Mark 4 portrays a Christ taking much needed rest in a boat on the verge of sinking in the depths of a raging sea. His disciples work endlessly to empty the vessel of the dooming water, but feel their efforts failing. They wake Him with those words, “Master, carest thou not that we parish?”
Did the Savior’s disciples wake Him with thinking He would grab a bucket and get to shoveling water? Did they wake Him confused or jealous that He could sleep in such a ruckus? They certainly didn’t expect the response they got. “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.” Their response shows their surprise, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
That manner of man, who the wind and sea obey, is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the man who knows and understands each one of us completely. He is my best friend. He is my confidant, my teacher.
We have been warned of the forth coming chaos in the world. There is going to be many scary things happening that simply won’t make sense. There will also be contentions and confusions within our own personal selves that will add to the mayhem, and we may find ourselves scrambling for explanations and calling out, “Master, carest thou not that I parish?”
In this moment, remember the Master’s words to His frantic disciples, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”
Jesus slept because His faith is whole. He sees the beginning and the end, the now and the later. He knew that the storm wouldn’t destroy them, but He also knew that if it did, they would simply move on to the next phase of their existence. His complete vision allowed Him to know that either way, everything was going to be okay.
We may not always be able to see as Jesus did. Fear and destruction may feel real in our lives. Our faith my be weak at times, but remembering who we are to our Great Redeemer, that manner of man who even the wind and sea obey, will buoy us up in the depths of darkness.
“Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me; And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.” (D&C 50:41-42)
Turn to Him. Believe Him.
Forever grateful!
