October
22, 2003
PEACE,
BE STILL!
"Then
He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace,
be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm"
(Mark 4:39, NKJV).
All day
Jesus had been teaching and healing and as evening came on
the crowds still pressed on Him. He said to His disciples,
"Let's cross over to the other
side." They left the multitude and took Jesus
in a boat, with other boats following, and headed off toward
the other side of the lake. "And a great windstorm arose,
and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke
Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, do You not care that we are
perishing?' Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to
the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And
the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to
them, 'Why are you so fearful? How is
it that you have no faith?' And they feared exceedingly,
and said to one another, 'Who can this be, that even the wind
and the sea obey Him!" (Mark 4:35-41).
The disciples,
hardy fishermen as they were, had spent their lives on the
lake, and had guided their boats through many storms. But
now their strength and skill were tested to the limits, the
boat was filling with water, and they were afraid they would
perish. How could Jesus rest so peacefully while they were
in danger and battling with death? As their cry awakes Jesus,
the lightning's glare reveals His face, clear and calm. "Lord,
save us, we are perishing!"
Never
has a soul uttered that cry unheeded. "As the disciples
grasp their oars to make a last effort, Jesus rises. He stands
in the midst of His disciples, while the tempest rages, the
waves break over them, and the lightning illuminates His countenance.
He lifts His hand, so often employed in deeds of mercy, and
says to the angry sea, 'Peace, be still.' The storm ceases.
The billows sink to rest. The clouds roll away, and the stars
shine forth. The boat rests upon a quiet sea... A hush fell
upon the disciples. Even Peter did not attempt to express
the awe that filled his heart... In the calm that followed,
fear was forgotten. The people whispered among themselves,
'What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea
obey Him?' " (Desire of Ages, p., 335, 236).
He who
spoke peace to the storm on Galilee has spoken the word of
peace to every soul. However fierce the tempest, those who
turn to Jesus with the cry, "Lord, save us," will
find deliverance. His grace, that reconciles us to God, quiets
the strife of human passion, and in His love the heart is
at rest. "He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.
Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them
to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to
the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to
the children of men!" (Psalm 107:29-31).
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