Jesus Calms the Storm
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4 v35-41
I love this account in Mark’s gospel as it clearly shows the very human side of Jesus. The crowds had been with Him all day and Jesus had delivered a full teaching programme to His disciples and the crowds who were thronging around Him. Jesus had taught the lessons of the new kingdom and His parables and by late afternoon He would have been drained and exhausted. Had He gone on to the shore from the borrowed boat the crowd would have followed Him and so at His request they launched the boat out on to the lake. But even then, a little flotilla of small boats attempted to follow. There was to be no respite for the weary Jesus. He needed time to be away from the crowd, to find a little solitude, peace, and rest. Mark tells us that Jesus was asleep on a cushion in the stern of the boat. The stern of the boat had a wooden bench with perhaps a leather cushion placed on it where a boatman could take a rest or even sleep for a while. It was here that Jesus was fast asleep.
I love the reality and the personal touch of the details that Mark adds to the account. Jesus is weary and sleeps. Sometimes for us too, being with the crowd, no matter how wonderful, can be draining and it is not wrong to want to be in a quiet, solitary place. We all need rest, recovery, and recuperation at times.
The boats were heading towards the Gentile lands of the Gadarenes on the other side of the lake. A sudden and violent storm appeared which threatened to overwhelm and endanger the boat. Storms were common on the lake and the experienced sailors would be used to handling their boats in the many different weather conditions, squalls, and storms. But this storm was different- fierce and frightening and the waves threatened to capsize the boat. They had never seen anything like this before. The wind was a tempest and the raging waves large enough to overwhelm and sink the boat. The sailors feared for their lives. And yet in the storm, Jesus remained asleep on a cushion in the stern of the tossing boat.
The sailors had done all that they could to stabilize the boat and feared shipwreck and loss of life, and so finally, in desperation, they woke up the sleeping saviour and called out, “save us Lord, we are dying.”
There was panic, alarm, fear, distress, and manic activity to deal with the emergency but Jesus calmly took control of the situation. In His calm voice and with quiet authority, He ordered peace to the wind and stillness to the waves and the storm immediately disappeared and all was calm. Jesus then challenged His disciples. Surely you should realize that because I am with you then no harm will come to you. The boat could not be lost while ever Jesus was with them. His followers only then began to realize the nature and the power of this Jesus. “Who then is this that the wind and the waves obey Him?” The sudden calmness and stillness were perhaps just as alarming as the storm had been.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Psalm 107 v 23-29
Sometimes we may wonder where Jesus is when we are going through the mill and dealing with tough situations or when we hear of frightening things happening in our world. It may seem as if Jesus is not aware of our distress and inactive or that He is even sleeping. But He is there. He is always there. Call out to Him. The simplest of prayers will do-Help!
Wake up, Lord! Why are you asleep?
Rouse yourself Don’t reject us forever!
Why are you hiding from us?
Don’t forget our suffering and trouble!
We fall crushed to the ground;
we lie defeated in the dust.
Come to our aid!
Because of your constant love save us!
Psalm 44 v 23-24 GNT
When I lie down, I go to sleep in peace; you alone, O Lord, keep me perfectly safe. Psalm 4 v 8
PRAY
Lord I am weary. I am overwhelmed and my energy is low. I need your rest. I need your resources.
This world is sometimes a disturbing and a frightening place. The world news is distressing. Yet I know that you are there. We need your voice to bring peace and stillness to a troubled world.
We are troubled by what is happening in Ukraine and we cry out, “Help, Lord.” We pray for your peace.
Amen
Jane Coates