Today in God's Word—May 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
May 14, Mark 4
The ill-fated RMS Titanic was touted as unsinkable. An official of the White Star Line, the company that built and owned the ship, boasted that God himself could not sink it. On April 14, 1912 on her maiden voyage, Titanic struck an iceberg and 1,522 died as the ship sank in the cold Atlantic.
Jesus and the disciples were on a much smaller craft than the Titanic one night when a storm seemed to threaten the boat and the lives of all on board. As a windstorm whipped the waves of Galilee so they were breaking into the boat and filling it, the seasoned fishermen turned novice disciples were terrified. They woke Jesus and asked, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are perishing?” He spoke to the wind and waves in much the same way I might tell my little dog to quit barking. And the storm became calm. (That part’s not always true about my dog.) Then Jesus asked the disciples about their great fear and small faith. The disciples were even more afraid after witnessing what had happened, and they wondered aloud to each other about their master’s true identity.
The little boat that had been a pulpit earlier in the day was unsinkable, not because of who built it or who designed it, but because of who was sailing on it that stormy night. Were demonic forces involved in the furious storm? I don’t know. Did God arrange the demonstration to build the disciples’ faith? I don’t know. But I do know Jesus made a big impression on the disciples that night by his easy mastery of a storm that threatened to swamp their boat.
As people of faith who claim to follow Jesus, is our first reaction still sometimes fear when
we feel threatened by adversity? I do not have to know the name of the wind that’s howling in your life to identify with the fear you feel when it blows. I understand about the wave breaking above your bow and making you cry out, “Lord, don’t you care?” We need to hear Jesus asking us, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” His gentle rebuke points to the source of our fear, like a doctor poking around to find where it hurts.
Our feelings may be wounded at the suggestion that a faith deficiency is at the root of our fears. But there’s good news! The powerful, faith-building word of God is readily available. It’s also good to know we are works in progress, growing and becoming stronger as our experience with and knowledge of Jesus increases. Dark spiritual forces are displeased by your decision to go with Jesus on your voyage through life. But we really are sailing on an unsinkable ship when we’re with him.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament, Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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