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"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. He said to them, 'Why are you?so afraid? Have you still no faith?' 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 4:39-41.
If you have heard it once you have heard it a thousand times, "As Jesus calms the storms of the sea, He can calm the storms in your own life." Which is true; Jesus can calm any and all storms. But please remember, that is not what this text is about!
It is interesting, we have a tendency to read the Bible in a very ego-centric or self-centered way. Do you remember science in class when it was initially believed that all the planets in our solar system revolved around the earth? It was Nicolaus Copernicus who instead suggested that the planets actually revolve around the sun, not the earth. He was right.
Likewise, the Word of God teaches that God is always to be at the center, not us. In this text, there is a message that is much bigger than just God calming the storms of your life. Instead, we see God, the maker of all storms, seas and winds, calm a storm to show He is Lord over all. And perhaps, more specific to this story, is that Jesus is God.
After a long day of teaching with big crowds and lots of people, Jesus suggests they "go across to the other side," and it's recorded "…they took Him with them, just as He was" (v.35-36).
Remember many of these men were fishermen who grew up on the Sea of Galilee. They knew very well how the cold air from nearby Mt. Hermon could mix with the warm air from the sea which caused bad storms with strong winds to develop very fast. This one was exceptionally bad.
It says, "a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so boat was already filling" (v.37). These experienced fishermen thought they were actually going to die; the disciples were in fear. They panicked, they questioned, doubted and even screamed, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" (v.38).
Have you ever thought or screamed those exact words? Perhaps, when the winds are blowing, the waves are crashing, your little boat is getting tossed about, you are wet, cold, and scared and you ask "God, do you even care?"
It is easy for us to think that if we trust God, He will simply remove any and all hard or scary times; but that is simply not so. We do not read that here or see that anywhere in scripture. Rather we are told to expect storms.
Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble" John 16:33. That is why, in moments and times of fear, we need to remember, there is no place that God does not exist. Regardless of the deafening thunder, the fierceness of the wind and the sting of the driving rain against your face. Remember, "I will never leave you…" Hebrews 13:5 Know that. Trust that.
When Jesus woke up, two amazing things happened.
First, He spoke. Verse 39 reads, "He rebuked the wind and said to the sea Peace! Be still!"
Second, the storm obeyed. "And the wind ceased and there was a great calm."
For a brief moment, they saw the majesty, the power and glory of Jesus unveiled. They witnessed His Lordship over nature in all of His force. Like a bright flash of lighting in the midst of darkness, everything was illuminated and the disciples saw Jesus "just as He is," in His glory!
In the storm, when the boat was filling with water they were in fear, but in the calm, they asked in "great fear, who then is this, even the wind and sea obey Him?" (v. 41).
Jesus is more powerful than any storm, and thankfully, Jesus loves you. Why then, when the storms arise, do you doubt His love? Remember this, the next time you feel the rain on your face and the winds whipping around you and be reminded about who Jesus is.
Just as Jesus reigns and rules over the forces of nature, you can be assured that when He reigns and rules over your life, He makes peace where there is a storm.
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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week's column comes from Rev. Tim Boger, senior pastor of Big Woods Bible Church in Lock Haven.