Summer At Sea: Week 10 Day 2

Mark 4: 35-41 (ESV)

35 “On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 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?” 39 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. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 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?”

So often I read this story only focusing on Jesus and His disciples. However, today a new detail caught my eye.  Mark 4:36 says, “And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was.  And other boats were with him.” (emphasis mine)  

The storm that had started upon the waters was not just affecting the boat Jesus was aboard, there were other boats that were being tossed and turned in the waves as well.  When Jesus commanded the wind and sea to be still, it didn’t just impact the boat He was on, but would have brought a great calm to everyone on the water.  Jesus' command of peace would have extended beyond just His disciples to all the boats who were with them.

Isn’t the same true for us today? We are called to share the peace of Jesus to all we come in contact with.  His command of “Peace, be still" (Mark 4:39) is extended to everyone today and our job is to share that good news.

Who can you tell today about this gift of peace?