Overstating the Case

Scripture:

Mark 4:35
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (NIV)

Observation:

The disciples had been hanging out with Jesus day in and day out.  They had listened to his preaching and been witnesses to his healing power.  Now, as they were tired from the day of ministry they got out on a boat and were crossing over the sea.  As the waves of the storm begin to overtake the boat they become frustrated at the peace of Jesus.  He was fast asleep while they were all worried about what to do.  In a moment of frustration they asked Jesus a rather silly question.  “Don’t you care if we drown?”  Of course Jesus cared whether they would drown!  But in their frustration they forgot all that Jesus had previously done and overstated the case. 

Jesus calmly awakened and rebuked the storm and then asked the disciples why they were so upset.  Their response to the storm revealed their lack of faith. 

Application:

Does our response to the circumstances of life reveal our lack of faith?  Just like the disciples we may be privileged to experience the work of God in the world and in our own lives.  The expected response would be peace in the midst of the storms but then suddenly we may feel that the waters of life are getting rough.  We become frightened by the waves that seem to be sweeping in over us. 

Jesus is our example in the storms of life.  He is peacefully sleeping through it all.  Why?  Because he knows that the storm has no power to overtake him.  When the enemy stirs up the storms around us we must remember who it is that is in the boat with us. 

I have a rather natural tendency to overstate the case.  Just ask my husband!  In this case I had to chuckle at the disciples’ response, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”  They misinterpreted his sleeping and instead of seeing it as the peace that he wants to provide us in the midst of the difficulties, they saw it as indifference.  They overstated the case because obviously Jesus loved and cared for them and would not want them to drown.

Jesus loves and cares for us.  We need to be careful to not misinterpret his actions or inaction.  His inaction was simply a revelation of his character.  He was peaceful in the storm.  As we reflect his image, we also take on the characteristics of Christ.  The tendency to overstating our case seems to melt into the distance as we put our total trust in him and his nature is reflected in our response to the storms of life. 

Prayer:

Lord, please help me to trust you in all the storms.  Amen.