Sink or Soar                

Would you sink or soar? In this story from the Gospel of Mark, the disciples wonder why Jesus doesn’t seem to care about them during a storm.

A Storm

Mark described the following scene in his gospel account:

“And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 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?’ 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.”

Mark 4:37-39  (ESV)

The disciples are in a tough place.  Even though they are sailors who know the Sea of Galilee very well, this storm is wicked.  Jesus will show them that such scary storms in our life can make us sink or soar. 

Ruth Graham makes that point in this prayer for herself:

“Dear God, let me soar in the face of the wind: up, up, like the lark – so poised and so sure, through cold or the storm, with wings to endure. Let the silver rain wash all the dust from my wings. Let me soar as he soars; Let me sing, as he sings; Let it lift me…. Let it buffet and drive me, but, God, let it lift.”  The hymn writer gives us this good advice: “Be still, my soul: the waves and wind still know his voice, who ruled them while He dwelt below.”

Ruth Graham

God In a Human Body

In this scene of storm and calm, we see God in a human body. Jesus rests his weary body on a pillow in the back of the boat and falls fast asleep. Not even a seismic storm can wake him up. But moments later we see that he is the all-powerful God when he puts the furious squall to sleep. He calms the sea in a few words and in a few seconds. Rico Tice makes this comment: “I can’t even calm my bath water that quickly!” Jesus is the calm in the eye of the storm.

By his actions on the sea of Galilee Jesus is saying, “I am not just someone who has power. I am power itself.”  Someone put it this way: “Anyone and anything in the whole universe that has any power has it on loan from Jesus.”

Jesus the Creator and Sustainer

Colossians chapter 1 describes Jesus as the powerful Creator and Sustainer of all creation: First: He is the Creator:

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.”

Colossians 1:16

Second: He is the Sustainer: “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” [Colossians 1:17]

Scientists say there is a mysterious something that holds all things together. What word did they come up with to describe this mysterious, sticky stuff that holds it all together?  They picked a Greek word – want to hear their fancy Greek word? “Gluon” … Glu … on. The Bible says that our world and the universe are held together, not by a sticky glue, but by a Person – Jesus.

Jesus Facing the Greatest Storm

If I think of Jesus facing the greatest storm – the storm of God’s wrath on him as he became sin for me – When I think of that, can I ever say to God, “Don’t you care that I am drowning?”

Many think COVID-19 is the most widespread and destructive disease of their lifetime. It’s not. Our sin-disease has always caused the worst destruction, in every place and century for 6000 years. Jesus gave us healing for that by enduring the storm of God’s wrath on the cross. We receive that healing the same way people received it from Jesus 2000 years ago, by faith. You can put your faith in Jesus today and have your sins forgiven.

Have you ever experienced a time when you were unsure if you were going to sink or soar?  Contact us at HopeStreamRadio,  or comment below.