Lord of the Storm

Mark 4:35-41 (New Living Translation)
Jesus Calms the Storm
35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

I had an insteresting MSN convo with a friend from another church and we were talking about the storms we face in our lives. And during our convo, something I said somehow became the talking point of our convo.

friend: (11:48:12 AM)
hmm Lord of the STorm?

frind: (11:48:15 AM)
what a nice title for a new song

friend: (11:48:16 AM)
haha

stan says: (11:48:26 AM)
ya it means he is the lord of everything my friend

stan says: (11:48:45 AM)
so if he puts u through a storm, he will get u out of it too

stan says: (11:53:35 AM)
when ur in a boat in a storm, where can u run to?

stan says: (11:53:44 AM)
u will still be in the boat right

stan says: (11:54:15 AM)
but when u know who the lord of the storm is, it doesnt matter anymore

stan says: (11:54:19 AM)
storm or no storm

frind says: (11:54:33 AM)
hmm good point.

stan says: (11:55:02 AM)
so u can run, but the lord of the storm still wants u to know its not about the storm anymore

stan says: (11:55:06 AM)
its about who the lord is

stan says: (11:55:47 AM)
so till u stop running and just give up trying to run, you won't be able to know the lord of storm

stan says: (11:56:18 AM)
i bet this must be one of those rare insightful poetic moments i have

This is a familiar passage for many of us - the so called 'stormy' passage. Really, I am beginning to wonder if Jesus wanted to teach them something about himself and also how this stormy passage that he is bringing his disciples through will reveal the very thing that will probably stick in their minds for life.

And so their rough passage began with Jesus asking them to 'go across to the other side'. So the disciples took Jesus in their boat and they proceeded in their journey.

And then all hell broke loose - a storm came up and waves were breaking into the boat and water was everywhere in the boat and boat was fast filling up with water.

Picture a sinking boat ... The disciples were all panicking helter skelter wondering what to do and fearing for their very lives. And there was Jesus enjoying the comfort of a pillow sleeping at the back of the boat. On one end of the boat, it was panic stations, alert red for all hands on deck. While on the other end, Jesus was catching his cat nap.

I am glad that in the midst of all the confusion and panic the disciples must have felt, they were clearheaded enough to run to Jesus for help.

And Jesus awoke and rebuked the storm with these words, "Peace! Be Still!" And the storm ceased and there was great calm after that. And he saved his words to his disciples for last, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?

And the disciples were filled with great fear and asked one another, "Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?"

In my convo with my friend, I mentioned to her "The Lord of the Storm". Do you know who the Lord of the storm is? When storms happens in our lives, do we trust our own instincts or do we trust in the Lord to pull us through?

Honestly, if we are out on a boat in a storm with Jesus in it, there is no escape. We can run around in the boat but where can we run to. There is no where else for us to run to in the boat except to jump off the boat. By making our own decision to jump off the boat or abandon ship, will it help us?

How does knowing that Jesus is the Lord of the storm help us understand the storms that happens in our lives? Will it is be possible that the Lord of the Storm is actually leading us into the storm so that our faith in Him can be strengthened?

Ultimately, when we know who the Lord of the Storm is, the storms don't matter ... The Lord wants us to know it's not about the storms anymore - it's about knowing who the Lord of Storm is in YOUR LIFE!

Only when we know who the Lord of the Storm is, we know for sure He will not only lead us through it but He allows us to go through it that we might finally know who He is - the one who says, "Peace! Be Still!"

Now where have the breeze gone to lately?