Today we are reading from Mark 4: 35-41:

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

I’ve always loved this passage, but probably not for the reasons you may think.  We always focus on this passage on Jesus calming the story, which yeah, is a big deal. But what I really have always liked is the conversation between the disciples and Jesus.  

We see that Jesus is asleep in the boat.  When we think about this, often we think about the types of boats we have here in America. This boat would not have been that.  It would have been larger than the type of aluminum fishing boats we all know about, but not by much.  This was a small boat. And there is Jesus, asleep.   

Also, remember, these are not inexperienced fishermen.  Most of them had fished for years.  Storms blow up all the time, so the fact that these guys were that afraid shows what a massive storm this was.  And there was Jesus, asleep.  

It wasn’t just that He calmed the storm.  He was calm in the storm.  So often in the midst of our storm, we are like the disciples, asking, do you not care?  Do you not care if we perish?  Do you know care if we drown?  Do you not care if we die?  All frantic, worrying, scared.  

And there is Jesus, calm.  Because He has all the power.  He is King of King and Lord and Lords. Sometimes He will calm the storms, but other times He is the calm in the midst of the storms.  He is our calm.  He is our peace.  He is our safety and protection. 

He is.  So, yes, He does care.  But He bids us to join Him in His peace.  

If you’d like to get each day’s daily scripture reading sent to your phone along with this reading guide, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up!