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Posts Tagged ‘Mark 4’

Jesus “was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? — Mark 4:38

Jesus was accused of not caring three times in the New Testament.

One of those occasions was after he had spent the whole day preaching. He and the disciples were headed to the other side of a the lake when a storm started to capsize the ship.

Many of the disciples were experienced fishermen so they did what they knew best — they bailed water. But it was too much for them and they were sinking. Not Jesus, he was sleeping. They thought if he cared he would be frantic like them, after all if the ship sinks he goes with it — maybe not! Maybe he would walk away and leave them drowning.

It wasn’t that Jesus didn’t care, it was that he trusted his Father. That trust is at the heart of why this story is in the Bible. He peacefully slept while all around was in turmoil because he knew that at the right time the Father would show him what to do, even if it was strange, that it would work, and they would all be ok.

Panic never solved anything in a good way. Trust, rest, calm action when prompted — that’s what God wants us to learn through the storms.

— fritz

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Panic in the Storm

Jesus and his disciples were on the sea when a windstorm threatened to capsize their boat.  The disciples were frantic, doing their best to not go under, but Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat.

[T]hey woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to die?”

Then he got up, ordered the wind to stop, and said to the sea, “Be still, absolutely still!” The wind stopped blowing, and the sea became very calm.

He asked them, “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith yet?”

They … asked each other, “Who is this man? Even the wind and the sea obey him!” – Mark 4:35-41 (God’s Word Translation)

I’m not sure what the disciples expected Jesus to do, probably pick up a bucket and start bailing, but they didn’t expect what happened!

Jesus is more powerful than we can imagine and more aware than we know. I don’t think he was chiding them for their request for help; I think he chided them for their panic and low expectations.

We’re not like that, are we?

– fritz

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