DON’T PANIC!
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.
Meditate
‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall.’1
Think Further
The artist Rembrandt’s painting ‘The Storm on the Sea of Galilee’ portrays the events of this passage dramatically. In his picture a huge wave pushes the fishing boat up into a forty-five-degree angle as the disciples desperately cling on to ropes and sails for their very lives. It brings out the real danger the disciples were in – and for these fishermen to panic, things must have been really bad! Many of them had worked on this lake all their lives. They were used to handling difficult weather conditions for, although the Sea of Galilee is really a lake, it was renowned for sudden and severe storms. High waves were swamping the disciples’ boat and the lives of those on board were in real jeopardy.
Jesus, however, is sound asleep at the back of the boat, exhausted after teaching huge crowds. He appears completely unaware of the danger they are in. No wonder the disciples accuse him of not caring. They are only crossing the lake because he has told them to and yet he is asleep rather than helping when his instructions lead them into trouble.
Most of us would have felt like the disciples at some time for, as the story shows, doing what Jesus asks of us does not mean we will avoid trouble – and it may even lead us into it. Many of us have questioned why Christ feels absent just when we need him most and wondered in difficult times if he has forgotten us. This story encourages us to have faith, though, for we do not need to fear. Even when it doesn’t feel like it, Jesus is with us amid the storm and he really does care. The one who silenced the wind and the waves will see us safely through our troubles too.
Apply
Are you going through any storms at the moment? How well are you doing, trusting God throughout this time? Be honest about your feelings and ask for his help.
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.
1 Ps 46:1,2
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