Headed to the Other Side
That day when evening came, he 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!”
Mark 4:35-41
Friends,
I have a lot of favorite scriptures. It’s a bit of an occupational hazard. This is one, where Jesus calms the storms. I love it because there are so many storms in this life. So many times when the winds get high and the waves get rough. I need Jesus in the boat with me. Like the disciples, I am often afraid, but Jesus calls out faith to extinguish my fears.
Life is full of uncertainty, pain and problems, so I bet you know about fear and have seen your share of storms. As it has been said, boats are safest in the harbor, but they weren’t built to sit safe. They were built to set sail. The same is true for us. We want to stay safe and comfortable, but Jesus says “Let us go over to the other side.” On the other side, there is new life, freedom and hope. On the way there is a chance of storms, but the Lord is with us, and to the storms and to our fears, he says be still.
Headed to the other side,
Pastor Ben