Asleep in the Boat

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:35-39 ESV).

We’ve actually looked at this reading recently while discovering some of the characteristics of Jesus revealed through His miracles. Today, I want us to see things from a slightly different perspective. This incident takes place after a busy day. Jesus tells his disciples to take the boat across the lake. Being tired from the long day of teaching and healing the people who were thronging to him by this time, he fell asleep in the stern of the boat while the disciples handled the oars. A sudden squall came up and threatened to swamp the boat leaving them all to drown. I’ve had some of those kinds of storms, especially recently with Mary’s surgery. I find it very comforting that this story says, “Jesus was in the stern.” In fact, he was in the back of the boat and in the midst of this squall he was “sleeping on a cushion.” This startling story reminds us that Jesus is present in the stormy times of our lives, the severe, harsh, hard times. And, when he rebukes the storm, “Quiet! Be still!” the disciples know that he cares for them in their times of severe struggle, fear, and terror. I need that. Especially in those times. The noise of the storm is loud, but His voice overpowers it all with a mere whisper. Sheldon Vanauken’s book A Severe Mercy relates the conversions of his wife and himself under the influence of C. S. Lewis, and his wife’s subsequent death in the prime of her life. His sequel, Under the Mercy, details his dark pilgrimage after her death. Both books convey the theme that in the most difficult and severe times of life there is mercy. In this merciful care, the Lord is with us always. Use this Lenten Season to remind yourself that Jesus endured the most difficult suffering of all so that we might live in hope under his mercy. I love the popular meme: “The Devil whispers in your ear, ‘You cannot withstand the storm.” And the warrior answers, ‘I am the storm!’” That warrior is Jesus… He is the Lion of Judah! Trust in him… lean into him.