Through the Bible - 2 Kings 10-11, John 5:30-47
Good morning,
For today's verse we'll go to Mark chapter 4, a familiar passage where Jesus "calms the sea". It is also recorded in Matthew 8 and Luke 8.
The disciples and Jesus were on the sea at night when a storm came up, a violent storm. While Jesus is sleeping on a pillow or cushion the disciples are fearing for their lives. Finally, they wake Him, basiscally saying "don't you care that we are about to die?"
This is one of those scenes that I'd like to see reproduced by Stephen Spielberg and see it in a theatre, the wind, the waves crashing over the side of the boat, possibly lightning, with the added affect of "dolby" sound. I think you get the picture.
Jesus gets up and says "peace be still" the sound quickly, unaturally goes to silence, the waves cease, and there is a "great calm".
Today's verses show Jesus response to them followed by their reaction to the whole scene.
Mark 4:40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!" NKJV
In the passage there is no indication that they prayed or tried to wake Jesus before they were "about to die". Don't we sometimes let the storms build up before approaching God?
But what is recorded is their response. There fear now was not being hurt by the storm, but a reverence for the power of One, the only One who could have done what they had just witnessed. He said the word and the wind and waves obeyed.
Then He asked "how is it that you have no faith"?
He had been teaching them the parables and explaining the meaning. Now He was beginning to reveal to them who He truly was.
There is so much displayed in this passage. Faith and trust (or lack of it), authority and power, and the One who displayed this power was their friend.
Anyone that has ever been through a tornado or hurricane will never forget it. (The Greek word for "great wind" can also mean whirlwind"). Those who have gone through the traumatic storms of life will never forget it. Let us not forget the One who can bring us through or say in the middle of it "peace, be still".
Today's daily bread had this poem:
Under His wings I am safely abiding;
Though the night deepens and the tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him - I know He will keep me;
He has redeemed me and I am His child. Cushing
Read the passage below. Think about it during the day today.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Mark 4:33-5:1
Jesus' Use of Parables
33 And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.
Wind and Wave Obey Jesus
(Matt 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25)
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him,"Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"
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