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And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:37-38
After preaching some parables to the great multitude that was gathered to Him by the sea, He said to His disciples, ‘Let us cross over to the other side (vs 35).’ By profession, Jesus was a carpenter and the disciples were fishermen. The sea was not new to them, it was their everyday place of work. Fascinatingly, the carpenter Jesus was asleep, and the fishermen-disciples became anxious about a storm.
How to derive such peace that let Jesus sleep on a pillow, while the disciples grew concerned?
First, Jesus became aware of a place to rest on the boat. There was a pillow. The disciples too knew it. But Jesus accessed it, and the disciples ignored it. Know for sure, that God has made arrangements for us to rest in this journey of life: the finished work of the cross. It is a place of eternal victory, and on that ground, we rest in peace. Many know it, but only a few experience it. Experience the winner’s life and live with that attitude intentionally. The cross of Christ is the believer’s pillow. Someone paid the price for us to enjoy life. Know it, experience it.
Second, the storm did not wake Him, but the disciples did. Storm revealed Christ with them then. But today, it reveals Christ in us. It directed them to Christ. It directs us to Christ. The ministry of the storm is to reveal the need of Christ. Storms come in various forms. Storms are unique to everyone. Anything that disturbs us, and triggers our need for help from above, is a storm. Storms don’t disturb God, they come to check us out.
Is God concerned about us in the storm? He is, therefore He is with us in the storm. ‘Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm (vs 39).’
He imparted His peace into His environment. You affect your environment with what you carry on the inside. If there is peace, you release peace. You need to let the Prince of Peace within you affect the environment around you.
Christ in you is the hope of glory (Col 1:27).