Our Scripture meditation is based on Mark 4:35–41, the Gospel reading for next week.
[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, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. [37] And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. [38] 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?” [39] 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. [40] He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” [41] And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
I’m as intrigued by what is not revealed in this passage almost as much as by what is revealed.
Jesus is astounding. He speaks a command over the watery tempest and the waves were stilled. His disciples were rightly filled with great fear. Who really was their Rabbi? Even the wind and sea obeyed him.
When Jesus and his disciples pushed off from shore, we’re told “other boats were with him.” This intrigues me. What went through the heads of the passengers in the other boats when the wind wound down and the waves ceased breaking? Did they trust that the storm ceased? Did they think it was a quirk of nature? Did they give thanks to their gods?
I think it is safe to say that people other boats didn’t know how the storm was stilled, especially that the one who stopped the storm was so nearby. This seems tragic. The passengers in the other boats were so close to Jesus. Yet they didn’t know he had just performed a miracle.
I can’t help but think this pattern is repeated today. We marvel at creation, seeing God’s hand in magnificent mountains and roaring rivers, in the intricacies of a snowflake and the glow of an autumn leaf. Because we were brought to faith in Christ, we know not just creation, but the Creator.
Yet on any given fall day, we may find ourselves amazed at creation as we stroll through trees blazing with burnt orange and rustic red leaves. While we offer a silent prayer of thanks to God, we walk past people who do not know the Creator. We’re so close physically, but spiritually worlds apart. This is tragic for our neighbor. May our Lord continue his work of bringing the Gospel to all people.
Kevin Wilson 360 