Go On to the Other Side

Thoughts for the Day April 28, 2020

Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4: 35-41)

³⁵ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Good morning. Do you ever feel like you are following God’s lead yet you are still battling much resistance. When we believe we are in tune with God, we sort of expect to escape the storm don’t we? In the Gospel story where Jesus calms the storm the disciples follow Jesus’s command to “Go over to the other side” (Mark 4:35).  They obey his instructions but still find themselves in the midst of a severe storm. They seem to see  His response as delayed or lacking concern (“Teacher don’t you care if we drown?”).  In their trouble they call out for help.

Christ may  seem void in our time of distress, but have you ever considered that it may be a time of  testing or strengthening of our faith?  His reply is “Why are you so afraid” Do you still have no faith?”(40). Next time we meet such challenges, why don’t we face the storm before us by shouting to those raging winds and  furious waves by saying, “ you have no power over me…for Christ our Savior is on board!” If you want to be fervent in the Lord remember to “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” (Eph. 6:10). Daniel Crawford says,  “Christ said ‘Let us go over to the other side’—not ‘to the middle of the lake to be drowned.’” Have a blessed day!