Thursday, January 9, 2014
Mark 4:37-38 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?"
JESUS THE STORM-STILLER
This was appalling. Here they were fighting for their lives, and Jesus was taking a nap, as if they were back in Capernaum in someone's living room. In the voice of the disciples we hear contempt, " ... Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
This accusation has fallen on God throughout the course of human history, and still falls on God today. God, don't you care about the hungry? The homeless? Don't you care that I've lost my job? That I have cancer? That my child has died? That my friend has left the church? Can't you see what's happening on this planet, God? Don't you care?
The underlying implication is this: If God really cared, He'd listen to us and solve our problems--how and when we think they ought to be solved. Obviously His disciples weren't thinking about all these things, but with their words they were expressing doubt that God was really watching over them.
And so Jesus did something. Jesus didn't just still the storm in order to save these men from drowning. Jesus stilled the storm so that He could speak to them, and address the greater problem they faced out there on the lake: they were drowning in doubt and fear.
By stilling the storm Jesus showed those men, and us, that he has the power to calm the storms we face in life. But he does this in his own time and in his own way. For he has the greater picture in mind instead of our limited view. When we face turbulent days, let us remember that Jesus does care. He proved that on the cross when he suffered and died to open heaven to sinners like us. In the heart of the storm, may Jesus be our source of peace, not doubt.
