Mark 4:35-41 (NKJV). " On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Have you ever watched a TV program called "The Deadliest Catch"? It's about crab fishermen in the Bering Sea. They work in incredible conditions, storms, freezing seawater, their boats overcome by the waves. They have enormous courage, I'm scared to death just watching them!
Now, I imagine myself in that little boat. The lightning is flashing and there are thunders that pound my chest. The waves are twice as high as that boat swamping it with every wave. The bow digs in deeper with every surge. Soon, I can no longer see the edges of the boat above the water. Sometimes, this is what life feels like. And satan takes advantage of my tumultuous emotions and the thoughts are constantly, "You deserve this. You don't live right. You are just suffering the consequences of your sin. You are all alone."
Read the scripture again, can you hear the panic in their voices? "Master, don't you even care?".
At this point they haven't fully comprehended exactly who Jesus was. They merely thought he was a holy man with miraculous powers. And he was asleep (of all things) in the stern of the ship. We don't have that excuse. We know who Jesus is. We know that they were never in any danger. Their boat would never have sunk with Jesus on board. And if it did, they would have gone to paradise with Him. We know this with in our heads. So what are we panicking for? Jesus said He would never leave us or forsake us. He is always with us. He is always in our boats if we have Him in our hearts. We must do as the psalmist says repeatedly, "Call My name, and I'll be there!"
