Mark 4:35-41 That day when evening came, he (Jesus)
said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 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!”
Just the
other day, I was listening to the Christian Radio station and the Pastor was teaching
on this passage of Scripture. Years ago, I heard another lecture on the same
passage by Christian Psychologist Gary Smalley. When seasoned fisherman get
scared, then it must be a serious situation. Dr. Smalley’s point was that Jesus
did not say: “Let’s go half way across the lake and drown.” This is why Jesus asks
the disciples: “Why are
you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” I hadn’t seen that
before then. When Jesus says something, we can and should believe it, because
it is the truth, despite our circumstances and situations.
The Radio
preacher, Alistair Begg, had another great point. Jesus is in the back of the
boat sleeping through the chaos. The disciples wake Him and He got up, rebuked
the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died
down and it was completely calm. They were terrified and asked each other, “Who
is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” The One who
created the elements of nature, has control of the elements of nature. Jesus is
the Creator.
Genesis 1:1 & 26 explains that: In the beginning God (“elohiym”,
the plural form on God – the Trinity) created the
heavens and the
earth. Then God said, “Let us make man in our
image, in our likeness. Also, in John 1:1-4 it tells us: In the
beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all
things were made; without him nothing
was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life
was the light of men.
The
supernatural is unnatural for us, but we must come to an understanding that the
supernatural is natural to God. With great faith and trust in our Creator Lord,
what do we have to fear? When Jesus is in the boat with us, we can rest assured
that we are getting where He says that we’re going. He is always in control!
Isaiah 45:8 “You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the
clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow
with it; I, the Lord, have created it.
In Christ,
Brian
4 comments:
I heard an excellent sermon on this in which the point was made that the experienced fisherman and sailors thought they could handle any situation they encountered on their own without bothering Jesus. Only when they were about to sink did they turn to the Lord for help. This is so much like many of us today when we start getting into a situation. We first rely on our own skills and experience and don't remember that Jesus is on board with us all the time.
Isn't that so true. "I can do it myself" syndrome is alive and well. There is a reason that they call the Christian life "A walk WITH the Lord." Far too often, we walk alone in our thuoght, words and actions, forgetting that the Way, the Truth and the Life is right there in the boat with us, if we'd swallow our pride and ask Him, when the storms of life first appear on the horizon. Excellent point Pewster! Thanks for the comments.
Yes, the supernatural is not ours to understand. And it's a scary world when the circumstances are beyond our control. But aren't all circumstance truly beyond our control? We must rely on Him. Easier said than done sometimes. Thanks for the thought-provoking post, Brian. Happy Friday! :)
Thank you Larri for commenting. The word supernatural simply means beyond the natural order of physical life that we understand with our senses and mind limits. God exists outside of time and space, so how can we understand that? Yet, He does! God is omnipresent (everywhere at the same tim)0, omniscient (knows everything - past, present & future)& omnipotent (all powerful - there is nothing beyond the Creator). How can we really understand that too? Yet, He is!
I would go so far as to say that all circumstances are truly beyond our control though. i believe that the Lord expects His children to have what control that He gives and we have handle. Our Heavenly Father surely does not want us to fear or worry about "things of this world", but manage what we can in a balanced life aligned we His perfect Word, Will & Way ... and to trust Him completely and continuously. As you say, "rely on Him." I'd add "be holy" too. That is where the love, joy, peace and happiness flow out of. Great points sister.
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