And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he 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?” 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?” (ESV) Mark 4:36–41
Jesus's life was written with purpose. Every word He spoke had meaning, and everywhere He turned He was fulfilling an ancient prophecy. And the life and love of Christ is carefully preserved for us in the Gospels. That is why I read the Gospels not as a dry and dusty biography, but as a story that is alive, and a story that is revealing how our King is working in today's world. Unlike other old biographies, we are reading about a Man who is alive, and on the Throne. Mark teaches us not just of Christ's previous works, but of His current ones, too.
The metaphor of this particular passage and how it applies to us is widely taught...Jesus, the King of kings and the LORD of lords is in our boat, so we may not fear when storms come.
As I was reading this chapter again, though, something stuck out to me. The entire time, Jesus was in control. He caused that storm, so His disciples might learn more about the Person in their boat, and so we, 2,000 years later, might learn about the same One in ours.
Sometimes when our storms don't stop, we get into a mindset of "doesn't God care?" Maybe we're looking in the wrong direction. Because sometimes Jesus isn't speaking those words of peace into outward storms, but into the storms of our hearts, where the constant battle of life and death is being fought.
Maybe right now at this point in your life, Jesus isn't speaking to the sea. Maybe He's speaking to you. Telling you to be still for a second. The storms may rage on and you may feel helpless, forgotten by God, when it's actually you that's forgotten Him.
In Christ we are given security, rest, and peace, despite our circumstances. In Him we can build our hope, because during times when we look around and only see waves thrashing and it looks like Jesus isn't calming them, He is still speaking those words, peace...be still into us. Let them sink in. Let Him sink in. The greatest source of peace isn't based on weather, it's based on Christ and our heart for Him.
We are fully capable of having a great calm in our hearts without the calm waves surrounding us, and I pray you find that. That you hear those words spoken into the waves of your heart, stilling it, calming it, renewing it.
I'd love to close with this beautiful excerpt from Psalm 107, a prophecy of the One who stills it all. Know as you read that whether in body or in heart, He is leading you to your desired haven, if only you submit to Him, and allow Him to.
Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. (ESV) Psalm 107:23–30
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