I have studied and worked on memorizing the book of Mark for years, but it wasn’t until this week when I sat down to study my VBS lessons that I realized I had been missing something in the story of Jesus calming the storm.
I always read it and focused on Jesus’ power to calm the storm.
But I never thought about earlier in the story.
When Jesus told his disciples, “Let us cross over to the other side.”
I never thought about how Jesus knew about the storm, but still told his disciples to cross over.
And they listened to him. They crossed to the other side. Unaware of the windstorm ahead.
As the waves crashed over the boat, nearly swamping it, the disciples thought they were going to die and woke Jesus who was sleeping on a pillow.
I think I’ve been missing a huge truth this story tells.
Jesus might tell us to go or do something and we might be obedient, but we also might find ourselves in the middle of a storm.
Doing what Jesus asks us to do might sometimes be scary.
But Jesus sleeping on a pillow in the midst of the storm demonstrates he isn’t worried. In fact, he is completely comfortable with whatever events take place because he is ultimately in control.
He rebuked the wind and commanded the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
He is able to speak, “Peace, be still!” to us as well.
If he can command the wind and the waves- if he can sleep peacefully in the midst of the storm he knew was coming, we can have faith he’s in control, his ways are best, and we can trust him no matter what we’re up against.
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. Mark 4:39
