“Who Is This? Even The Wind And The Waves Obey Him”

Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 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?”

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

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

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

Mark 4:36-41

Imagine a world without a wind. Lakes would be calm. Falling leaves wouldn’t blow in the streets. But in still air, who would expect trees to suddenly fall over?

Think about a world with no wind. Trees would grow faster than what is considered normal. Trees also need wind to grow strong.

With the boat it was the same way. Jesus let His disciples experience gale force winds to strengthen their faith.

Today, life in a protective bubble might sound god. But how strong would our faith be if we couldn’t discover for ourselves His reassuring “be still” when the winds of circumstances howl?

God never sleeps.

Our Daily Bread – January 17, 2017