Mark 4:35-41
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’
In today's passage, we hear the story of Jesus taking a nap – in the middle of a storm!
Jesus and the disciples have just had a long day of teaching and healing, and they have set off across the lake towards the other shore, but during the voyage, a storm suddenly is upon them and they are being overwhelmed. In panic, the disciples wake Jesus, who has fallen asleep, and they express the fear that they are in. Jesus responds calmly and asks a poignant question: "Have you still no faith?" after he has calmed the storm and the sea. Have you still no faith? The disciples had seen Jesus's healings and heard his teachings. And yet, they were overwhelmed with doubt and fear. Jesus calls them back to themselves and back to faith that he will be there for them.
In the midst of our storms in life, are we able to hold on to that faith in Jesus? Do we remember all that God has done for us and do we keep the faith that God will continue to be who God has promised to be? Are we turning to fear or to faith?