We’ve all heard the story – Jesus and his disciples were in a boat crossing a lake, after Jesus had spoke to the crowds on the banks of the Galilee. Jesus grabs a cushion and stretches out at the back of the boat and goes to sleep. Suddenly a fierce storm comes, tossing the little boat. His disciples, many of whom were fisherman by trade, being familiar with the sea, were afraid. Afraid enough, to wake the sleeping Jesus, which probably took courage of its own. The disciples said “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” (Mark 4:38)
Picture it. Jesus had spent the entire day preaching to the crowds. Drain and exhausted, he falls asleep to the rocking of the boat as they crossed the lake. Now picture a big, burly disciple (we don’t know who it was – perhaps it was even Peter), shaking Him awake, to say “I’m afraid!” as if a child that’s afraid of the dark and the monster that’s hiding in the closet. Grown men, admitting they were afraid. Now I know it is said that the Sea of Galilee was known for violent and unexpected storms, and I’m sure anyone would have been afraid during that squall. Storms, no matter what their origin, can humble even the strongest of souls.
We learn that Jesus simply wakes up, rebukes the wind and waves to be still, and they obey. Jesus says to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). Now the disciples are even more terrified, realizing that this man can calm a storm with His voice.
But did you catch it? Jesus had faith in the disciples in order to sleep in that little boat. He knew about the dangerous storms that came up suddenly on the Galilee, and He probably knew about that particular storm long before it happened. But He slept. Trusting the disciples with His life.
How often does Jesus trust us with something? How often do we say, “I’m afraid.” The storms we face in our lives often make us feel as though we are tossed and battered at sea, feeling at the mercy of the winds of fate. Whether it is the death of a loved one, financial struggles, battling a disease, or just day to day conflicts. Storms are everywhere.
Jesus knew the disciples could handle the storm. Jesus had faith, the same faith He was asking of them. Jesus has faith in us too. He knows what we are made of, our strengths and limitations, and our fears. Don’t be afraid of the storm. Jesus has faith in us. We need to have faith in Him.
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