Thoughts for the Day

Jesus Stills a Storm

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. 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?’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In 1859 Rev Dr Buchanan wrote about what happened to him on the Sea of Galilee:

• 'Our conversation was suddenly disturbed by a movement among our Arab crew. All at once they pulled in their oars, stepped their mast, and began to hoist their long and very ragged lateen sail. "What can the fellows mean to do with a sail in a dead calm?" But they were right. There comes the breeze, rippling and roughening the lately glassy surface of the lake. It reaches us before the sail is rightly set. A few minutes more, and it is blowing hard. The bending and often-spliced yard threatens to give way, and the tattered sail seems as if it would rend right up, and go away in shreds. There is nothing for it but to slack away, and run before it. "And where are we going now?" was our first inquiry? "Where the wind will take us," was the reply. And away we went, the lake now all tossed into waves, and covered with foaming white heads, as if a demon had got into its lately tranquil bosom.' (from 'Notes of a Clerical Furlough')

The Sea of Galilee is about 13 x 8 miles (29 x 12.8 km) and a fishing boat would have been about 27 x 7 feet (8.2 x 2.13 m), held about 15 people, and was powered by a sail. It would have taken 2 hours to sail from one side to the other. The storm is so great that the water is swamping the boat, but Jesus sleeps soundly after a busy day, secure in the knowledge that His Father will protect him. He is the still point at the centre of all the chaos.

Having experienced Jesus healing the sick and lame the disciples have enough faith to know that Jesus can save them, even from the threat of such a storm. They have let their panic overwhelm them, but Jesus immediately gets up and rebukes the wind and the sea. Nature obeys the voice of its Creator!

Lord Jesus Christ
still the storm in our hearts and minds.
Take away all that concerns and worries us
and fill us with Your peace.
For where You are is quiet and still
and we would share that peacefulness.
Then give us the courage to face
our challenges knowing that You are with us.
Amen.