Remember, this week we are looking at God’s forming and filling of creation and then how do we see that through the lens of Jesus?

Day two was separating the waters, water and sky and day five was filling with sea creatures and birds.

Mark 4:35-41- 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

What do you notice?

Remember, water represented chaos and there was an undercurrent of fear related to the sea creatures.

What do we see with Jesus? In the midst of the storm, in the midst of the chaotic waters, what was Jesus doing? Sleeping, sawing logs, deep sleep that he had to be woken up in the middle of the storm. Was this because he was just that tired? I don’t think so, we don’t know for sure, but I don’t think so. I think it’s bigger than that.

Remember, at least four of the disciples were trained fishermen. They knew how the storms on the Sea of Galilee would come out of nowhere and be fierce. Yet, trained fishermen, who knew what they were doing were filled with fear, to the point they make a pretty honest but challenging question to Jesus, “don’t you care…. Don’t you care if we drown?”
I wonder, in the midst of our chaos, have we ever cried out to God in that way, “God, don’t you care? Don’t you care about the storm I am in? Don’t you care that I’m drowning? Don’t you care that I’m struggling in this storm?” To the point where we think Jesus is just ignoring us or asleep.

But what do we notice about the passage? Yes, Jesus was asleep because Jesus had peace. Jesus had peace because he was Lord over creation. We see that because of what he says after being woken up.

Jesus doesn’t chastise the disciples; he doesn’t bark at them. In the midst of Jesus’ peace, notice what he did. He rebuked the wind but spoke to the waters, creation language. With a word, “quiet, be still” or in some translations it says, “peace, be still.” The Lord of creation, because he governs over all had peace and spoke peace. He governs over the sea and the sea monsters, the fear and the doubt, even of the disciples.

The question Jesus asks the disciples isn’t slanderous or even offensive. It’s a pause for them to truly think and respond. “Why were you fearful? Where is your faith?” Or let me put it this way. What do you have faith in?

Jesus was at peace and but the disciples were in chaos. Jesus was expressing to them, “I am Lord of Creation, the Lord of Order.”

Which means, when we face the storms of life, when the waters of life are crashing all around us, do we believe God cares for us? If not why? Because it’s his promise. But also, how do we seek his peace? Seek His calm? His rest? (Which we will talk about in a few weeks.)

His peace is his presence, seeking prayer, quieting our mind and heart, “take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.” Which means I take the thought of insecurity or the thought of fear and I ask is this from God? If not, I give that thought to Christ because he cares and he is Lord of creation.

Or maybe, recite what he spoke into the storm. “Peace be still.” Heart, mind, Christ’s peace in me, peace be still.

Today, what would it look like to take 10 minutes to practice silence and prayer, taking your thoughts captive and bringing them to Jesus, seeking his peace with what is swirling all around you.