The Ballestero Blog

With A Storm This Bad, It’s Hard To See Jesus

“Carest Thou Not That We Perish?”

More times than we wish to remember, life hasn’t always been smooth sailing. The journey that had been uneventful up to this point is now interrupted by sheer panic. What do we do? Where do we turn? How do we cope? How do we survive? The answers to those questions, for the disciples, were found in Jesus.

• Mark 4:36 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.
• Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
• Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
• Mark 4:39 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 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

There are times when even professionals can’t help themselves. This was their boat. They were commercial fishermen. They knew these waters. They could handle a boat like this. It was the unexpected that caused them to panic now. All it would take was one good storm to sink them and they knew it. They looked at the size of the waves with increasing fear. They just knew this was the end.

• A great storm of wind and waves was beating into the boat.
• The fierceness of the wind was unbelievable.
• The waves were very high.
• The boat rocked.
• Water was coming over the sides.
• It was just a matter of time.

All along they had known that Jesus was on board. They all knew that he had performed unbelievable miracles. Now was the time when they needed a miracle. This storm didn’t look like one that could be survived.

• They looked at the storm.
• They looked at their boat.
• They looked at each other in their despair.
• They looked at Jesus and wondered why He hadn’t done something by now.
• They looked back at the storm.
• With a storm this bad it was hard to keep their eyes focused on Jesus.
• They couldn’t see Jesus for the storm.
• They couldn’t understand why He didn’t recognize their need.
• They were pained by His lack of response to their need.
• Was He waiting for them to go to Him?
• If He knew everything, why didn’t He fix this problem for them?

Finally, they got to the point where they could no longer be polite or considerate. They were desperate. They woke Him up.

If the storm wind is howling, and the boat is rocking it will take more than a tap on the shoulder or a whisper to wake Him up. They would have to holler above the sound of the wind to be heard. Or they would have to jostle Him more than the rocking boat for Him to be roused. Whatever it took, they did it successfully.

Jesus arose (When God stands up something is going to happen.) and He rebuked the wind and said to sea, “Peace, be still.” And immediately there was a great calm.

He then chided them for not having faith in Him.

Question?

Is this story Descriptive or Prescriptive?

• Is it just ‘describing’ a story about a day a long time ago or is it written in His Word to ‘prescribe’ hope for you in your storm today?

Answer!

It was more than just a feel good story. It’s a story that I can place myself into. It’s a story for you to insert yourself inside.

Your storm may overwhelm you today. Your storm may be one of:

• Financial emergency
• Serious health concerns
• Relationship problems
• Spiritual oppression
• Chemical dependency
• Emotional upheaval
• Whatever the storm, be comforted that the Peace Speaker is in the boat.

He rebuked the wind, the cause of the problem. I am not sure what He said to the wind. But it stopped immediately.

He then spoke calmness to the sea. It laid down like a rug on the ground.

God will rebuke the storm for you today. He will speak Peace to your troubled waters. He will say the word that brings an end to your storm!

Verse 36 mentioned that there were other little boats following them. I would hate to be in any of life’s storms without Jesus in my boat.

Be encouraged today. Why are ye so fearful? Jesus is in your boat! He’s standing up even now!