What Boat are you in?

 

Mark 4:35 – 41

 

Jesus Calms a Storm

^“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.   He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”   He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.   He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”  They were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

 

In the New Testament  Scriptures Hebrew 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”

 

It is living and active, and the Holy Spirit never stops teaching and correcting and allowing discipline to bring us into an understanding of God’s written word.  So, allow me to share the many times I’ve read Mark 4:35 - 41, it has never been impressed on me that other boats left the shore to cross over with the boat Jesus was in.  This morning I realized the Spirit of the living God was going to show me something new.

 

Now back to the story, Jesus tells those in His boat to cross over to the other side, it is getting dark, and it is bad enough to be in a storm when you can see, but at night it can be a little overwhelming.  The other side seems to be the eastern side and that was the Gentile area.  Other boats were with them and a storm came up, the boat was being filled with water, where was Jesus?  It had been a long day of teaching and he went below to sleep.  

 

What happened to the other boats, are they also filling with water, and does it all seem lost?  We do not know, but logic tells us they also were crying for help.  Why are they not important?  Could it be that Jesus did not tell them to go to the other side, just His disciples?  Could it be Jesus was not in their boat?  Have you been in the boat where all seems lost and realized Jesus has not told you to cross over?  I have, I tried to be part of a ministry, a very good ministry but did not ask God if that was the boat He wanted me in.

 

Have you been in the boat with Jesus and the waves are coming in and you totally forget who is living in you?  Are maybe you are being like the disciples at this point your willing to follow Jesus but have not by faith and the grace that only God can give know without any doubt that God is in your boat?

 

I believe though we are not told by Mark, that they all each experience the storm, and that when Jesus was awoken it is recorded Jesus spoken these words, “Peace! Be still!.”  The disciples in the boat were full of fear, saying, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

 

The question must be asked, are you in the boat with God's Son, and have you placed your faith in Him?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice