Drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed, edited and approved by Jeff Robb. Scripture is quoted from the King James Version.
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Key passage: Mark 4:37-41 (KJV)
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Reflection
It had been a long day. Jesus had been teaching by the sea, sitting in a boat because the crowd was so large. That evening He said to His disciples, Let us pass over unto the other side.
Several of these men were fishermen. They knew the Sea of Galilee. But Mark tells us there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. This was no small squall. Experienced sailors thought they were going to die.
And where was Jesus? He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow.
They wake Him with a question that sounds a lot like our own prayers sometimes. Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Jesus gets up, rebukes the wind, and says to the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark uses the same word, great, for both. A great storm, and then a great calm.
Then Jesus turns to His disciples. Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
It's worth noticing that the storm came while they were obeying Him. Jesus had told them to cross over. Being where God wants us doesn't mean the weather will always be calm.
And it's worth noticing that Jesus was in the boat. His sleep wasn't carelessness. It was perfect peace. He knew who He was and where they were going. He had said they were going to the other side.
At the end, the disciples feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? Their fear of the storm turned into awe of Jesus.
Most of us have storms of our own. Some blow up suddenly. Some last a long time. And in them we can feel like the disciples did. Lord, don't You care?
He does care. He is in the boat. And the same voice that said Peace, be still to the sea can speak peace to a frightened heart. Sometimes He calms the storm. Sometimes He calms us while the storm goes on. Either way, He hasn't left the boat.
Cross-references
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are in the boat with me, even when I feel like You're asleep. Forgive me for my fear and little faith. Speak peace to my heart today, and to the storms around me. Help me to trust that You will bring me to the other side. Amen.
For today: Whatever storm you're in today, remember who is in the boat with you, and ask Him to speak peace.