Mark
4:35-41
Jesus
Calms the Storm
That
day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us
go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they
took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also
other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves
broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was
in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him
and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
He
got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet!
Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely
calm.
He
said to his disciples, " Why are you so
afraid ? Do you still have no faith?"
They
were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even
the wind and the waves obey him!"
This
scene with Jesus and his disciples is quite riveting. The storms
which often appeared on the Sea of Galilee were by no means
small matters; these typically were frightening storms which
could in the right circumstance easily swap a boat. Notice that
Mark calls it a “furious squall.” This truly was a life and
death matter.
The
fear, then, of these disciples is easy to understand. The boat
was being swamped, the waves were crashing in, and the boat
was in danger of capsizing. I don’t think there are many of
us here who wouldn’t be frightened in such circumstances.
Life
can at times bring us moments and experiences which tear at
our sense of comfort and security. It might be the diagnosis
given by the doctor. It might be the fear that your job is in
jeopardy in this uneven economy. It might be a significant but
fragile relationship. It might be problems which come with aging.
It might be concern for a child who is having life or school
issues. It might be struggling with an emerging failure. In
any case, each of us at the right time in the right situation
can know what it is to be frightened.
Here
in Mark’s version Jesus doesn’t categorically chastise the disciples
for being afraid; he chastises them for being “ so
afraid .” That is, Jesus challenges them because their
fear is deeper than he thinks it should be; especially given
that he is in the boat with them.
The
essential truth here is that even deeply faithful Christians
have times of uncertainty and fear but when we let our fear
paralyze us, stifle us emotionally and spiritually, shut us
down, then we’re failing to draw upon the sustaining power and
presence of God! God may not prevent the storm in your life
and mine, but He clearly is ever ready to help us through the
storms! In that should lay our confidence and our trust!
.
I continue to wish
for you and for me a Holy Lent
