Scripture Reading: Mark 4:35-41 (Jesus Calms the Storm)
The passage we are reading today, Mark 4:35-41, is one of the most familiar stories found in all four Gospels. It’s a story of Jesus calming a storm while on a boat with His disciples. However, this moment is not just about a miraculous act over nature—it’s about faith, fear, and God's care in the midst of life’s storms.
There are two instances in the Gospels where Jesus calms storms. One was when Peter wanted to walk on water, and Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. In that story, Jesus wasn’t initially in the boat with them. But the passage we’re focusing on today is different. This time, Jesus is already in the boat with the disciples.
As we go deeper into this story, I want us to reflect on a question the disciples asked—a question many of us have asked at some point in our lives: “Does God really care?”
The Background of the Story:
The Sea of Galilee, where this incident takes place, is more like a large lake, but it’s notorious for its sudden and violent storms. The lake is surrounded by mountains, which creates a natural environment where the wind can stir up storms without much warning.
Jesus had been preaching and teaching all day, and in the evening, He asked the disciples to take a boat and go to the other side of the lake. As tired as He was, Jesus fell asleep in the stern of the boat, resting His head on a cushion. Now, while the disciples were rowing toward the other side, a furious storm suddenly came upon them. The waves broke over the boat, and water began to flood in. Despite being experienced fishermen, the disciples panicked, and they cried out to Jesus, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” This is the heart of their question: Does God care?
The Disciples’ Fear and Our Own Questions:
The disciples were terrified. It’s important to understand that these men were not novices on the water—they were seasoned fishermen who had weathered many storms. But this storm was different. It was fierce, sudden, and overwhelming, and it brought them to the brink of fear and despair.
In their panic, they turned to Jesus, who was still asleep. Their cry, “Don’t you care if we drown?” is more than just a plea for help—it’s an accusation, a question born out of fear. It’s the same question many of us ask when we are overwhelmed by the storms in our lives.
When our health fails, and no relief seems in sight, we ask, “God, do you care?” When financial pressures mount, and we can’t see a way out, we ask, “God, where are you?” When our families or relationships are strained, and nothing seems to change, we wonder, “Does God even see what I’m going through?”
This question isn’t new. It’s an age-old cry from the heart of humanity: If God is good, if God is powerful, why does He let us suffer? Why doesn’t He intervene in my storm?
Jesus’ Response:
In response to their fear, Jesus gets up, rebukes the wind, and says to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind dies down immediately, and there is complete calm. Then, turning to His disciples, He asks them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” At that moment, the disciples went from being terrified of the storm to being in awe of Jesus. They asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!”
Jesus didn’t just calm the storm; He taught the disciples—and us—something powerful about faith. They had been with Him, seen His miracles, and yet, when the storm came, they still doubted. Jesus was right there in the boat with them, but their fear made them question His care for them.
Why Do We Question God’s Care?
We all like smooth sailing. We want to have smooth sailing every day. Not only do we like it, but we often think we deserve it. We believe we deserve everything that is better. We ask, “Why me, Lord?” We say, “If God is with me, why is life so hard?” But this story reminds us that storms are part of life, even when Jesus is in the boat. The disciples followed Jesus into the boat, obeying His command, yet they still encountered a storm. Following Jesus does not mean we won’t face difficulties. The question is, how do we respond in those moments? Do we trust that God is still in control, even when He seems silent?
We ask ourselves, “Why can’t I get this?” If others can have so much, why can’t I have as much, too?
We tend to think that we deserve the best in life. And, of course, it's good to have confidence and to believe that, because we are children of our Heavenly Father, who is full of the riches of glory in heaven. We believe He is rich in glory and walks with us. It’s good to have a positive outlook like that.
But sometimes we wonder, “Why shouldn’t I have more?” Questioning God is part of our human nature. We are often not satisfied with what we have; we always seem to want more. First of all, we need to remember that God gave us life as a gift. None of us, whether sitting in this church or hearing this message, chose to be here in this world. We didn’t choose life; God gave it to us.
Anything that comes with this life is also a gift from God. It’s not something we inherently deserve. I didn’t start my life in this world—God gave it to me as a gift. So, whatever comes with this life—whether it’s joy, pain, or suffering—God knows about it.
If God created me, and He loves me, then I believe He cares for me. I also believe He is actively involved in everything that happens in this world. God is not a passive spectator; He is an active player in every moment, in every event. He is present and working in every detail of our lives.
God’s Sovereign Care in the Storms of Life:
One of the key lessons from this passage is that Jesus was always in control, even when it seemed like He wasn’t. His sleep was not a sign of indifference but a reflection of His peace, even in the midst of chaos. We often panic when we lose control, but God never loses control.
It’s not just us who doubt—Jesus' own disciples doubted Him, even though He was physically with them. This isn’t unique to us as human beings. The Bible is full of stories about people who doubted God in times of difficulty. Many of the Psalms reflect this, where people cried out to God, asking, “God, why did You leave me? Where are You?”
Consider Abraham. He was promised a son, but after waiting for a long time, even he doubted God’s plan. He thought perhaps God had a bad idea. And there are many others—many prophets, like Elijah and Elisha, who doubted God's presence in their lives at one time or another.
So, when we go through situations like that, and we doubt God's presence, it’s natural. Don’t be afraid, and don’t get stuck in that doubt. Remember that there is a God who is beyond our problems, who is in control of every situation. He can calm the storm, and He can command the winds to be still—and they will obey.
The Bible tells us that Jesus rebuked the wind, and “the wind died down and it was completely calm.” The disciples were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:39-41).
Jesus calmed the storm with just a word, demonstrating His authority over all creation. So, the next time we find ourselves asking, “Does God care?” we need to remember that God’s silence does not equal His absence. He is always present, always aware, and always at work—even in the midst of our greatest fears.
Jesus’ question to the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” challenges us today. It’s easy to have faith when the seas are calm, but true faith is revealed in the storms. Faith is not the absence of fear but the presence of trust. It’s trusting that even in the storm, Jesus is with us. It’s believing that even when He seems silent, He is still working for our good.
God’s care is not dependent on our ability to see it or feel it in the moment. His care is constant, unchanging, and rooted in His love for us. Just as He calmed the storm for the disciples, He will calm the storms in our lives—either by changing our circumstances or by giving us peace in the midst of them.
God’s Timing and His Ultimate Care:
Sometimes, God’s care doesn’t come in the way or the timing we expect. We might want immediate relief, but God is working on a bigger picture. The disciples didn’t understand why they had to go through the storm, but on the other side of that lake was a man possessed by demons who needed Jesus. God had a mission for them beyond the storm.
Remember that God always has a way for us. As we just sang, “He will make a way when there seems to be no way.” He can open doors and windows when everything else seems to be closing against us. He knows how to open the right doors at the right time.
However, there are times when God is silent and seems hidden from us. You might have been praying for something—whether it’s healing, a family need, a job, or some other situation—and you feel like you’re not getting any answers. Sometimes, we even feel like God is far away. One of my friends used to say, “I've been praying for so long, it feels like God has abandoned me and moved out of the neighborhood without even leaving a forwarding address!”
We all experience moments where we feel that God isn’t near. We might think that God is only interested in the big things in this world, and not the little things in our lives. But remember, we categorize things as “big” or “little” because we compare them based on our own needs. What might seem like a small need to one person could be a huge need to someone else. For example, in this country, the need for food may not seem as critical because most people can get it somehow, but in other countries, food is the basic need that people are desperately looking for. So, what is “big” or “small” is relative to our situation.
But for God, there are no “big” or “small” needs. Every need you and I have is important to Him, and He considers each one significant. Even though we may think, “This is just a small issue,” God sees it as important. He knows exactly when and how to provide for us, even though we may not always understand His timing. The challenges we face often have a purpose beyond what we can see. God’s timing and purposes are perfect. He knows what we need and when we need it. And even when we can’t see it, He is always working for our good.
He is with us, as close as our breath, because every day we enjoy blessings—even when we don’t deserve them. God gives us these blessings, and we often take them for granted.
Once, a group of elementary school students was asked to write down the seven wonders of the world. They took blank papers and started writing down all the things they had been taught about the great wonders, like the Taj Mahal and many other well-known sites. Most of the students stopped writing after they listed their seven wonders. However, one girl kept writing and didn’t stop, even after everyone else had finished.
The teacher came over to look at her list and started reading it aloud. She asked, “What are you writing here? These are only the seven wonders that we have taught you!” The girl responded, “I have so many things to write. The wonders are being able to see, to hear, to breathe, to touch, to walk, to run, to love, and so many other things.” She continued listing these everyday wonders.
These are all truly remarkable! The ability to touch, to take every breath, is a wonder in itself. If you stop breathing, you know how critical that moment can be. You wouldn’t want to be next to someone who isn’t breathing. Every breath we take is a gift from God, a reminder of His care for us. How can we ever question, “Don’t you care about me, Jesus?” when He cares for us in such profound ways, giving us the gift of life with every breath?
Conclusion:
The story of Jesus calming the storm teaches us that storms in life are inevitable, but God’s care is always present. When we face trials, when the winds of life seem too strong, and when we feel like Jesus is “asleep,” we must remember that He is in control. His care may not always look the way we expect, but it is always there. Even when God seems silent, He is still working. And just like He brought calm to the stormy sea, He can bring peace to the storms in our lives.
So, the next time we find ourselves asking, “Does God care?” let’s remember the truth: He cares more deeply than we can ever imagine. He is in control, and He is with us in every storm.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your constant presence in our lives, even when we face the storms of life. Help us to trust You, even when we don’t understand. Teach us to have faith in Your care and Your timing. Thank You for calming our fears and being with us in every trial. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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