It was a beautiful evening at the lake. Jesus had been telling people about God all day long. Now he was tired and needed a break. So he said to his disciples, “Let us go to the other shore.” The disciples helped Jesus get into the boat, and they rowed off. Jesus lay down on a pillow in the back of the boat and fell asleep.
But suddenly a big, strong storm came. The wind blew wildly, and the waves became huge. They struck the boat, and it filled with water. The disciples were very afraid, and they cried out, “We are going down!”
Jesus was still fast asleep. Then the disciples ran to him and cried: “Jesus, Jesus! Wake up! We’re going down, and you’re not doing anything!”
Jesus stood up quietly, looked around, raised his hand and said to the storm: “Stop! Be quiet!” And immediately the wind stopped blowing, the waves calmed down, and the water became very calm. The storm was gone!
Then Jesus looked at the disciples and asked, “Why are you so afraid? Have you forgotten that I am with you? You can always trust me, even when things get stormy.”
The disciples were very amazed. They said to each other, “Who is this man? Even the wind and the waves listen to him!”
Jesus had shown that he is powerful and that he always stays with his friends.
Message of history
Even though things are scary at times, we can trust that Jesus is with us and will help us when we are afraid.
Bible passage
Mark 4:35-41 (Schlachter 2000):
“And on that day, when evening came, he said to them, ‘Let us go to the opposite shore.’ And they dismissed the crowd and took him away in the boat, just as he was; but there were also other small boats with him. And a great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already beginning to fill. And he was in the back of the boat, sleeping on the pillow. And they woke him up and said to him, “Master, do you not care that we perish?” And he stood up, and rebuked the wind, and said to the lake, “Be silent, be silent.” And the wind died down, and there was a great silence. And he said to them, “Why are you so fearful? What, do you have no faith? And they were greatly afraid, and said to one another, “Who is this, that the wind and the sea should be obedient to him?”
