Mark 4:35-41
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!”
Searching for Answers
Have we not all been where the disciples were on that boat? A place in life where all you can ask is, “Jesus, don’t you care about me?” Or, “God, are you really out there? I need you more than ever right now, but you just don’t seem to be here when I need you.”
In the midst of life’s crashing waves, blowing winds, and darkened skies, we wonder if we will make it. Much like the disciples, we get scared, angry, confused, broken, bitter, and lost. Our ship is filling up with water and there is no hope in sight.
This is life at one point or another. The storms will eventually come if they haven't already. They will come in all shapes and sizes, big and small, life altering or daily annoyance. Perhaps they might look like this:
- An outcast who sits in the locker room, picked on and made fun of because he doesn’t do the same things his teammates want to do.
- A father & mother who watch their son sit the bench game after game not really knowing what to do.
- A player who loves playing the game of hockey facing a major injury, unsure if he will ever play again.
- A family with practices & games that seem to always conflict with church, who feel frustrated, alone and missing their church family.
- A young player who works so hard, yet always seems to take the coaches abuse, absorbing ridicule and injustice.
Those are just hockey examples. Life will undoubtedly bring more. Whatever they are we join with the disciples, turn to Jesus, and ask “why”.
Jesus responds with better questions
But Jesus reminds us of a different way. A way opposite of worry and fear. A way opposed to anger and bitterness. He tells us the way is faith. But before he reminds his disciples of this faith thing, he gives them a visible reminder of who controls all things, just so they get a real clear picture of the reason for faith.
He does this by rebuking the wind and saying to the waves, “Quiet, Be Still!” With three words the storm was shut down. This is power. This is amazing power. Couple this with the fact that this is the same person who loved you so much to give his own life for you on the cross and you have the recipe for faith. Jesus has both the means to calm the storms in our life and the motivation. Power and love.
These two things, Power and Love, give him the ability to say, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Live a life of Faith
Jesus loves you dearly and he has the power to provide everything you need in all circumstances. It just takes a little faith to trust that he knows what he’s doing. So, don’t be afraid and know that the one who holds the world also holds you.
