Jesus (Still) Calms Storms

Key Verse to Read and Treasure

Then he arose and rebuked he wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” and the wind ceased and there was a great calm.—Mark 4:39 (NKJV)

For Insight

Twelvemen in a boat. With the exception of Jesus and a few others all the rest were fishermen by trade so they would have been familiar with running into storms at sea. For them to have been afraid was an indication of how severe the storm must have been.

Think of your own profession. You probably know your stuff. You know what you’re doing when it comes to your job. If you’ve been at it a long time there probably isn’t much you can’t handle and it might take a lot to rattle you. Think of the people you know in various professions and how well trained they are. When they tell you something shook them up or they felt a respectful fear at a certain moment you get the picture of how serious the situation must have been.

No matter what kind of storm we encounter—meteorological or otherwise—storms can be scary and for a while we might wonder if we will survive. When a storm attacks our health, our finances, our relationships, our marriage, if we don’t know with certainty that Jesus is in our life-boat or know that he can command the storm and speak a word that can calm the situation we might think we are going to drown just like the disciples feared for their life.  

Mark included this miraculous event in his Gospel, not so we could focus on the intensity of the physical storm but on the outcome due to the presence and power of Jesus. He included it so we could be assured Jesus is with us in our storms also.

The disciples weren’t sure if Jesus was aware of the storm, he was sleeping after all. So they did what anyone one of us would do, they became afraid. Until Jesus stood up and spoke to the waves they forget the Healer and provider was I the boat with them. We’re just modern-day disciples facing our own storms and prone to forgetfulness. The same admonishment Jesus gave them he gives to us, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mk. 4:40)

Jesus, forgive us for not having the level of faith we need. We’ve read about and even experienced your miracles, still whenever a storm arises we panic. WE pray for our storms to be quieted but we also pray that our faith in you is increased. Amen       

Application:

Are you going through a storm presently? On a scale of 1-10 how’s your faith in God holding up?