Slices
Prepare
At what times in your life, if at all, have you felt abandoned by God? Be assured of his presence with you now, as you read and pray. Listen to him.
Bible passage
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!’
Explore
The tiny eyewitness detail Mark records should have changed everything – Jesus ‘sleeping on a cushion’ (v 38). His disciples must by now have caught something of who Jesus is – mustn’t they? Especially with all the exorcisms, healings, parables full of insights about life with God and, well, with just being with him. If he’s asleep and obviously unafraid, surely just being with him should be enough. But they’re not thinking it through – the experienced fishermen know too much about the weather and are too spooked by what they see around them (v 37). His rebuke of them is because they’re responding as if he, God, has abandoned them (v 40).
Hundreds of years before the storm on Lake Galilee, the songwriter described events with startling similarity, attributing the sailors’ safety to ‘the Lord’ (Psalm 107:23–30). Enjoy reading it for yourself. Only God can control the weather.
We’re in the same boat as the almighty Creator of the universe – Jesus, who is also our closest, dearest, most loving friend. That’s surely the best boat to be in, any time.
Respond
Think about the three ‘Respond’ questions again from the note for Thursday 18 June... What reason do I now have: to believe Jesus more wholeheartedly; to trust him more deeply; to live his way more faithfully?
In what way(s) has what you have read and reflected on today brought you closer to Jesus? Thank him and pray.
Deeper Bible study
‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.’1
By now, the disciples had followed Jesus for some time and observed all the miracles he performed. They had witnessed the multitudes following him and they had placed their trust in him. Yet they remained slow to learn. They were yet to be challenged to entrust their lives to Jesus’ hands in a storm they would encounter.
Crises and difficult circumstances often push us to our limits and test the depth of our faith. Likewise, the disciples faced a furious storm and felt helpless. Remember that many of them were fishermen, and storms on the Sea of Galilee were normal. Yet, in this particular storm, they found their strength and skills to confront the storm challenged. They were hopeless. In fear and desperation, they finally turned to Jesus for help. Jesus rebuked the wind, and there was calm. Turning to his disciples, Jesus chided them for their lack of faith. Why was it that the disciples were still slow to learn? They had never fully understood who Jesus really was and they failed to understand their purpose in following Jesus (vs 40,41). They only turned to Jesus as the last resort during the storm!
Life’s storms can be very challenging, but God is bigger than all the storms we face. Let us be reminded that God is always there for us and he promises not to leave us, even in the places where we can’t see him and in circumstances that we don’t fully understand. Hear the words of comfort from the Lord speaking to us as he rebukes the storm, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ (v 39). He is with us, right in the midst of the storm that we sail through. He will surely guide us, protect us and carry us until we reach the shore safely.
Lord, grant us faith in the storms of life, save us from the surging water and help us to see you, always with us as a present help in trouble.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Chronicles 6,7; Galatians 6
Pray for Scripture Union
This week’s prayers all relate to this article.
Give thanks above all that, despite the dramatic impact of coronavirus on our way of life, God is almighty, all-powerful, and his purposes will still be accomplished.
