And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now filling. And he was in the stern, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4)
There are twelve disciples in the boat with Jesus. There are two instances in the Gospels when Jesus was with his disciples on a stormy Sea of Galilee. This is first of the two. Jesus had been sleeping but this stormy squall threatened to sink the boat. The hills of Galilee go up to 3,000 feet elevation along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The lake itself is below sea level. When the cool dry air from the mountains collides with the warm damp air of the lake, violent winds and storms result.
Life has storms for us too. Only Jesus had the power and still does to still our storms. We still have our doubts as the disciples did. We still need to hear Jesus say, “Peace, be still.” When he speaks, the wind and the waves obey. We have peace and quiet in our lives once again.
CROSS AND CROWN WINDOW
Cross and Crown Lutheran Church
Georgetown, Texas 78628