Mark 4:35-41 “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!”

Jesus made a simple command, "Let us cross over to the other side." The disciples were asked to perform what was a typical part of their life, to take a boat across the Galilee. But this trip became more challenging than others. A response was required to the increasingly threatening conditions. They did all that was within their abilities and knowledge, yet it was futile and the boat was further taking on water. But as they panicked Jesus lay asleep at the rear of the sinking vessel.

"Do You not care that we are perishing? There is a defining contrast of perceptions and responses between the disciples and the teacher. These men, who had already witnessed the miracles performed by their teacher, are anticipating their demise by the conditions surrounding them. Jesus can raise the dead, heal the sick, and cast out demons but not cannot change the conditions they now find themselves in.

"Peace, be still." Three words, one command and the sea ceased its disruption. But so did the disciples cease their panic. His command was as much for them to obey as it was for the storm. Jesus will speak the same to you today in whatever storm you are in if you would seek him. Rather than be in a panic over the conditions of your life or the world, rather than fearing for your life, look at your teacher, peaceful with his head on a pillow, at rest in your boat. Our seeking of the Lord's intervention is often an afterthought. A last ditch effort to respond to our storm. Why is this? We, like the disciples, don't grasp the totality of who Jesus is. In the eyes of the disciples he was a man, a rabbi, a teacher, a prophet, but short of who he truly was, the Christ and son of God. This can be our mistake as well. Cease your panic and ask the Lord to reveal himself to you. Look to him and learn from his restful disposition that he has the power to bring peace to your storm and peace to your heart.

Blessings

pBob