38 But He (Jesus) was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
Mark 4:38-41
Have you ever been in a windstorm? That’s a silly question to ask around these parts. Of course you have… on any given day there could be a significant gust of wind. But when this happens we go inside. At least most of us. I remember watching a trampoline fly away when I was a few steps away holding cinderblocks in both hands. I watched it go, went back and set down the cinderblocks, and went back inside.
But the disciples weren’t inside a house, they were inside a boat. It was evening and Jesus said, “Let’s go across to the other side.” There was no argument from the others so we can assume that the conditions were fair. But conditions can change in an instant.
The storm came out of nowhere and the waves were threatening to sink the vessel. And Jesus was asleep – like REM, deep dreaming sleep. Or was He? Either way, the disciples had to shout at Him to rouse Him from His slumber.
Have you ever been in a car in a windstorm? It feels like the car may lift off the ground. There’s nowhere to go, unless you can find shelter. We give the disciples a hard time because they saw Jesus day in and day out and they were still dumbfounded by His miracles. But we have the Bible. We have the Holy Spirit. We have the chronicles of His life on earth. And, when things get out of control, when our conditions change in an instant, we shout. “Jesus, don’t You even care that I’m about to drown?”
When Jesus wakes up He doesn’t scold the disciples. He calms the wind. But even if He didn’t, what He says next is the part I can’t shake. “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Even after everything He’s done. Even after the times He has proven Himself faithful again and again. My default seems to be the shout. “Jesus, don’t you even care that I’m about to drown?”
He does care. And you’re not going to drown in your current circumstances or situations out of your control when you stay in the boat. Abide in Christ. Keep crying out to Him. Trust in the One who has proven Himself faithful over and over again.
We are Central… and we’re in this TOGETHER!
SOLI DEO GLORIA
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