MAY 26, 2015
Calming
The Storm
Read:
Mark
4:35-41
He
arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the
wind ceased and there was a great calm. —Mark 4:39
While Hurricane
Katrina headed toward the coast of Mississippi, a retired pastor and his wife
left their home and went to a shelter. Their daughter pleaded with them to go
to Atlanta where she could take care of them, but the couple couldn’t get any
money to make the trip because the banks were closed. After the storm had
passed, they returned to their home to get a few belongings, and were able to
salvage only a few family photos floating in the water. Then, when the man was
taking his father’s photo out of its frame so it could dry, $366 fell
out—precisely the amount needed for two plane tickets to Atlanta. They learned
they could trust Jesus for what they needed.
For the disciples,
trusting Jesus in a storm was the curriculum for the day in the dramatic
narrative of Mark 4:35-41. Jesus had instructed His disciples to cross to the
other side of the Sea of Galilee and then He went to sleep in the boat. When a
quick and violent storm blew in, the disciples dripped as much with fear and
anxiety as water from the waves. They woke Jesus, saying, “Teacher, don’t you
care if we drown?” (v.38 niv).
Jesus stood up and with three words, “Peace, be still!” He muzzled the storm.
We all experience storms—persecutions, financial troubles,
illnesses, disappointments, loneliness—and Jesus does not always prevent them.
But He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5). He will keep
us calm in the storm.
Are you in a storm? What do you know about God’s character that
could help bring calm to your heart?
In the storms of life,
we can see the character of our God.
INSIGHT:
Mark 4:35–5:43 records four miracles that answer the question asked in 4:41:
“Who can this be . . . ?” They demonstrate Jesus’ absolute power over nature
(4:35-41), the spiritual world (5:1-20), physical illnesses (5:21-34), and
death (5:35-43). Each miracle shows Jesus as the Omnipotent Sovereign God. In
Jewish minds the power to control the sea and the waves was exclusive to God
(Job 38:8-11; Ps. 65:5-7; Isa. 51:10; Nah. 1:3-5). It’s interesting, however,
that in today’s passage Mark provides an amazing contrast. Just before Jesus
displayed the awesome powers of His deity by calming the sea, we are given a
touching picture of His frail humanity: Jesus was so tired that even the
violent tossing of the waves did not wake Him (4:38).
Source: Our Daily Bread 2012
