On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, 'Let us go across to the other side.' And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, 'Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?' And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'
“Peace! Be Still! – then the wind ceased!” This phrase jumps right out in the middle of the passage at me. I have been around water and boats all of my life, and have been in violent scary storms on the water. It can be a terrifying experience.
In the passage, as characteristic in Mark’s Good News, Jesus is on the move going to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. They have just left the crowd and got in the boat. It is assumed that it is the 12, but the scripture just says “they.” Many of the appointed 12 were seasoned fishermen, and knew their way around a boat, and have more than likely been in storms before. This one was different and violent. The boat was being swamped (taking on water).
The disciples were scared and Jesus was asleep. How he was asleep during the violent storm, we don’t know. I surely wouldn’t be able to sleep in a small boat being tossed about. They wake Jesus because they are in fear for their life. Jesus wakes up and rebukes the wind.
After all is calm, he asked them why they were afraid asking if they still have no faith. The disciples were amazed, and filled with awe and wonder at Jesus’ ability to control the elements of nature; a true act of God.
The call today for me is to “BE STILL” and remember that God is God! In the world, we are tossed about by all sorts of turbulent waves – stress, calendars, responsibilities, money, etc… It can really “sink our boat.” However, we are called in the midst of that sometimes to BE STILL and calm down. We are always to remember that God is God, and God is still in control.
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