Mark 4:35-41
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 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?” 39 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. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 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?”
In the face of power or prestige, fame or fortune, I tend to clam up. I measure myself as unworthy compared to the person I am standing next to. I think that is a very natural human tendency to find oneself constantly measuring up against others. Now imagine you are one of the first disciples that Jesus called and you are constantly measuring yourself up against perfection. It seems very hopeless from our perspective.
I have been "hooked" on a phrase for a while, "The fish doesn't know the water he swims in" (pardon the pun). What that means is that the disciples probably didn't always get that Jesus was that measure of perfection. They didn't always understand that next to them, teaching them, loving them, was the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. But there are glimpses when Jesus does something to prove his majesty to the unbelieving followers.
In Mark's lesson, Jesus gives peace. But notice who is told to be at peace, it is not the disciples, but their surroundings. It is one thing for us as Christians, witnessing and ministering to one another, to offer words of peace to each other. There is only one, however, who can calm the storm, rebuke the winds, command peace and make his followers feel fear. This is the kind of God we serve: a God who has the power to speak peace to the wind, waves, and storm, but offers us peace through his life. The disciples are probably more faithful than we give them credit for. For they did not run away when fear overwhelmed them. Instead, they chose to follow the one who can tell the winds and the waters to "Be Still". Our God is the God who does that not only because he is powerful and loves us, but because he created the world.
Prayer: God of the storm and the peace, as we compare ourselves to your perfect Son, let us not be discouraged from our tasks, but in everything, let us draw closer to your truth. Amen.
G. Thomas Martin
