Jesus said, Peace, Be Still.

 In my previous blog post I pointed out that the verse of Scripture that says "Be still and know that I am God" was not about enhancing our prayer life but instead was an admonition to nations making war with one another.

Well, there was a day in the life of Jesus when He said "peace, be still." The disciples heard Him say it. But they didn't get the impression that He was instructing them in a more spiritual way of quiet prayer. As it happens, Jesus wasn't even talking to them when He said those words.

Mar 4:37-39  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.  But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"  And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ESV

The first chapter of the gospel written by John calls Jesus the Word and says "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3) ESV

Since Jesus made everything that was made, then He had the ability to do anything at all with it. You and I can fashion things that already exist, modifying their shape, color, rearranging things to some extent. But Jesus can do anything with anything. So when He said "Peace. Be still." to the storm, that storm stopped and there was a great calm.

Notice that the description of the event doesn't merely say the stormy wind eased up or quieted down. It says the wind ceased and there was not just a calm but a great calm.

The effect on the weather was profound, and so was the affect of this miracle on the disciples, Did they, too, become really calm now that the storm was gone and there was no longer any danger of their boat sinking? Well, not exactly. Jesus spoke to them.

"He said to them, 'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?'  And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"  (Mark 4:40-41) ESV

The disciples had seen Jesus heal the sick and disabled. They'd seen Him exercise authority over demons. But the disciples still did not know how incredible His power was. But now they'd seen Him go from taking a nap in the midst of a raging storm, to completely calming that storm with just a few words.

It is right and proper to fear such power and authority. This same Jesus did die on the Cross as the one acceptable sacrifice to pay for our sins, but He did so not because He was powerless to prevent it. He could have slain all the soldiers in the Roman army with a single word. But had He done that, no one could be cleansed of their sins and be acceptable to God. But He did die on the Cross, and it was the acceptable sacrifice, so on the third day He rose from the grave with an incorruptible body.

He rose from the grave, and after demonstrating to many He was indeed alive, He returned to Heaven. But He's coming back. He's coming back to judge the living and the dead. For those who have believed in Him and what He did on the Cross, and have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior, it will be a time of great rejoicing. For those who have rejected Him, there will be no joy, because whether they want it or not, believe it or not, they will learn that Jesus has power and authority even over them.

When Jesus was here in the flesh He said "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!" Luke 12:5 ESV

The disciples who saw Jesus calm the storm were right to be fearfully awed by that demonstration of the power and authority of Jesus. But eleven of them had no need to fear what He might do with them one day. Jesus not only has the authority to cast into hell, He also is the One who gives eternal life.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.  And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  (John 17:1-3)  ESV

Do you want to not quake with dreadful fear due to storms or the One who has authority over everything including our eternal destinies? Then come to know God and Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became a man to die on the Cross for our sins.