The Back Of The Ship

Mark 4:37-39 – And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And [Jesus] was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (KJV)

Too often as we read, hear, and envisage this passage of Scripture, we focus on the panic and fear of the disciples as the wind rises, causing the waves to spill into their ship, filling it. In desperation, they awake Jesus with the words, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" We then focus on Jesus getting up, rebuking the wind, and saying to the sea, "Peace, be still."

I would like us to look for a moment at where Jesus was in relation to where His disciples were positioned in the ship. Jesus was sleeping comfortably at the back of the ship on a pillow, while the disciples were up front trying with futility to bail the water and keep the ship afloat. Their salvation from this situation came only when they awoke Jesus.

I wonder, as we sail along on the sea of life, if too often we have Jesus sleeping comfortably on a pillow at the back of our ship. When high winds and troubled seas arise, it is then we rush to the back of our ship to ask Jesus for help. Would it not be better to have Jesus as our captain to guide our ship through the troubled waters of life?

There are a couple of phrases that I love in this text: at the beginning, "And there arose a great storm of wind" , and at the end, "And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." From a great storm to a great calm, this, Jesus will do for us, if and when we have Him as the Captain of our lives.

Prayer: Our dear and loving heavenly Father, we ask that You will help us to let Jesus be our Captain on this earthly voyage of life, that we might enjoy that great calm. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.