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JESUS CALMS THE STORM (MARK 4:35-41)

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Jesus calms the storm. Calm means the absence of wind or violent activity in a place. A storm is a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow. Jesus calms the storm means He restored peace and tranquillity in the atmosphere of turbulence and fear. We shall reflect on the fact that Jesus calms the storm because He has power over the windstorm.

Beloved in the Lord, Jesus calms the storm because He has power over the windstorm. We are told that “But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:38-39). Dear friend, we know that Jesus has the power to overcome the windstorm because He assures us in Matthew 28:18 that “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18). The storm can only terrify the disciples of Jesus but not Jesus who is the Master of the storm. Jesus calmed the storm because the storm had no power, influence or dominion over Him. We also see Jonah fast asleep and certainly untroubled and undisturbed by the windstorm the Lord hurled at the ship in which he was travelling. “But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea so that the ship threatened to break up. ⁵ Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.” (Jonah 1:4-5) Jonah like Jesus was asleep amid the windstorm and turbulence because He knew God had power over the windstorm. Beloved in the Lord, windstorms represent challenges and troubles in our lives. They are meant to cause us sleepless nights, anxiety and despair. Believers who can fall asleep like Jesus in the boat are those who have faith that they are not alone in the storm and turbulence of life. They have surrendered all to Jesus and have cast all their burdens and anxieties onto Him hence their ability to remain calm regardless of the stormy situation.

Beloved in the Lord, without faith we cannot fall asleep or experience peace of mind and stability in a challenging or turbulent situation. It is for this reason, “He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40). Jesus was able to sleep amid the storm because He knew that His Father had given Him power and dominion over the windstorm. Do you also believe because of your relationship with Jesus you also have power and dominion over the windstorms or challenges that come your way in life? We are greatly emboldened and empowered to sleep and relax amid the storms in our lives when Jesus assured us “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. (Luke 10:19). It takes faith to exercise the authority given to us by Jesus. Again it takes faith in Christ Jesus to be calm and stable during challenging situations. Through faith, we have the assurance that the Holy Spirit is in control over our precarious and challenging situations. Again, let us pray, have faith and be calm knowing for a fact that we are not alone in storms of life. Jesus is with us because He has promised that “…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) When Nebuchadnezzar threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the burning fiery furnace for refusing to worship the golden image he had set up, they were very calm in the burning fiery furnace because they had faith in God and were not alone. “Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counsellors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” ²⁵ He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking amid the fire, and they are not hurt, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.” (Daniel 3:24-25,28). Beloved in the Lord, we are never alone in the struggles and challenges in our lives. “Ame le miasi” means we are not alone, we have a dependable companion who has power over the storms in our lives and this dependable companion is our Lord Jesus Christ. It is in light of this fact that Herman Voss reminds us through his song “With Jesus in my boat” that,
With Jesus In My Boat,
I Can Smile In The Storm [3]
With Jesus In My Boat,
I Can Smile In The Storm
When I’m Sailing Home
When I’m Sailing Home [2]
With Jesus In My Boat,
I Can Smile In The Storm When I’m Sailing Home.

Dear friend, for many of us it is impossible to sleep when all is not well, It is impossible to fall asleep when our hearts are troubled by the windstorms of life such as accidents, sickness, unemployment, marital issues, disappointment, betrayals and the demise of a loved one. Amid all these challenges, Horatio Gate Spafford taught us to still put our faith in God when he wrote the hymn “Peace like a river” when he lost his four children (all girls) through a ship accident. When he got to the very spot where they died, he wrote the hymn,
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”Refrain (may be sung after the final stanza only):
It is well with my soul;
it is well, it is well with my soul.
Dear friend, with Jesus in our lives, we can also sleep, knowing and believing that it is well with us in our Lord and Saviour Jesus.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme, “Jesus calms the storm”. We have underscored the fact that Jesus calms the storm in the boat because He had power over the storm. We must also be encouraged and assured that with Jesus in our boat, we can also fall asleep amid our troubles and challenges while trusting Him to have power over the storms in our lives.

PRAYER
1. Let us pray for the strength and ability to put our faith in the Lord when we encounter storms in our lives.
2. Let us pray to experience the peace of the Lord amidst the challenges we face in life.
3. Let us pray for countries hit by natural disasters and conflicts. May the Lord grant them full restoration and peace.

Lord Jesus, thank you for reassuring us that we are not alone in the boat of life. May Your Holy Spirit continue to strengthen our faith to overcome fear and doubt when we are faced with a storm of challenges and frustrations. Lord Jesus, help us to find peace and sound sleep even amid the storms of life. Amen.