Safety And Shelter

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.

Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm.

Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” (Mark 4:35-41)

The chaos of the sea was a traditional image for evil forces.  See Psalms (65:8; 89:10; 107:29).  For example, “You still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples (65:8).” Control over storms was a display of God’s power, and Jesus has that power according to Mark. 

When we are perishing through anguish, fear, and sorrow, Jesus tells us: “Quiet!  Be still! Be calm!”  Our winds die down.  We are no longer buffeted and terrified, provided we have faith.

Some of us feel Jesus is always asleep on some cushion and doesn’t awaken.  For most of us we know he rises when we need him, and he grabs our tillers to steer us in the right direction.  He helps us cross to the other side where we find safety and shelter from the storms and chaos in our lives.

Deacon David Pierce