Jesus and His disciples were on the Sea of Galilee, when so furious a storm arose that their boat was almost swallowed up by the waves. The tempest raged, and the waves tossed the little craft, and the disciples were helpless with terror; but Jesus was "in the hinder part of the ship asleep on a pillow." (Mark 4:38)
At last the disciples came to Jesus, and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we perish." (Luke 8:24)
Some even said reproachfully, "Master, do You not care that we perish?" (Mark 4:38)
It seemed to them, in their blind fear, that Jesus was almost selfishly indifferent about them. They felt that they had been neglected.
The Master never turned away from a cry of distress, and He at once arose, saying to them as He did so, "Why are you so fearful?" (Mark 4:40)
Then He rebuked the raging winds and the boisterous waves, saying, "Peace, be still. [And immediately] there was a great calm." (Mark 4:39)
What a wealth of instruction there is for us in this short narrative of facts! Note first the power of Jesus over the elements. His word had brought them into existence. "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth." (Psalm 33:6) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3)
By His word their existence was maintained. "Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, andthat are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." (Colossians 1:13-17) "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:1-3)
And the same word could control their fierceness. He rebuked the winds and waves, just as a mother rebukes her children when they become too boisterous in their play. The words, "Peace, be still," are identical with, "Hush, be quiet." It was but a trifling thing to Him.
But it was a mighty act, nevertheless, and the ease with which He did it, shows His greatness. No wonder the disciples wondered, and said, "What manner of Man is this! for He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him." (Luke 8:25) "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8)
His message to us is, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth;" (Matthew 28:18) and, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:20)
We may know, therefore, that He is as actually with us in all times of need, as He was with the disciples in the boat on the Sea of Galilee, and that His power to protect and deliver is the same now as then.
This being the case, what calm confidence we may have. In the height of the storm He said to the disciples, "Why are you fearful?" (Matthew 8:2)
There was no cause for fear as long as He was with them. He has said to us, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrews 13:5-6)
He speaks peace, and He is Lord of all: "The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (He is Lord of all)." (Acts 10:36)
If we listen to His word, it will give us peace, no matter what our trouble may be.
The boat could not go down with the disciples without taking Jesus down too. But it is impossible for us to conceive of His being swallowed up by the sea which He himself had made. So instead of saying that He was in the same danger that they were, we should rather say that they were as safe as He was. They could not go down while in the same boat with Jesus; so none of us can perish while we have His presence with us.
He slept in the midst of the storm. It was not the sleep of indifference, but of confidence. That sleep is not recorded for our curiosity, but for our learning. If the disciples had really known the power and love of their Lord, they would have been as calm as He. There was no reason why they should not be, as He himself implied by His words, "Why are you so fearful?" (Mark 4:40)
From this calmness of Christ, therefore, we are to learn how calmly we are to trust in all times of danger, knowing that He is with us. "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." (Psalm 37:6) "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." (Isaiah 30:15)--Present Truth, May 17, 1894--Timeline: IV-26 (The Storm on the Lake)--Mark 4:36-41.