How Great is our Lord

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him. A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled. He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?”

He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”

They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-41 (WEB)

Jesus makes the suggestion that they go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Mark makes a comment that Jesus went “even as he was”. What did that mean? If you were going out in a boat on this body of water, would you have taken a cloak? Would you have taken some provisions? Others followed in their boats. And then a storm came upon them. I have read some historical commentaries that say the storms on this sea can have hurricane force winds! I’ve been through a few hurricanes. I would not want to be in a boat through one! I can only imagine how an open fishing boat could take on water in a storm. But Jesus is asleep. I’ve heard it said that Jesus was able to sleep in a boat rocking through a storm because He knew the Creator of that wind and water.

The rest of this story could be Jody and God having the same conversation any day of the week.

Jody: “Don’t you care, God, that I am drowning here?” “Don’t you care that it feels like I am dying?”

God: “I rebuke you who are harassing my child! Be still!” “Jody, why were you afraid? Do you have no faith in me still?”

And they were afraid of the One who could save them.

In various ways I show that I, too, am frightened of coming too close Jesus and actually seeing His power. Seeing and experiencing God is a life changing experience. The day that I recognized the power of God is the day that I also recognize the love of God. It is when I confront God’s power in a given situation that I see how great He is and how unimportant I am. And that is when I know God’s love. His unconditional and extravagant love for even me.

Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. 1 John 3:1-2 (WEB)