Pearls of Great Value

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. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?””  Mark 4:38–40 ESVi)

What was the difference between Jesus and the disciples in the storm on the sea? Why was Jesus able to rest and be in peace when the disciples were fighting the storm and terrified?

 If you think about it, most of the disciples were fishermen. The sea was their life, this is where they spent their days and made their living. So storms weren’t something new or anything they hadn’t faced before. They certainly weren’t easily scared by one. So, what was different about this storm? It must have been greater that any they had faced before. Mark 4:37 says that a fierce windstorm arose, and waves were crashing over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. This storm was one that scared and overwhelmed the disciples. So much so, that they went and woke Jesus and basically accused him of not caring. Verse 38: Teacher! Don’t you care that we are going to die?

 I’m reading this and thinking, I’ve heard those words before. People have said those very words, “God don’t you care what’s happening to me?! Don’t you see the storm?” If we’re honest though, I don’t think anyone could accuse Jesus of not caring. He sacrificed his life for us because he cared. No one choses to go through the excruciating pain of a cross because they don’t care. And the bible also says that God so loved us that He gave us his Son. God loved us, cared for us and therefore He gave, and if he did not even spare His own Son but gave Him up for all of us, how will he not also with Him grant us everything? So, to accuse God in the middle of your storm of not caring? Is only because you don’t really know Him and don’t believe in His love for you. 

 

What was the difference between Jesus and the disciples in the storm? Faith. Faith was the difference. Jesus after He had rebuked the wind and the waves, turned to the disciples and said, Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?

Why are you so afraid? Or in the Hebrew, Why are you timid, fearful and cowardly? I can see Jesus looking at Peter and this question hangs between them, “Why are you timid Peter? After all I have shown you, why are you so full of fear?” This question boggled my mind for a long time. Look, these guys had just been in the storm of all storms. A life threatening, boat swamping, we’re all gonna die kinda storm. I’m going...Umm, Jesus? I think they had reason to be scared, this wasn’t exactly a breeze, you know. Yet, Jesus didn’t believe they had a reason to be afraid or else he wouldn’t have questioned them on it. 

Have you still no faith? Have you not yet any assurance and firm persuasion in your heart? Do you still have no trust in your Father? This is what it came down to. No assurance in their heart that God was going to come through. No faith to rest in Him as Jesus had and no peace within to bring peace to the situation. Jesus rested because He could rest in the Father. He trusted. To rest means to relax into something and let it support you. That’s what Jesus was doing. The storm couldn’t touch him because the Father was His support. Even the noise of the storm couldn’t shake Him, because the peace inside of him was louder. 

 

What does this mean for us? I’m guessing God asks us the same question in our storms. Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? We are afraid because we’re focusing on the storm and imagining the worst. Jesus wasn’t worried about the storm, wasn’t even focused on it. Instead he was resting in the Father. His faith and assurance was in God. Because he was in communion with the God of peace, Jesus was able to bring and command peace to the storm. Jesus had faith that the Father would take care of Him. He did not fear the storm because there was no fear within him. Perfect love casts out all fear. He was perfectly loved and knew the provision of that love. 

One more thing. When I think about resting in God, this psalm comes to mind. It’s a reminder to me to abide in Him, to stay in His presence, under His protective wings. It speaks to my heart powerfully on resting in the safe place of the Word: 

 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand]. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust [with great confidence, and on whom I rely]!” Psalms 91:1-2 AMP

““Because he set his love on Me, therefore I will save him; I will set him [securely] on high, because he knows My name [he confidently trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never abandon him, no, never]. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him And I will let him see My salvation.””
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:14-16‬ ‭AMP‬‬