Are you going through one of life's storms? You need to know if anyone cares. Does Jesus care what happens?
If you have visited Israel then no doubt one of your fondest memories of the trip is the Sea of Galilee. This area has so much natural beauty with the fresh water lake surrounded by mountains. Then there is the awe of the significance this sea has played in biblical history.
On a calm day there is such a peaceful atmosphere surrounding that lake. But the Sea of Galilee is not always calm. Storms can rise up suddenly. The lake is 600 feet below sea level and the surrounding hills and stir things up very quickly when a cold front moves over the hills and into the low area. Storms can arise suddenly on this otherwise quiet lake. It is in one of these storms that this story takes place.
Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)
35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Jesus able to calm the storm
After a busy day of ministry when the evening came Jesus instructed his disciples to leave the crowds of people and get into the boat to head across to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is asleep in the back of the boat on a seat cushion. One of the sudden storms come up. It is probably worse than normal if it upsets these disciples who are four of twelve seasoned fishermen. Waves were coming over the boat and they were about to be swamped.
Jesus is sleeping all this time and disciples wake him up. They rebuke him. Teacher don’t you care if we drown?
Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said the waves, Quiet! Be still!
That is all it took. At the command of Jesus the storm is over the sea is quiet. The wind died down and there is calm on the sea. Jesus Christ worked a miracle and showed his authority over nature.
In the Old Testament one of the works of God is He “who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.” Psalm 65:7
In the New Testament Gospel of Mark establishes Jesus Christ is God and has the authority to calm the seas.
Mark has shown:
Jesus has authority over sickness.
Jesus has authority over spiritual principalities.
Jesus has authority to forgive sins.
Now we see Jesus has authority over nature.
In the next chapter Jesus brings Jairus’ daughter from the dead and shows Jesus even has authority over death. Jesus is Emmanuel God with us. No wonder Jesus has complete authority.
Jesus Christ is ruler of all nature. He could and did command nature. Creator of the universe was asleep in the back of the boat. Even the wind and sea obey him. The disciples were terrified. There fear changed from fear of the circumstances to fear of God.
Sea of Galilee
When the storms in your life rage why turn anywhere but to Jesus? When you come before Jesus you come before the creator of the universe who can shoulder any burden you have.
Jesus cares about those in the storm
The disciples made an amazing statement. Don’t you care about us?
That is a question we can ask today when the storms of life rage around us, when the waves are crashing in ready to swamp us. Where is Jesus? Doesn’t he care we are in trouble?
The disciples felt Jesus was neglecting them. They were annoyed at Jesus. There was even a hint of the disciples rebuking Jesus. We will drown for all you care.
It is not the only time that Jesus has been subject to rude accusations. Many people when they find the circumstances are distasteful they get harsh. Where are you Jesus? Don’t you care?
Storms are common on the Sea of Galilee and they come fast and furious. I probably don’t have to remind you that storms come in our life too. We are tempted to think Jesus doesn’t care.
Jesus cares about you personally. Time and time again Jesus proves that he does care. He knows when a sparrow falls to the ground. He cares about you. All Jesus needs to do is say quiet, be still and the storm is quiet. Jesus offers peace in the storm.
Jesus presence makes all the difference. Without Jesus the disciples are swamped. Jesus desires to comfort his people ravaged by life’s storms. He cares more about you than you could ever know.
Our call to faith in Jesus.
There is a lot of rebuking in this story. The disciples rebuked Jesus. Jesus rebukes the wind and the waves. The most penetrating rebuke of all is Jesus to the disciples. Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?
The disciples had been with Jesus. They had seen him work great miracles of healing that astonished the crowds. As yet it still was not clicking for them. They asked who is this. Even the wind and sea obey him.
This is the Christ, the promised messiah, creator of the universe. The Kingdom of God came to earth.
The lesson for each of us caught in one of life’s storms is have faith in God. Trust Jesus. God is still on his throne. We are called to faith. It is our lack of faith that causes fear. Jesus can hush the winds that cause the storms in everyday life. We need to place our faith in Jesus.
We are to walk by faith not sight. Of course you can’t see the outcome of your storm. That would be sight. Why are you so afraid? You have been with Jesus for so long. Do you still have so little faith?
The disciples failed to recognize Jesus presence, protection and power. You are called to trust Jesus in your storm. That is faith. Jesus says have faith I will take you through life’s storms. Trust him.
