Text: Mark 4:35-41
“And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’” —Mark 4:41
They called it the “unsinkable” ship. Titanic was a state-of-the-art craft and the largest vessel built in its time. Yet just four days into her maiden voyage, the luxury liner became an icy graveyard for over 1,500 people at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean after striking an iceberg on April 14, 1912.
Tragically, Titanic wasn’t unsinkable.
However, we do find a true unsinkable boat in Mark 4:35-41. This one wasn’t unsinkable because of its massive size or astute engineering. Based on archaeology, this type of boat was probably about 26 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 4 feet high. No, this measly little vessel wasn’t unsinkable because of human prowess, but divine presence.
What’s interesting about this passage is that Jesus led his disciples right into a violent storm. Jonah once ended up in a storm because of his disobedience, but the disciples found themselves in a precarious storm because of their obedience to Jesus. Following Jesus doesn’t immunize us from hardship or trouble. Sometimes following Jesus puts us in difficult situations. Yet the same Jesus who commanded the disciples to go into the storm also promised them where they would end up. Jesus didn’t say, “Let’s go perish in the middle of the sea.” No, he told his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.”
Yet, Jesus had the audacity to go to sleep on them in the middle of a crisis. They protest his apparent indifference: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Sometimes it feels like Jesus is sleeping as we go through the storm, like God led us into a place and forgot about us. It’s in times like these that we should remember that the same Jesus who was asleep in that little vessel one stormy night at sea, is the same Jesus who speaks to the winds and waves in our lives—and they listen.
Jesus awoke, rebuked the storm, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Then he asked his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Jesus didn’t say, “Wow, what a storm!” Instead, he marveled over the disciple’s lack of faith. The storm could not disturb Jesus, but the unbelief of His disciples did disturb him. I wonder if He might put forth a similar question to us? “After all that I have done in you and for you, why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” It takes a mature faith to trust the “sleeping” Jesus in our storms. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, storms in life are inevitable. In times of weakness, we struggle with doubts and fears. We are even vulnerable to feeling sorry for ourselves. We confess that we often struggle with deceiving thoughts about how you care for us. We bring our sin of unbelief to you. We ask you to strengthen our faith. Holy Spirit, remind us there is always a beautifully redemptive ‘other side’ to the storm. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:
- What do you find most fascinating about the story of the Titanic?
- When have you felt that God led you into a storm and then went to sleep?
- In what ways have you seen the “beautifully” redemptive side of storms in your life?
- If thinking that Jesus doesn’t care about us is an indication of a lack of faith, how would you measure your faith right now? This past week?
- In what ways can you prepare yourself to go through life’s storms with more faith and trust in the ONE Who truly is unsinkable?