Life: Power Like No Other

• The Bible Studies for Life lesson for March 15 focuses on Mark 4:35-41.

In the movie All is Lost, Robert Redford portrays an unnamed sailor on a solo voyage across the Indian Ocean. He meets with disaster when his boat is damaged after colliding with a steel cargo container. For the next eight days, every attempt the sailor makes to save himself fails. His boat starts leaking again after the fiberglass patch he crudely constructed to repair a hole begins to tear. The radio he needs for communication is broken. He is tossed overboard during a violent storm and barely pulls himself back on board. 

Finally, when the main mast of his vessel snaps, he abandons ship and stows away in an inflatable lifeboat. Soon he is out of food and water. He has no hope of survival. He tears a page out of his journal and writes the following note, which he places in a jar and tosses into the ocean: “13th of July, 4:50 p.m. I’m sorry. I know that means little at this point, but I am. I tried. I think you would all agree that I tried. To be true, to be strong, to be kind, to love, to be right, but I wasn’t. And I know you knew this, in each of your ways. And I am sorry. All is lost here, except for soul and body, that is what’s left of it, and a half day’s ration. It’s inexcusable; I know that now. How it could have taken this long to admit that, I’m not sure, but it did. I fought to the end. I’m not sure what that is worth, but know that I did. I’ve always hoped for more for you all. I will miss you. I’m sorry.”

Does anybody care?

In Mark 4:35-41, the disciples find themselves in a seemingly hopeless situation, similar to the sailor in All is Lost. Physically exhausted after a day of ministering to the crowds, Jesus suggests they all cross the lake as evening approaches. A “furious squall” comes up, and the boat is “nearly swamped” with water (v. 37). The disciples are panic-stricken. Where is Jesus? He is asleep in the stern, seemingly oblivious not only to the turmoil around him, but also to the plight of his fear-stricken disciples. I can imagine the disciples quickly trying to determine who will be the one to nudge Jesus awake. The Bible simply says, “The disciples woke him” (v. 38). Their first words to their teacher are, “Don’t you care if we drown?” (v. 38). These are hopeless words. The disciples do not ask Jesus to help them. Instead, their fear in the middle of the storm prompts them to lash out at him.  “What kind of teacher are you?” they imply. “Don’t you even care what happens to us?”

Power to calm the storm

Jesus responds to his panicked disciples by rebuking the wind and waves: “Quiet! Be still!” The sea calms immediately. Then Jesus asks his companions: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (v. 40). These questions have two possible meanings, both equally valid. Jesus could be asking if their lack of faith caused them to doubt Jesus’ redeeming presence during the storm. After all, he was asleep while they were bailing water. Why didn’t he grab a bucket, too? Alternatively, Jesus could be asking if they thought he did not have the power to calm the waters.  Either way, the disciples’ fear was a symptom of their lack of trust in the Lord’s sovereignty in their lives and his power over creation.

Regarding tough times in our lives, someone once said we are either going into a storm, in the middle of a storm or exiting a storm. When we perceive we are entering a trying time, worry can overwhelm our thoughts. What’s happening? Is the Lord going to come through as I think he should? However, Jesus commands us not to worry: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” he asks rhetorically when preaching from the Mount of Olives (Matthew 6:27). In the middle of a storm, we may ask Jesus, just like the disciples, “Don’t you even care about my suffering?” Despite how we may feel, Jesus does, in fact, care: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? “(Matthew 6:26). Sometimes we only gain enough spiritual perspective to acknowledge God’s powerful work in our lives after we have exited the storm and are experiencing calm seas.

A hand to help

At the end of the movie All is Lost, a mysterious hand reaches down to pull the man out of the water after he has given up and is sinking beneath the waves. The ambiguous ending of the movie can be frustrating. We do not know if the man actually is rescued, or if he has died and the outstretched hand is only symbolic of his passing into eternity. Either way one interprets the ending, it is hopeful. All is not lost. Either the man’s life is preserved here on earth, or the hand of Christ is leading him to heaven. 

Although the stormy seasons of life are terrible, our Father uses them to mold us even more into Christ’s image. Whether we are entering a storm, in the middle of one or exiting, we can trust God knows what is happening and cares for us. No matter what the outcome, his power is enough to assure us we need not fear.