In the midst of this madness, a man lay asleep in the stern of the ship. Not just any man, but the Son of Man himself, the one who created all things and sustains all things with his word. There he lay, asleep, doing nothing to fix the problem or comfort the distressed sailors. Perhaps the disciples speak for all of us when they ask, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
Do you not care that we are perishing?
It was a bold, yet understandable question. It’s one we might be too afraid to ask God explicitly, but one we ponder in the depth of our heart. Jesus and the disciples were in the boat together when the great storm arose (Mark 4:35-41). The wind violently forced its way across the sea mindless of anything in its path. The joints of the boat were no match against the power of the waves and the wood began to splinter. Water filled the boat and it wouldn’t be much longer until all was lost.
In the midst of this madness, a man lay asleep in the stern of the ship. Not just any man, but the Son of Man himself, the one who created all things and sustains all things with his word. There he lay, asleep, doing nothing to fix the problem or comfort the distressed sailors. Perhaps the disciples speak for all of us when they ask, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
While we were not on the boat with them, we’ve gone through the same doubts. It may not be a relentless wind, but for us it’s an ongoing relationship struggle that has us on the brink of despair. Instead of crushing waves, we’re overcome by problems at work that seem to be without a solution. Stress and complications flood our life and we are on the verge of drowning.
And the Lord seems to be asleep, doing nothing.
It’s hard not to wonder “why?” Why doesn’t the Lord act faster? Why wait until the boat starts to flood? Why does he tarry?
Doubting Disciples
Jesus eventually asked the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
He diagnosed their fear as a lack of faith. While struggling with my own doubt, I can easily judge the disciples for theirs. Didn’t they realize God was on the boat…how could they doubt? Surely they knew that the Son of Man didn’t come to earth to drown in the sea. Didn’t they realize Jesus was training them to be pillars of his church? Couldn’t they see he was going to protect them?
