FOCUS Day Nineteen | Mark 4:35-42
DAY NINETEEN | Mark 4:35-42
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
ASLEEP IN THE STORM
From the beginning of Jesus’s earthly ministry, He operated out of a spirit of invitation, welcoming those who would join Him to live a life that was upside down to the system of the world. This was evident in His teaching that we should love our enemies and bless those who persecute us. To suggest that the first would be last, or that servanthood was the best path for those who wanted to be the greatest, revealed the kingdom that He came preaching was simply not of this world.
In this passage from Mark 4, Jesus invites his friends to join Him as He crosses over to the other side of the sea. What he doesn’t say at the time of the invitation, is that a great storm is on its way. As the wind and waves begin to crash on the bows of the boat, we find Jesus at the bottom of the boat fast asleep.
Have you ever been in a storm on a boat in the middle of the lake?
I have, once, when I was in middle school. We were on my cousin’s pontoon boat during a family reunion when a thunderstorm approached. The lake was relatively small, but when the wind picked up and the sky began to pour rain, it seemed that we would never make it back to shore. With every flash of lightning, and every crack of thunder, fear filled my heart, and I was certain that we would be the headline on the evening news.
I remember the other kids on the boat were frightened along with me, and most of the adults looked concerned as well. But not my cousin, the one who’s boat that we were on. He seemed completely calm and there was a look in his eyes that said he might even be enjoying this moment.
The fact that he was not freaking out was both comforting and a little annoying. Every time one of the little girls would scream as the thunder echoed off the lake, Mike would smile and say it was gonna be all right. I definitely had my doubts, but he successfully guided us back to the dock where we departed and dashed to our cars as the deluge continued.
I remember getting into the car with my mom and dad, and explaining to them what had happened on the boat in the storm in the middle of the lake. I think I wanted them to be upset that we had been put in a dangerous situation, but instead they just reassured me that we were OK and that everything was going to be fine. As they talked, I realized that it was a good thing that the one who was calm and confident was the one who was guiding the boat to safety. As scared as I was, and as responsible as it felt for me to worry about the situation, the truth is that we were In safe hands the whole time with the one who was at peace in the midst of the storm.
When I read the account of Jesus sleeping on a boat in a storm in the middle of the lake, it reminds me of that day and my cousin Mike. I can just imagine the disciples feeling a bit annoyed as the seemingly oblivious Christ was napping in their moment of crisis.
Jesus was really good at rest. That is why it shouldn’t surprise us that He was sleeping in the midst of a storm. Jesus carried peace with Him everywhere that He went. I believe that peace was present in Him because He was more in tune with the atmosphere of Heaven than He was with the circumstances around Him.
He operated by doing what He saw His Father doing, and He never saw His Father operating from a place of panic. Keeping His eyes on His Father kept Him in perfect peace, because He was fully confident that His Father was good, and able to keep Him no matter what was happening around Him. When we are able to rest in the midst of adversity, it demonstrates that we truly live from a place of trusting in God.
As the disciples trembled with fear and decided that it was time to wake Jesus from His nap, Jesus remained in a place of rest. As He rebuked the winds and waves, He was unleashing what He was carrying in His heart onto the circumstances around Him.
Peace, be still.
Because peace was a part of the culture of His heart, Jesus was able to release it with an authority that silenced the storm and astounded His friends. Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?
This story reminds me of what Jesus told His friends in Matthew 11:28-29 when He promised to teach them how to have rest. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
This is what makes Jesus’s invitation to us so spectacular. He not only invites us to come and receive rest from Him, but He tells us that He will be gentle and He will teach us, that we can learn from Him. I hope that you will remember this the next time you find yourself going through a storm and your heart begins to fear. Jesus is with you, He wants to teach you to live in His rest, even in the midst of the adversity.
I pray that you would have courage to accept the invitation the next time that Jesus invites you to cross over troubled waters. In the midst of those uncomfortable moments, He will be present with you, speaking His peace, releasing His power and authority over you. You can trust Him.
