Storm
“And God said, ‘Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.’” (Genesis 1:6).
I have been reflecting on the story of Christ calming the storm…
“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 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?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” (Mark 4:37-41).
I can imagine how terrible that storm must have been. After all, if experienced fishermen who had spent their lives on the water were terrified for their safety, then it must have been a terrible storm. Perhaps some of them were being sea-sick? Perhaps they were throwing up or trying to tie themselves to the boat so that they would not be cast off into the sea? And there – in the midst of it all, Christ slept. I can imagine the shouting and the thunder and rain. I can imagine the rain lashing the boat and the waves. And despite all the noise and panic, Christ slept.
How tired He must have been to sleep like that! And how faithful…
You see, Christ is God. And that means that He knows that the sea can be clamed because God is the One who took dominion over the sea in Genesis…
“And God said, ‘Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.’ So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault ‘sky.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.” (Genesis 1:6-8).
Christ is God and God controls the sea and the storm. So, when the disciples woke Him and asked Him (fearfully) to restore order, Christ did two things…
Firstly, He calmed the sea. He fixed the problem for the disciples so that they would no longer be afraid. AND THEN, secondly, He spoke to the disciples. Asking them where their faith was…
He calmed the storm and then He addressed the lack of faith that the disciples had during the storm.
And I have been thinking about that today as I have been reflecting on my own fears. For Christ knew there were nothing to fear from the storm, and still – for love of the disciples – he calmed the storm BEFORE dealing with their lack of faith. Because He wanted them to be comforted even though their fears were without foundation…
And I have been thinking about that today as I have been thinking about Christ, for it seems to me that my Beloved spends my lifetime comforting me and calming my fears before He even addresses my lack of faith. And I have spent a lifetime being ungrateful for that…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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