.png)
Articles
Master, we are perishing!
The Sea of Galilee serves as the backdrop for many of the events in the ministry of Jesus. The main hub of Jesus’ ministry was the city of Capernaum, which was located on the northern shore of the sea. The Sea of Galilee is approximately 696 feet below sea level and is prone to violent downdrafts coming off the surrounding mountains, which creates sudden storms over its water. The disciples of Jesus would have been knowledgable of these types of events, because many of them were experienced fishermen who had made their livelihood from the sea. The Sea of Galilee and one of its random storms serves as the backdrop for one of Jesus’ most unique miracles (Mark 4:35-41).
One evening during Jesus’ ministry, He instructed His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee. Once Jesus boarded the boat, He found a cushion and went to sleep in the stern of the boat. The disciples began making the journey across the sea, when all of a sudden a terrifying storm descended upon them. The winds of the storm caused the waves to break over the boat and the boat began to fill with water. In a moment of desperation, the disciples cried out – “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” The disciples’ fear of the storm manifested their lack of faith in the One who was currently asleep in the stern of the boat.
When this storm first arose against the disciples on the Sea of Galilee, why did they not find Jesus immediately? We may be quick to judge the disciples’ failure to act, but where do we turn first when a storm of life approaches? When something breaks around the house - I do not call an expert or friend, but rather I try to fix the problem myself. After I have extinguished all of my patience, I will finally breakdown and call someone who can fix the problem. If I am not careful, I can be guilty of taking a similar path when it comes to spiritual storms in my life. Only after I have not found the solution in myself, then I will turn to the One who has been there the entire time. Why am I not willing to trust more in God, than in my own power to fix things in my life?
The disciples seem to have waited until the very last moment to wake Jesus – Why? And why do I do the exact same thing? This type of selfish pride will only result in more pain and sorrow, but I have still not learned from the disciples’ mistake. When the disciples finally woke Jesus, He immediately assessed the situation and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. How have I missed this final phrase so many times – “…it became perfectly calm”? When we seek Jesus first in our lives, especially in the storms, He has the power to make all things perfectly calm!
The disciples were rebuked by Jesus – “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” That second question from Jesus must have hurt the disciples. Each of these men had left their family, friends, and homes to follow Jesus, but they were still fearful of the surrounding storm. They had failed to fully trust in the power of Jesus. How many times could this same question be asked of me by Jesus? How many times have I failed to trust in Him and pray for His deliverance from the storms of life? Jesus calls those who are weary and heavy-laden and promises them rest – Will I trust in this promise of Jesus?
When the disciples began that journey across the Sea of Galilee, their full expectation was to arrive on the other side without harm or difficulty, but those plans were altered by the sudden storm. How many times have we experienced something similar in our own lives? May we learn from the disciples and their failure to react in faith during the storm. When a storm suddenly arises in our lives, we cannot wait, but we must go to Jesus immediately! He is our source of peace. He is our refuge in the midst of chaos. Jesus is the Master of sea and through Him all things can be made perfectly calm!
