Recently our Sunday morning Bible class was studying the passage from Mark 4:35-41. Perhaps you remember that Jesus had spent the day teaching the crowds, while using some wonderful parables to stimulate their thinking. When evening came, he requested that the disciples take him for a boat ride to the other side of the lake.
As they disciples began the journey, Jesus took a nap, while resting on a little cushion. In fact, He began to be heavy into sleep. I wonder if He ever dreamed as He dozed?
Anyway, as they were moving, a giant squall came up. The boat rocked and the guys doing the sailing did something I cannot image seasoned fishermen might do. Those guys freaked out and were so afraid they woke up the dozing pastor and asked him a strange question. “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
While preparing for the lesson, I remembered an event during our recent excursion to Africa. One early evening, while riding in our jungle jeep with a tour group, the riders on the right side suddenly screamed and even turned a bit shaky. Describing the event to those of us on the opposite side, they explained that a resting, 1,000-1500-pound Cape Buffalo suddenly began to charge our jeep. A modest amount of fear filled their hearts as this huge, approximately ten foot long, belligerent buffalo moved rapidly toward us.
Thankfully, the alert jeep driver swiftly steered away from a potential enemy. All of us survived to share our adventure with friends. Maybe our sailors on the Sea of Galilee screamed a bit also as the charging waves were rocking their boat. Thankfully, however, the Master quickly took action and calm prevailed.
His nap over, Jesus immediately rebuked the winds and the waves. He even spoke to them. “Quiet? Be still?” Yes! Those winds listened to Jesus and peace returned to the sea.
The Lord, however, spoke directly to His future inner circle team. “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Wow! Teacher Jesus pulled no punches. The guys were so terrified they even asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
As I prepared to teach the lesson, a pair of words dashed through my skull, fatigue and fear. Even Jesus was tired after a day of teaching. He needed rest. His disciples, however, experienced the other word most of us know — FEAR. Thankfully, with Christ in control, when life gets really rough, tough, and scary, as well as when all is calm, He can speak to our hearts, hold us figuratively in His arms, and calm our souls. It is interesting, however, to remember that the sailors had to request the Master take over.
Today, I close with two reminders. We each need to seek rest when we are exhausted. Find that quiet place, even in a rocking boat, and renew your energy and spirit. But, in times of fear, and believe me, each of us experiences fear frequently; we must call out to the Savior so He can calm our souls and wrap His loving, caring arms around us. Prayer and Trust in Jesus’ comforting arms will help us survive the storms of life. Plus, we will then have a story to share with our friends, as we witness to God’s power to still the winds that rock our spiritual boat, just like I shared my Cape Buffalo adventure.
Kathryn Ransom 