“And they were terrified and asked one another, ‘Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!’”
During biblical times the open water was seen as a place of chaos. A day on the sea could quickly turn into your last day on earth. Raging storms, strong winds, and high waves would quickly move into the area and bring utter chaos. The Jewish people thought that the sea was untamable, unpredictable, and uncontrollable. Stepping into a boat meant that you were stepping into a potentially chaotic situation.
Jesus and the disciples rowed into such a storm in Mark 4:35-41. That morning and afternoon was full of teaching and instruction. Jesus taught a large crowd using parables of sowing seeds. As evening came Jesus instructed the disciples to jump into a boat and sail to the other side of the sea. During their voyage a strong storm threatened to sink their boat. The winds were raging. The waves were swelling over the boat.
The darkness of the night mixed with the power of the storm turned a peaceful boat ride into a chaotic voyage. I imagine that once the storm hit this small boat it was all hands on deck. The disciples would have grabbed a paddle and began paddling into the waves to keep the boat afloat.
But where was Jesus? Was He helping out? Not at all. Jesus was asleep on a cushion in the stern of the boat. The chaos that threatened the disciples was no threat to Jesus. The disciples, overwhelmed by the wind and waves, woke Jesus up and cried out, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” (Mark 4:38) Jesus woke up, told the wind and waves to be still and the wind and waves obeyed. Jesus is not thrown off by chaos.
Life can be just as unpredictable.
- Circumstances change.
- Finances fluctuate.
- Situations arise.
- Relationships end.
Chaos threatens to overtake our life, our joy, and our hope.
Jesus calmed the seas to show that He controls creation and that He can order the chaos in our lives. There is nothing left to fear when we are in the presence of the Savior. Jesus is our calm in the chaos. He will not abandon you in your time of need. Jesus may not remove you from the situation but He will strengthen your faith and hope. Jesus is our constant in the chaos.
Live It:
- What chaotic situation is threatening your hope and joy?
- How can you 1) remember the Jesus is sovereign over the chaos and 2) rely on Jesus to provide spiritually, mentally, and physically during the chaos?
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Chase Snyder
Writer, Pastor
