How has this week been for you, life is certainly different for all of us? As I have spoken to friends on the phone their response has been varied from fearful to rising to the challenge of the times. This week my attention has been drawn to the account of Jesus in the boat during a storm. In this short account four questions were asked. These questions speak powerfully to us today.
You may like to read the scripture in Mark's Gospel chapter 4 v 35-41.
Later that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” They left the crowd and took him in the boat just as he was. Other boats followed along. Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat so that the boat was swamped. But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?” He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, “Silence! Be still!” The wind settled down and there was a great calm. Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?” Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!” (Common English Bible)
Jesus had finished his ministry to the crowd and was making his way across the lake with his disciples. Some of them were experienced fisherman, but these were different circumstances, the ferocity of the storm created fear in their hearts. Their passenger, Jesus, seemed to be oblivious to the situation. In this short account four questions were asked. These questions speak powerfully to us today.
The disciples asked Jesus, ‘Teacher, don't you care if we drown?’ Many people today are questioning ‘Where is God in this turmoil?’ In normal times they give no thought to the things of God, yet at this time they want to blame God. For us, as God's people, we can have the confidence to believe that God is in the midst of all that is happening, just as he was in the boat.
Jesus asked a first question ‘Why are you so afraid?’ I'm sure most of us can think back to times when our lives seemed to be falling apart. Maybe it's been illness, family problems or work situations. We find ourselves in an unknown place and we feel very insecure. Often, we keep those fears to ourselves and they keep coming back to us, particularly in the night hours. We may question ourselves about being so weak, one consolation for all those in the boat is that all the disciples felt that shared fear. I find it good to share my concerns with others, so they can support me in troubled times.
Jesus went on to ask ‘Do you still have no faith?’ We are told to walk by faith and not by sight, it's so easy to do that when times are easy, yet so hard when they are dark, yet our Christian life is a faith walk. Jesus said that faith can move mountains. Can we say that we believe God will bring us through this time, can we say that whatever happens to me God is still in control of my life? Do we believe we will have a stronger faith at the end of this time? My prayer is that each one of us will grow in our faith.
At the close of the incident the disciples asked the question ‘Who is this?’ Jesus had the final authority over the storm. He proclaimed stillness and peace over the waves. As we come to Him, he wants to impart his calm over our lives. We know the answer to the disciple's question, Jesus is Lord of all, his creation, and each of our lives. He has known us since conception, he has plans for us even in these hours.
So, take heart people of God, you are a chosen people, a people belonging to God. You are a people of destiny, nothing that happens to us goes unnoticed by God.
If you would appreciate a simple act of worship, try viewing Church Without Walls on the Revelation TV channel. I'm sure you will be blessed.
May this coming week be a blessed time as we walk in the peace of the Lord.
Your friend, John Mutton
