Day 30

THE OTHER SIDE

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 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 woke 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?’ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'” (Mark 4:35-41)

Jesus was never wrong. EVER. If He said something, it was true. If He did something, it was correct. Conceptually, the disciples were starting to grasp that, but practically they were still struggling to trust it when things got rough.

Before climbing into a boat that day, Jesus was teaching a crowd of people about the kingdom of God-a.k.a. God’s sovereign rule over absolutely everything. Included in the playlist was a parable about a sower of seeds (Mark 4:1-9), but the disciples didn’t understand it. Later when they were alone, Jesus explained further and said, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11). Little did the disciples know that when it came to Jesus’ sovereign kingdom rule, they were about to get one heck of an object lesson.

During their sea crossing, a furious storm kicked up that was so intense even the seasoned fishermen deemed themselves goners, which made Jesus’ nap seem all the more ridiculous. Irked by His ability to sleep in the midst of chaos, the disciples woke Jesus up and asked, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

Really, boys?

Let’s just pause on that for a moment. The Son of God, who made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant in order to suffer and die an excruciating death on behalf of wretched humanity (Philippians 2:7), was asked by the men He’d chosen and discipled daily if He gave a rip.

No wonder He didn’t answer them directly.

In truth, Jesus had already told them everything they needed to know when He said, “Let us go across to the other side” (Mark 4:35). And because His words are never wrong. He rested in them. Literally. Jesus took a nap because even in the midst of a furious storm, there was zero reason to freak out. Astonished after seeing Him rebuke the storm with a single command, the disciples asked, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

That was actually a much better question. The answer is that He’s the One who’s never wrong. He’s the One who is sovereign over absolutely everything even when circumstances get rough. So, our job is to quit freaking out about it because we’re not goners. We are mroe than conquerors to whom the secret of the kingdom of God has been given (Romans 8:31-39), and Jesus has promised us that, in spite of the storms that will surely arise, we’re gonna make it to the other side.

Which means we can rest in it.

PRAYER FOCUS

Ask God to forgive you for the times you’ve accused Him of not caring. Thank Him for His sovereign rule over absolutely everything in your life including the storms. Praise Him for all of His promises that you can rest in, and then choose to actually rest.

MOVING FORWARD

• What’s an object lesson God has allowed in your life in order to demonstrate His sovereignty?
• How did you respond? Did you freak out assuming Jesus didn’t care, or did you rest in His promises?
• Do you truly trust Jesus with your life? Take a hard look and be honest.