OUR DAILY BREAD : CALMING THE STORM

[cimi]

TUESDAY MAY 26


CALMING THE STORM

READ:
MARK 4:39
_________________________________________________________________________________________
He arose and
rebuked the wind,
and said to the
sea, "Peace, be
still!" And the
wind ceased and
there was a
great calm.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

While Hurricane Katrina headed toward the coast of Mississippi, a retired pastor and his wife left their home and went to a shelter. Their daughter pleaded with them to go to Atlanta where she could take care of them, but the couple couldn't get any money to make the trip because the banks were closed. After the storm had passed, they returned to their home to get a few belongings, and were able to salvage only a few family photos floating in the water. Then, when the man was taking his father's photo out of its frame so it could dry, $366 fell out__precisely the amount needed for two plane tickets to Atlanta. They learned they could trust Jesus for what they needed.

For the disciples, trusting Jesus in a storm was the curriculum for the day in the dramatic narrative of Mark 4:35-41. Jesus had instructed His disciples to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee and then He went to sleep in the boat. When a quick and violent storm blew in, the disciples dripped as much with fear and anxiety as water from the waves. They woke Jesus, saying, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" (v. 38 NIV). Jesus stood up and with three words, "Peace, be still!" He muzzled the storm.

We all experience storms__persecutions, financial troubles, illnesses, disappointments, loneliness__and Jesus does not always prevent them. But He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us (HEB 13:5). He will keep us calm in the storm. __Marvin Williams

** Are you in a storm? What do you know about God's character that could
help bring calm to your heart? ____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
In the storms of life, we can see the character of our God.

***********************************Today's Bible Reading __ Mark 4:35-41********************************
35 On the same day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said
to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." 36 Now
when they had left the multitude, they took Him along
in the boat as He was. and other little boats were also
with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat
into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 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?"

39 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.

40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it
that you have no faith?"

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another,
"Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHTS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Mark 4:35-5:43 records four miracles that
answer the question asked in 4:41: "Who can this be...?" They
demonstrate Jesus' absolute power over nature (4:35-41), the
spiritual world (5:1-20), physical illnesses (5:21-34), and death (5:35-43).
Each miracle shows Jesus as the Omnipotent sovereign God.
In Jewish minds the power to control the sea and the waves
was exclusive to God (JOB 38:8-11; PS. 65:5-7; Isaiah 51:10; NAH 1:3-5). It's
interesting, however, that in today's passage Mark provides
an amazing contrast. Just before Jesus displayed the awesome
powers of His deity by calming the sea, we are given a touching
picture of His frail humanity: Jesus was so tired that even the
violent tossing of the waves did not wake Him (4:38).