Mark 4:37-39 - Even in Storms There is Peace in Jesus!
Mark 4:37-39 (NRSV) 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!
INTRODUCTION
Problems occur in every area of life. The
disciples needed rest, but they encountered a terrible
storm. The Christian life may have more stormy
weather than calm seas. As Christ's follower, be
prepared for the storms that will surely come. Do not
surrender to the stress, but remain resilient and
recover from setbacks. With faith in Christ, you can
pray, trust, and move ahead. When a squall
approaches, lean into the wind and trust God. [Life
Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Safe In The Storm
A colleague who traveled frequently
throughout the Middle East was in a car with some
missionaries driving through the Jordanian desert, along
the King's Highway, when a sandstorm blew up.
They were on a mountain pass with low visibility.
Though an experienced traveler, my friend said his
knuckles were white until one of the missionaries
said, "Don't worry. I've been this way before."
They pulled off in a safe place and enjoyed a
peaceful visit until the storm passed. That's what
peace with God is like.
Even the birds know peace: though the
thunder and lightning rage, the little bird can
sleep in the crevice of the rock, its head tucked
serenely under its wing, sound asleep through the
storm.
Jesus was asleep in a boat when a storm
like that arose. The disciples were terrified and
woke Him: "Lord, we will perish; save us!"
Jesus "said to the sea, 'Peace, be
still!' And the wind ceased" (Mark 4:3 9).
In Christ, we can be at peace in the
midst of the confusions, bewilderments, and
perplexities of this life. The storm rages, but our
hearts are at rest.
What safe place has the Lord provided you in
the past? [Peace for Each Day by Billy Graham]
COMMENTARY
The storm ceases. The billows sink to
rest. The clouds roll away, and the stars shine
forth. The boat rests upon a quiet sea. Then
turning to His disciples, Jesus asks sorrowfully,
"Why are ye fearful? Have ye not yet faith?"[1
R.V.].
When Jesus was awakened to meet the
storm, He was in perfect peace. There was no trace
of fear in word or look, for no fear was in His
heart. But He rested not in the possession of
almighty power. It was not as the "Master of earth
and sea and sky" that He reposed in quiet. That
power He had laid down, and He says, "I can of
Mine own self do nothing."[1 JOHN 5:30.] He
trusted in the Father's might. It was in
faith--faith in God's love and care--that Jesus rested,
and the power of that word which stilled the
storm was the power of God.
As Jesus rested by faith in the Father's
care, so we are to rest in the care of our
Saviour. If the disciples had trusted in Him, they
would have been kept in peace. Their fear in the
time of danger revealed their unbelief. In their
efforts to save themselves, they forgot Jesus; and
it was only when, in despair of
self-dependence, they turned to Him, that He could give them
help.
How often the disciple's experience is
ours! When the tempests of temptation gather, and
the fierce lightnings flash, and the waves sweep
over us, we battle with the storm alone,
forgetting that there is One who can help us. We trust
to our own strength till our hope is lost, and
we are ready to perish. Then we remember Jesus,
and if we call upon Him to save us, we shall not
cry in vain. Though He sorrowfully reproves our
unbelief and self-confidence, He never fails to give
us the help we need. Whether on the land or on
the sea, if we have the Saviour in our hearts,
there is no need of fear. Living faith in the
Redeemer will smooth the sea of life, and will
deliver us from danger in the way that He knows to
be best. DA333-7
There is another spiritual lesson in this
miracle of the stilling of the tempest. Every man's
experience testifies to the truth of the words of
Scripture, "The wicked are like the troubled sea, when
it cannot rest There is no peace, saith my
God, to the wicked."[2 Isa. 57:20, 21.] Sin has
destroyed our peace. While self is unsubdued, we can
find no rest. The masterful passions of the heart
no human power can control. We are as helpless
here as were the disciples to quiet the raging
storm. But He who spoke peace to the billows of
Galilee, has spoken the word of peace for every soul.
However fierce the tempest, those who turn to Jesus
with the cry, "Lord, save us," will find
deliverance. His grace, that reconciles the soul to God,
quiets the strife of human passion, and in His love
the heart is at rest. "He maketh the storm a
calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then
are they glad because they be quiet; so He
bringeth them unto their desired haven."[1 Ps.
107:29, 30.] "Being justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
"The work of righteousness shall be peace, and
the effect of righteousness quietness and
assurance forever."[2 Rom. 5:1; Isa. 32:17.] DA333-7
ILLUSTRATION
A terrible storm hit the area last night.
Boards were ripped from fences and branches sheared
off trees. As I assessed the damage to our yard,
I noticed our old camellia shrub. It had been
in full bloom when the gale passed through. Now
the ground below it was deep with sodden petals.
Only a few flowers remained on the tree, their
ragged edges revealing the violence they'd
encountered. I stared at those three blooms for a long
time. They were beautiful. They were survivors.
Just like me.
I'm mourning a loss right now, grappling
with a hard lesson - one I'm not yet able to make
sense of. Why are some of us plucked from life
while others are left broken, struggling just to
hang on? Though I don't know the answer to that
question, I am learning to accept the situation. Like
that trio of flowers remaining on the tree, I'm
not alone. Loved ones are riding out this storm
with me, talking, listening, praying, and crying.
Sometimes even laughing.
That trio of camellia flowers is also a
reminder of the trinity that holds firmly onto me.
Throughout all the storms in my life, Jesus is the very
tree I cling to. He's always with me, protecting
me. And just as He settled last night's wind,
He'll calm the storm inside of me too. Heidi Gaul
Faith Step: Place a damaged flower where
you can see it often during the day. Consider
your trials and understand that Jesus is there
for you always. [Mornings With Jesus 2023
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Mark 4:37-39 - Even in Storms There is Peace
in Jesus!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201105-1045.html
Matthew 8:26 - Growing Faith that Works!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2011/20110113-1356.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
