Day #2723

June 15, 2021

Tuesday’s Thoughts on Scripture comes from Mark 4:37-39: A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. (NRSV)

While we are in the midst of a summer sermon series focusing on some of the Old Testament story highlights, the gospel is being read but not expanded on. I miss talking about some of the nuggets in the ministry of Jesus. Like this one. Jesus and his disciples are going across the lake when a storm comes up. The boat is being swamped and yet Jesus is asleep. He is not in the least concerned or affected by the wind and waves.

I have to admit, the thought occurred to me that perhaps Jesus became grumpy about being awakened from a nap. I know I feel that way. Since I rarely get the opportunity to take a nap in the middle of the day, being disturbed when I do makes me a little irritable. No wonder Jesus speaks quickly to the wind - peace, be still. 

With that idea aside, however, the disciples should have known that nothing would happen to them while Jesus was in the boat. Well, maybe that is being a little too hard on the disciples. After all, Jesus is with us in the boat, too, because he is with us always. Yet, we worry. Will we perish? Will we be persecuted? Will we be misunderstood? We also know of folks who had Jesus with them, who were believers, yet they were harmed or even killed. What, then, about us?

Perhaps the lesson is not that Jesus saves us from every calamity, but that Jesus is with us. In the boat. Always. No matter the storms that rage, Jesus is there and at peace, offering us that same peace with him.  

Blessings. And prayers.