A Great Calm

Mark 4:35-41 (KJV) 

"35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he 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? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Emphasis mine)

I love that phrase Mark records here-"a great calm."

Not just calm, but a great calm!

That's what I'm looking for. 

FROM COMMAND TO CALM

Before we get to the calm, let's consider the command. 

Mark 4:35 (KJV) 

"...He saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side."

Jesus, God in the flesh, declared the destination—"the other side." He said nothing of the possibilities between here and there. He also didn't say that they were to go to the other side. He said, "let us." Meaning that He would accompany them. He would be in the boat, and whatever happened to them would happen to him. 

The command was to pass over to the other side. Midway through, the excursion encountered a life-threatening storm. Does this new development change the eternal word of God? Of course not!

We must rest in God's Word and trust His motives toward us.

SMOOTH OR SAFE?

There's a vast difference between smooth sailing and safe sailing. Jesus has promised us a safe journey but not a smooth one. 

John 16:33 (KJV)"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV) "18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen."

As we confuse safe with smooth, we panic when things get out of control. Outside of our comfort zone, we become controlled by fear and doubt. Much like the disciples, we begin to question whether Jesus cares at all. 

STORMS WITHOUT OR WITHIN?

Living on the Gulf Coast, I've been through many hurricanes and tropical storms. It's bad enough to have a storm affecting you from the outside, but when the shelter you're in is compromised, it can cause significant damage on the inside. 

The same is true spiritually. We always face spiritual storms, but it's another thing entirely when it affects our trust in God. 

Mark 4:37 (KJV)

 "And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full." (Emphasis mine)

I'm convinced that nothing is in the Bible by accident. Details matter. The storm the disciples are facing has now made its way into the boat and, more importantly, into their hearts!        

CARING OR CARELESS?

Mark 4:38 (KJV) "And he 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?"

Now that the circumstances have made it into the boat, they question whether Jesus even cares about them. He seems indifferent to their plight, but nothing could be further from the truth. He told them they were going to the other side. The storm has nothing to do with it. Jesus was resting because He trusted His Father. 

John 8:29 (KJV)

"And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him." (Emphasis mine)

Jesus trusted in the truth of His Father's abiding presence. The disciples needed to learn this lesson as well. Jesus was in the boat with them, but they needed to discover He was more powerful than the storm. 

FEARFUL OR FEARFUL?

Mark 4:40-41 (KJV) 

"40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Better to fear and reverence The Lord than to fear the elements! They were fearful of the conditions but became exceedingly fearful after experiencing the power of Christ. 

Do you need a great calm in your life today?

Jesus IS the peace you so desperately seek. Let Him prove to you that He's the Master over the storms of your life!