“When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be Still!!”, Suddenly the wind stopped and their was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:39-40).

Have you ever been in a storm? Maybe you’ve been on a boat in the middle of the sea when the winds and the waves rose up. Maybe you’ve been in a tornado. A snowstorm? Drowning? A doctor’s report? Car wreck? Maybe it wasn’t a physical storm. Maybe it was purely emotional. The loss of a loved one? Broken promises? Job layoff? All of these storms and those not mentioned invoke a natural human reaction of fear. Faith is the antidote to fear which is what Jesus was trying to teach his disciples. It’s what he is trying to teach me and you.

In 1986 a fishing boat was found dating back to the first century. It was found buried in the mud of the northwest part of the Sea of Galilee. It measured about 27 feet long, 7.5 feet wide and 3.9 feet deep. It had an elevated stern and could have held up to 15 people. It is very likely this was the type of boat that they used on the sea that evening.

After a long day of ministry, Jesus decided that it was time for a break…and for a teaching moment. The disciples were ready for the former but not prepared for the latter.

“As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” “So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind.” (Matthew 4:35-36).

Storms seem to be more intense at night. We can’t see. We lack control.

Jesus knew the storm was coming. Jesus sees. Jesus is in control.

Jesus is in the boat.

“But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.” (Matthew 4:37).

Storms are fierce. A doctor’s report. A job layoff. A death. We can’t see. We lack control.

Jesus knew the storm was coming. Jesus sees. Jesus is in control.

Jesus is in the boat.

“Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

Storms are disruptive. We can’t sleep. We can’t rest. We are being tossed around. We can’t see. We lack control.

Jesus knew the storm was coming. He found a place to rest. He was at peace. Jesus is in control.

Jesus is in the boat. He cares.

“When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be Still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Storms end.

Jesus knew the storm was coming.

Jesus is in the boat. He brings calm to the chaos.

ALL of us are facing the same Corona-virus storm. Evening has come and we are being asked to cross from one side of the sea to the other and it’s in the between time where we will have the chance to trust him and grow in our faith. Sickness, disease, and death are the results of living in a fallen world. We will have trouble but we are to take heart because Jesus has overcome the world. The stripes on his back provide healing. He is Jehovah Jireh our PROVIDER. We will lack nothing. He is Jehovah Shalom our God of PEACE. He is Jehovah Rapha our HEALER.

We will get through this because Jesus never takes us around a storm. He takes us through them.

Storms will rise up.

Jesus knew this virus was coming. He sees. He knows. He is in control.

Jesus is in the boat but he’s not sleeping. He cares. He is watching over me and you and we can take his place in the back of the boat and rest.

Shh….storms end.