Mark 4:35 That day, when evening had come, Yeshua said to them, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. 37 A furious windstorm arose, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was close to being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern on a cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, “Rabbi, doesn’t it matter to you that we’re about to be killed?” 39 He awoke, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind subsided, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no trust even now?” 41 But they were terrified and asked each other, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the waves obey him?” (Complete Jewish Bible).
When they looked back, the disciples must have felt a bit foolish. They were so sure of the danger--the storm was raging, the boat was sinking and their master was sleeping. But then, with just a few words, Jesus stilled the storm and all was well. When their survival had seemed impossible, it turned out salvation was mere moments away.
So often, the problems that cause us trouble in the present moment look laughably small in the rear-view mirror. Though this reveals our shortsightedness, it also reveals the power of God to deliver. God's power makes imposing mountains into molehills. Life's struggles and challenges are real and threatening, but God's power to save is more real still.
God of power, you speak and the storms have no choice but to obey. Make me to trust in your power so that the most violent tempest may be no more than a ripple. Amen.
John Guthridge, '15
Pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grandview, Wash.
Mark 4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."
36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.
37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
38 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?"
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
When they looked back, the disciples must have felt a bit foolish. They were so sure of the danger--the storm was raging, the boat was sinking and their master was sleeping. But then, with just a few words, Jesus stilled the storm and all was well. When their survival had seemed impossible, it turned out salvation was mere moments away.
So often, the problems that cause us trouble in the present moment look laughably small in the rear-view mirror. Though this reveals our shortsightedness, it also reveals the power of God to deliver. God's power makes imposing mountains into molehills. Life's struggles and challenges are real and threatening, but God's power to save is more real still.
God of power, you speak and the storms have no choice but to obey. Make me to trust in your power so that the most violent tempest may be no more than a ripple. Amen.
John Guthridge, '15
Pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grandview, Wash.
Mark 4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."
36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.
37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
38 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?"
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
(New Revised Standard Version).
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