August 21, 2022

Mark 4: 35-40 (NIV)

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 . . . in the boat. . . . 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?”

The God who brings storms is also the God who calms storms.*

This story reveals much about Jesus as God and human. Let’s take a look:

1. His humanity: he had been preaching, and dealing with people all day. The human was tired and needed to get away. So tired that he fell asleep among a boatload of people. 

2. His attitude: would perplexed aptly describe how he felt? How could his disciples have witnessed all that he had done so far and still ask themselves, “Who is this?” 

3. His plan: how could they doubt that they would cross over safely when the trip was Jesus’ idea in the first place? 

4. His power: he controlled the weather! If you were a witness to his mastery over the elements, wouldn’t you believe he was God? 

Knowing that Jesus was God inside a human body, how can we doubt that he has the power to overcome anything that we might face? As a man, he understands – he can relate; as God, he conquers. Trusting in him allows us to rest peacefully as our boat is tossed about on the waves. We know that we will cross over safely because this trip is part of his plan.

God became a man so we could trust him. He became a sacrifice so we could know him.*