Reflection from my reading in Mark 4:21-41 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

I had the privilege of seeing the Sea of Galilee myself during a minor storm. (See above picture) It was amazing to feel the wind and imagine what Jesus and his disciples experienced during the major one they experienced!

Now, when we look at stories in the Bible we need to make sure that we are seeing them as examples and not make them say more then they are meant to. With that said, here is the main principle from this story…

Have Faith in The Storm

The storm surprised the disciples and the waves were crashing in the boat to a point where it was in danger of sinking. Meanwhile, Jesus was sleeping! The disciples woke Jesus up and in their anxiety said,

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:38

In that moment, they were not trusting that Jesus cared about them.

Do you ever question God’s love when you are going through a hard time? 

For many people, the storms of life are the times where their faith is most tested. It is hard for people to believe that God cares about them when they can’t see the way out of the squall.

Peace! Be Still!

In spite of their lack of faith, Jesus helped them out. This is good news, because very often he helps us out when we don’t have faith.

“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. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Mark 4:39–40

Jesus first rebuked the wind and the sea, then he rebuked the apostles for giving in to fear and for their lack of faith. Jesus used this situation as a lesson on faith for the apostles and for us.

No matter how crazy the storm we are in, we need to trust Christ.  

He doesn’t promise to always calm the storm right away, but we can still trust him in the middle of the storm. Here’s the disciples’ response to this amazing miracle.

Who Is This?

“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 4:41

This verse has special significance for me because I am a surfer and I am well aquatinted with the power of waves and the sea. It is comforting to me that he has power over one of the seemingly most uncontrollable things in the world.

The apostles were starting to get a picture of the extent of Jesus’ power. The only one with complete power of the natural world is the creator. Jesus showed the disciples a glimpse of his divinity in that moment as they rightly realized that Jesus was not ordinary man!

No matter how bad the storm, trust that Jesus cares and have faith that he has the power to get you through it.

And for those of you whose storm ends in death, know that there is a place of peace and calm waiting on the other side for those who put their trust in him!

Share on Facebook or Twitter #1YWJ