A mother is anxious about sending her son to the frontline defense on a battlefield. A mother is anxious about sending her son on a bike on a highway although the son is geared up with all safety precautions. A mother is anxious about her son sleeping on his bed underneath a ceiling fan, wondering if the fan is going to fall and smash his head. We might categorize these events as ranging from legitimate fear to paranoia. Let us read about a storm in the sea of Galilee that caused the disciples to be very afraid. Before that let's see if that could have been a legitimate fear or paranoia.
Historically, the disciples who were mostly fishermen would have known the dangers of the sea, especially during the storm. There was a high probability of the boat breaking into two or sinking due to a leak. They would have heard about people who had died earlier in the sea.
Scientifically, the sea of Galilee lies 680 feet below sea level, bounded by hills that reach 2000 feet high. These heights are a source of cool air, whereas directly around the sea the air is warm. The large temperature changes cause pressure changes and result in sudden strong winds dropping to the sea, funnelling through the hills. The sea of Galilee is only about 200 feet deep, so the shallow sea is readily whipped up by the wind (link). These storms are dangerous for small boats.
Experientially, we read from the Bible that the people of the region knew how to predict the weather, even storms (Matt 16:2,3), and would have themselves tackled small storms with their own skills. But this time, the boat was nearly swamped and was about to sink. Their bodies would have been tired and exhausted from trying to keep the boat afloat. The waves were so high, that any second the boat could have toppled. The disciples had responsibilities and loved ones waiting for them. They had reasons to believe that they might just die that day.
They truly had many reasons to be fearful, scared, and terrified.
'Why are you so afraid?' - A question to the distraught disciples.
Mark 4: 35-41 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 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!”
Well, the only point they missed taking into consideration was that the Creator of heaven and earth, the Word of God was with them on the boat.
Many times, we truly have reasons to fear. There are long and severe periods of storms leading to extreme pain, frustrations, disappointments, and exhaustion. But in that legitimate fear, we tend to throw away our faith. Jesus Christ, the Son of God chose to spend time with these men and chose them as disciples over all other Pharisees and royalties. He was patient with them in their ignorance. He showed them the mysteries of God's kingdom, and even called them friends! Would this Christ now stop caring for them?
Have we asked similar questions to God in our fear and anxiety? Would the God who cared to send Christ, would the Christ who cared to die and raise for us stop caring now?
Jesus Christ is called Immanuel meaning God with us. Are we doubting the reality of that wonderful promise? or Are we so silly to presume that the storm is going to take down the Almighty God along with us?
Don't think that the disciples had an advantage over us in seeing Jesus Christ in flesh and having Him on the boat with them. Those who have called on to Jesus as their Lord and Saviour have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. We have the Spirit of God reminding us during the storms that Jesus Christ is our anchor, our cornerstone, the Solid ground that we stand on. Why are we so afraid? Do we still have no faith?
Rembrandt drew this beautiful picture of 'The storm in the sea of Galilee' in 1633 (link). Zoom in to see that there are actually 14 people depicted in the picture. Jesus and the 12 disciples account for 13 of them. It is said that Rembrandt drew himself as the 14th person in the picture. What a wish! He was not drawing himself in a garden where Jesus was, He drew and put himself in a deadly storm, knowing that Jesus was there too.
Are you still afraid? Or do you have the faith to jump on to the boat knowing that there will be severe and sudden storms, but also knowing that Jesus Christ is with us on the boat?
Link to the previous article: Is it right for you to be angry? Link to the next article: Why did you doubt?
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