After a whole day of teaching the multitudes on the shore of the sea, He himself sitting in a boat, Jesus said to the disciples, "Let us pass over to the other side. 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. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awoke Him, and said unto Him, Master, Do You not care that we perish? 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. And He said unto them, Why are you so fearful? how is it that you have no faith?" (Mark 4:35-40)
The last words let us into a great secret; indeed, the whole narrative shows us the same thing, namely, that the disciples ought not to have been terrified, notwithstanding the boisterous wind and the threatening waves. "Why are you so fearful? how is it that you have no faith?" (Mark 4:40)
If they had faith, they would not have been fearful; that is plainly indicated; and that they ought to have had faith is as plainly implied.
But faith always rests upon fact, and the fact in this case was that they were in no more danger than the Lord himself was; and that He did not regard the situation as dangerous, is shown by the fact that He slept peacefully, and by His calmness when they awoke Him. "Do you not care that we perish?" (Mark 4:38)
As much as to say, "Are you utterly indifferent to our danger? Can you live and enjoy your ease, while we go to the bottom of the sea? Is that all the regard you have for us?"
Thus did they in their unreasoning terror reproach the Lord. But their reproach was as foolish as it was undeserved; for He was in the boat with them, and it could not go to the bottom with them, without taking Him also. No danger threatened them that did not threaten Him also. They were as safe as He was. Anyone who reads the narrative can see that this is so.
The seeming indifference of Jesus was not carelessness, but confidence. He had the faith which they lacked. He knew that none could pluck Him out of His Father's hand. When He at last voluntarily yielded himself into the power of death, "It was not possible that He should be held of it." (Acts 2:24)
Much less, then, could the sea swallow Him, although "the prince of the power of the air," (Ephesians 2:2) had lashed it into fury against Him. And here is another thing to be remembered, and that is, that the storm was raised against Him, and not against the disciples. It was He, and not they, that Satan wish to destroy. But notwithstanding the rage of Satan, Jesus was safe.
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies.
--Mary Ann Baker, Hymn: Master the Tempest is Raging, 1874.
"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8) "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:20) "I will not leave you orphans." (John 14:18,margin)
Jesus is with us as really as He was with the disciples in the boat on the stormy sea. He had been with His people in the most ancient times; for we read of the wanderings of Israel: "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them, and carried them all the days of old." (Isaiah 63:9)
And since He is the same today as then, we know that He shares all our troubles. Still more plainly is this truth stated. Read: "For the Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; He compassed him about, He cared for him, He kept him as the apple of His eye." (Deuteronomy 32:9-10,RV)
So the Holy Spirit inspired the psalmist to pray, "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings." (Psalm 17:8)
This prayer, inspired by the Holy Spirit, must be answered, "For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." (Hebrews 4:15)
What an amount of unnecessary fear and worry we might save ourselves, if we would learn and remember the lesson taught by the story of Jesus on the sea:
• There is not a danger that threatens us, that does not likewise threaten Him.
• There is not an affliction that presses us, that does not in equal measure afflict Him.
• Not a temptation comes to us that does not touch Him.
• Every sin that we bear, He bears also.
He is with us, and He cares for us, and He is abundantly able to deliver us, for He himself has found deliverance. "Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." (Hebrews 5:7-9)
Remember that Jesus came in our flesh. He was not here on His own account, but on ours.
• All that He suffered and endured, was for us.
• Whenever danger threatened Him, it was our danger.
• If the sea would overwhelm Him, it was only that we might perish.
• Satan sought to destroy Him, but only that we might be lost.
But Satan did not succeed. Christ was kept; and since it was our sufferings that He endured, and our dangers that He shared, it follows that His victory and His deliverance is our salvation. "The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
Jesus rested in the midst of the storm. He was care free, but not careless. Even so we, without being careless or indifferent, may "Cast all our care upon Him, knowing that He cares for us," (1 Peter 5:7) and so be free from care, as He wishes us to be. If we do this, living in constant trust, we are as safe as He himself is. "Underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deuteronomy 33:27)
Therefore, "Rest in the Lord." (Psalm 37:7)
For He says of those to trust Him, "I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:28)
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o'ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.
--Fanny Crosby, Hymn: Safe in the Arms of Jesus, 1868.
--Present Truth, February 24, 1898--Timeline: IV-26 (The Storm on the Lake)--Mark 4:35-40.