Dear LifeSpring Family,
This past Sunday, I was privileged to speak at our Mississauga church. The title of my sharing was Patient Endurance/Pain With Purpose.
The passage that I spoke on was Mark 4:35-41. This is a very familiar passage to all of us.
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” [36] And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. [37] And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. [38] 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?” [39] 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. [40] He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” [41] 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?” (ESV)
Mark 4:35–41
From the passage, it is obvious that the disciples were going through pain at multiple levels. The emotional pain of the unknown and the impending pain of a physical drowning were very real. Yet through this very painful experience, God’s purpose was fulfilled. The disciples experienced a new level of “knowing” their Lord and Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?”
Focus not on how big our problem/pain is only, but more importantly, let’s focus on Jesus, “who even the wind and sea obey”.
Grace upon grace.
Jerry