TRUST AND OBEY
Opening Prayer
Father, as I come to your Word, calm my mind and heart so that I can, without any distraction, receive what you say to me today.
Read MARK 4:35–41
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Jesus Calms the Storm
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 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?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Remember that Jesus can give you peace about the things that are troubling or distracting you.All through our readings from Mark’s gospel we have seen Jesus doing incredible things: healing people (2:1–12), casting out demons (1:21–28), and asserting himself as Lord over religious observance (2:23–28). Now, in a climactic hinge point in Mark’s gospel, we see Jesus leading the disciples into the middle of the sea of Galilee, knowing that he is leading them into a storm (v. 35).
How do you respond to a Jesus who leads his followers into storms? The answer to that question is the focus of these verses (vv. 40, 41). These disciples, who had seen Jesus doing amazing things, still hadn’t understood the message that the kingdom of God is breaking into the world— ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him’ (v. 41)—and nothing is going to stop it: neither Jesus being asleep and not actively present with them (v. 38), nor even a storm that terrifies these hardened fishermen (v. 40).
Jesus asks us every day to trust him, even when the odds are stacked against us. Jesus does not call us be followers who understand, but followers who simply trust and obey.
Apply
What do you find easiest about following Jesus? What do you find difficult?
Closing prayer
Prince of Peace, I come to you today thanking you for your loving care and that you help me in everything you call me to do, no matter how easy or hard.
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