Jesus Calms the Storm
A blaze of white light flashes across the sky. They hold their breaths and stare out into the dark vast of emptiness before them as they count under their breaths
One, two, three — the rumble of the thunder shakes the waves. They cover their ears, screaming for help.
The fishermen anticipated the storm and prepared for it. They were trained and experienced; they grew up sleeping and waking up to the rocking boats and the floor swaying among the waves. But the currents were stronger than they could ever grasp. This storm was different. Shouts of panic filled across the boat.
“Don’t let any more water get in the boat!”
“We need to get the shore! Now!”
“Get the water out of the ship or we’ll sink! Call the other men!” The captain shouts. Water seeps in the boats.
“Where’s the rabbi?”
A number of the fishermen went down the stern. Their panicked states turn into confusion as they saw him in the stern, sleeping peacefully, amidst all the noise and chaos of the outside world.
The men stood in disbelief and shook him awake.
“Rabbi! Rabbi!”
Jesus woke up with his eyes slowly blinking and taking in what was happening.
“Rabbi! The ocean! The storm! We’re drowning! Didn’t you hear the thunder? Didn’t you hear the waves crashing and destroying the boat? Don’t you care that we might die in the sea?!”
Rising up from his cushion, he walked out of the stern and saw the men, still struggling and failing to control the boat, and the storm. The rabbi put his hands up, and shouted, “Peace! Be still!”
And just as quickly, the ocean’s waves have calmed down. The sea falls asleep. The wind has become a gentle breeze. The men stop and stare at the Rabbi. It was as if… he commanded nature, and it obeyed Him.
The rabbi turned to the men who had gathered around him, and asked, “Why are you still so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Fear clung to their hearts. “Who is this man? That even the wind and seas obey Him?”
Mark 4:35–41
There are times when we are the disciples. In the midst of trouble, we feel like we are drowning. Drowning from our responsibilities, drowning from the world’s noises, drowning from our own expectations for ourselves and the expectations of others. We are consumed by our own thoughts and fears, and we feel that Jesus doesn’t hear them. Sometimes, we feel that He doesn’t care, just like the fishermen, His disciples do.
“Jesus, do you not care that my life is falling apart?”
“Jesus, do you not care that I just got fired from my job?”
“Jesus, do you not care that my dad just got diagnosed and we’re looking for a hospital? Do you not care that he is dying?”
“Jesus, do you not care?”
Sometimes, it might look like He does not care, when it’s the very opposite. He does care. And you can call upon Him, and ask Him to save you. You don’t have to wait for the last minute. He is your Rock. He is your Anchor. He is your ever-present help in times of trouble.
In times when you live in fear, may you call out to Him, and ask Him for your help. He knows what to do. He knows how He can rescue you.
Have faith. Not in your circumstances, not in your job or your family. But have faith, saving faith, in Christ. It is Him who will save you and bring you through the storm.
