“…The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.” (John 10:25)
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 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?” 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. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (Mark 4:35-41)
“Don’t you care?”
That question comes to mind when people appear to be insensitive to other people’s circumstances. People are suffering but others are unconcerned. Regrettably, this happens even in our own lives—not only that others have been insensitive to us in times of trouble but also that we have been so involved in our own little worlds that we miss the distress others are experiencing.
Could that ever happen with the Lord?!
In the midst of the disciples’ peril, the troubling thought came into their minds, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
In weakness of faith we too may find similar thoughts rising in our hearts and minds. Nothing brings the fear of perishing to the forefront more than calamity. The huge typhoon that struck the Philippines killed many, and others are struggling and suffering because of the destruction caused by this great storm. Late season tornadoes went ripping through the heartland of America, killing eight and injuring many more; thousands lost their homes and earthly possessions. “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the peril that we face, and He cares. He cares for us far more than we appreciate in our weakness of faith. All the trouble, distress, and death came and comes into the world because of sin. The Lord knows that sin is the source of our trouble and brings upon us the greatest of all calamities, including eternal death in hell. He cared that we were perishing, so God’s only begotten Son came down to Earth to bear our sin. Because of His great care for us, He endured all the trials and temptations of this life. Finally, He endured the curse of God, suffering and dying on the cross because He cared that we were perishing! “Jesus gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4).
From this truth of the gospel we are assured that in all our trials and troubles the Lord indeed cares for us. He shall deliver us from every evil.
That is the lesson the disciples learned in the midst of that great storm on the Sea of Galilee. They turned to the Lord—their weakness of faith evident in their prayer—and the Lord delivered them. He delivered them with the power of His Word: ‘“Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” Jesus’ questions remained before them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (v. 40)
Those questions lie before us also. Why is it that so often in life we are fearful, and our faith is so puny? Do we fail to recognize the greatness of our God? Do we forget that the Lord Jesus is God Almighty? Do we forget the power of His Word and the greatness of His love for us?
“The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea” (Psalm 93:4).
Indeed, the Lord is mighty! He would have us know and appreciate His power and His control over all things.
This reality of Jesus’ identity struck home in the hearts of the disciples, “And they feared exceedingly!” … “Who can this be?” (v. 41) The answer to that question brings comfort and assurance during the storms we face in our lives.
On that day the greatness of the Lord was revealed for us both in His power and in His loving concern. We may think we are perishing, but the Lord brings us His peace. He commands, and the storm is stilled. It is truly the power of His Word which continues to calm the storms in our hearts and in our lives.