The Calm in the Storm....

If you are a long time Houston resident, you have endured your fair share of major storms. Three such storms (among many others) were Tropical Storm Allison (2001), Hurricane Ike (2008) and Hurricane Harvey (2017). In Jesus’ day, His disciples also experienced many dramatic storms, particularly on the Sea of Galilee. On this sea, storms would often arrive quickly and rapidly turn violent. However, as we learn by reading Mark 4:35-41, the specific storm that His disciples experienced on this day is one they will never forget for two reasons: 1) the extreme violence of it and 2) the supernatural way that Jesus’ spoken word would instantly calm it.  Furthermore, both before and during this harrowing storm, the disciples would witness three postures of Jesus that revealed His character and demonstrated His relentless pursuit of both the believer and unbeliever. The first revealed posture, and the subject of this writing, is Jesus’ heart as the tired teacher. 

By reading the verses preceding this passage, we learn that Jesus was exhausted.  He had been speaking to large Jewish crowds in parables and also explaining them privately to His disciples all day long (Mark 4:1-33).  Yet, though exhausted from this arduous day and unprepared for travel, Jesus tells His disciples late in the evening that they were going to the other side of the sea. Why?  To proclaim the Gospel of God to the Gentiles, the enemy of the Jews. At this juncture, it is important to pause and recognize that, from the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry until this point in time, His message to the Jews has been that the Kingdom of God is a great treasure, is the light in darkness and yields bountiful harvests. Now, Jesus is going to put these truths into action by
going to the Gentiles to proclaim this same message to them. And, in so doing, the Kingdom of God would begin the process of expanding to eventually include every single ethnicity once the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is completely fulfilled. Furthermore, Jesus, just as He did during His time on Earth, does the same for us today. The specific methods may have changed, but He pursues each of us just as relentlessly as He did those living in the first century.  Friend, if you have yet to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, do you sense His relentless pursuit of you? If so, will you respond to His call today?

Finally, for those of us who are already born again, Jesus wants you to see that He
continuously pursues you as well.  Specifically, He wants you to see how He provides for your every need and continuously calls you back to Himself when you wonder. He wants you to know how desperately He desires to deepen His relationship with you each and every day. And, He wants you to know that He can relate to you when you become tired both from the daily rigors of life and your ministry endeavors to bring others into His kingdom. Christian, do you recognize how Christ vigorously pursues, provides for and relates to you during your times of weariness? If not, take time to both recognize and meditate on this truth today….

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