Sun 21 June: Teacher, don’t you even care that we are all about to drown?

Mark 4: 35-41

As evening fell, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took him just as he was and started out, leaving the crowds behind (though other boats followed). But soon a terrible storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of water and about to sink. Jesus was asleep at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. Frantically they wakened him, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are all about to drown?” Then he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Quiet down!” And the wind fell, and there was a great calm! And he asked them, “Why were you so fearful? Don’t you even yet have confidence in me?” And they were filled with awe and said among themselves, “Who is this man, that even the winds and seas obey him?”

Food for thought!

Our storms of life bring us to the point where we realize that we have nowhere to go, but to God. In a moment of overwhelming desperation, the disciples after laying on their own located the storm, finally called out to Jesus: “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are all about to drown?” We’ve all been there, at one time or another. If you haven’t experienced a storm in your life, then praise God; but, get ready because Jesus assured us, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33)

If you aren’t currently in a storm, be on the lookout. The enemy is looking for an opportunity to send the perfect storm into your life. He is well aware of our deepest desires and our innermost struggles. Satan not only attacks us where we are weakest; more often, he attacks in those areas where we feel we are strongest. He knows exactly where pride exists. How many times have we judged others and said, “I’d never do that. That could never happen to me… I’m too loving, too giving, too faithful, too loyal, too obedient, too prayerful, too dedicated to God. Besides, I go to church on Sunday!” Before we know it, we find ourselves in the midst of that very storm; we’re dazed and confused, wondering how we got there and how to get out.

This miracle is for you and me to understand the purpose of the storms in our life and how to persevere through them. By applying this miracle to our life, we will find out that God can calm all of our storms . . . if we will just call on Jesus IN FAITH. The miracle in the storm on the Sea of Galilee revealed the Disciples’ lack of faith in Jesus as the Son of God. Although they had witnessed Jesus perform many miracles, they still had doubt about who He really was. It was through this miracle that their faith was truly put to the test.

The Disciples were not exempt from a test of faith and neither are we. Faith isn’t faith, unless it requires taking a step into the unseen. It doesn’t take faith at all to cling to what you see. The faith that God is after is a faith that clings to Him and isn’t threatened or destroyed by adversity and uncertainty. You know that you have genuine faith when common sense tells you to stop believing, to stop praying, to stop forgiving or loving, but you continue to trust God anyway, you continue praying, you continue forgiving or loving.

Did you notice that it was Jesus that deliberately drove his disciples into the storm? He said to them: “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” And after getting into the boat he slept! What Jesus teaches us here is that it is him who leads us into storms or problems of our life; that those our problems are not only known by the Lord, they are also permitted by him.

The storm on the Sea of Galilee was a test. Jesus knew there would be a storm. He knows about every storm in your life, too. As you know, God doesn't tempt us but he tests us, in order to grow us. You see, sometimes we bring storms on ourselves through sin, poor judgment, or just a lack of experience; some storms may come by the wrongdoing of other people to us. No matter how the storm is brought about, God will use it for good. Remember Romans 8:28, "God uses everything for good for those who love him!"

It is in and through our storms that He desires to do something awesome in and through us. He uses the storms to get our attention, like He did with the disciples. At the end of today's gospel reading the disciples were filled with awe and said among themselves, “Who is this man, that even the winds and seas obey him?” Yes, in every storm and problem of our life there is something good that we get; in every storm stands Jesus.

Rest assured, in every storm, God is bringing you to your knees, so that you can witness His hand lifting you up. The message that God needed the Disciples to understand was that it was by faith alone that they could be saved. It’s the message He wants you to know, as well. People are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work (Romans 4: 5).