We come to the marvelous magnificent miracle of Jesus calming the rough sea. But where does this all begin? It begins with Jesus simply directing his disciples to go the other side of the lake. Other boats followed His boat full of followers. It is not just Jesus’ crew who is caught in a storm not predicted. Is Jesus tired, getting a power nap between miracles and teaching?

Where he is resting peacefully is interesting to me today. He is at the BACK of the boat. All the others are wrestling with the storm in the front. Panic sets in as they bail out the water rushing over the sides of the boat. But panic does not make the situation better. Bailing the never ending, powerful sea water that is gushing in quicker than they can bail is useless. Jesus, the Son of God, is awakened, not by the rushing wind and waves, not by the panicked shouts of men but by a few who come to Him, touch Him, and cry out to Him..”Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?”

I wonder if Jesus waited for them to come to Him, admit their lack of faith through their panicked actions and reactions to the situation at hand? Was Jesus watching from the back of the boat (stern) waiting for the right time for yet another lesson in complete faith and trust in Him? Yes, they are reprimanded with “Why are you such cowards?” Ouch.

Waves of physical illnesses are happening right now to people I love…even the family dog is ill. “Don’t you have any faith at all?”
Ouch. Again. Yes, dear Jesus, I do. I cannot heal. You do. I cannot bail out these waves any faster than your followers tried to do in their storm. So I call on you, wait to listen to your command and will, and believe. I trust in You alone for you are God and i am not.

And I am in awe, too. “Who is this, anyway?” they asked then…I will shout it out, You are the Son of God who died and rose again, defeating evil, saving us from all sin. You are in control and we are not. Thank you for Your Word that brings peace to my overwhelmed heart, my tossed around by the waves mind and calms the sea of my tired soul. ONLY YOU can do that!

Mark 4, The Message

The Wind Ran Out of Breath
35-38 Late that day he said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side.” They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, “Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?”

39-40 Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith at all?”

41 They were in absolute awe, staggered. “Who is this, anyway?” they asked. “Wind and sea at his beck and call!”

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this lesson and assurance. Thank you for all You are and all You do. Continue to go with us. We cry out again today for wisdom, insight and understanding. We trust in Your peace.