the disciples realized that the power of the storm they had just faced was nothing compared to the power of the Man inside their boat. I love what Timothy Keller says about his exchange of words between Jesus and His disciples at this moment.
"Jesus calmed the storm, and then he responded to them. Did he say, I can understand how you felt? No he asked, ' why are you afraid?' Can you imagine what the disciples must have been thinking? What do you mean, why are we afraid? We were afraid we were going to drown. we were afraid you didn't love us, because if you loved us, you wouldn't let these things happen to us. But Jesus's question to them has behind it this thought: Your premise is wrong. You should have known better. I do allow people I love to go through storms. You had no reason to panic...Why were they more terrified after the storm? Because Jesus was as unmanageable as the storm itself..His power is unbounded, but so are his wisdom and his love. Nature is indifferent to you, but Jesus is filled with untamable love for you. If the disciples had really know that Jesus loved them, if they had really understood that he is both powerful and loving, they would not have been scared." (The King's Cross)
It is so easy to get carried away by the storms we face. Remember Jesus's words in Mark 4:40 " Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" Jesus loves us, and because he loves us he allows us to face storms, but he doesn't leave us alone. When are struggling with faith in Christ, remember that he is the author, giver and object of our faith! Reach out to him.The trials, we face, that seem as if they are going to consume us, are no match for our God. When the disciples began to sink, and had given up hope, they rushed into Jesus's presence. It is when they sought Jesus that Jesus rescues them. It was not in the disciples hands and their timing, but in His.
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