Luther Seminary

A daily devotion brought to you by the alumni of Luther Seminary

Friday, June 21, 2024

Mark 4:35-41 (NRSV)

Read Mark 4:35-41 on biblegateway.com

Verse 35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." Verse 36And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. Verse 37A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. Verse 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Verse 39He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. Verse 40He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" Verse 41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Devotion

Have you ever been in a situation where the things happening around you seem to be against you—when you were vividly reminded that you are not in control? Perhaps it was when you were traveling during bad weather—when it was difficult to imagine that God was present or didn’t seem to care. The disciples are in such a situation. The wind is blowing their boat around, and Jesus doesn’t seem to care. How is he able to sleep through this commotion? But when the disciples cry out to Jesus for help, now Jesus speaks, and suddenly the wind ceases and the sea becomes calm. And now the disciples are faced with a different kind of fear. Who is this Jesus who has command over the sea and the storm, who seems to hold their very life in his hands. Jesus shows them a new vision of how God cares for their lives and how God is present for them in this one who can command the seas to obey him.

Prayer

O Lord, help us to see how your presence and your power guide us to be confident of your concern and care for life in the midst of the storms of life. Amen.

Dean Lundgren ’94 M.Div. Pastor, Grace Lutheran Church, Nerstrand, Minnesota


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