“If
you faint in adversity, your strength is small.” Proverbs 24:10
An
African adage states that ‘It is a child that will play with the tail of a lion
thinking that it is a dog.’ Actually what it is saying in a veiled form here is
that it is as a result of a child’s immaturity that he or she would think that
way. Certainly, the lion is not identified by its tail but by its strength and
of course its ferocity. It is true that the disciples of Jesus were ‘new recruits,’
not quite au fait with the power of the Master and the wealth of His divine
wisdom. It meant having to go through a process to fathom this.
One
of such instances happened when Jesus after a very busy day teaching, healing
and dealing with a large crowd of people that had been following Him around
wherever He went had physically drained Him. That evening, He ordered His
disciples that they had better cross over to the other bank of the Sea of
Galilee to have some rest and quietness. So He told them: “Let us go over to
the other side.” (Mark 4:35)
As
young disciples chosen to catch men after a life of catching only fish, the
potentials of Master Jesus whom they were following were not readily evident.
Like in every formal or informal training, it would require some time,
particularly at the initial stage, for concepts and notions to sink in. Things
do take time. Sometimes though in the enthusiasm of carrying out their
functions you could miss certain vital instructions. With time though, the
disciples would behave more maturely.
After
having embarked on the boat, “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke
over the boat so that it was nearly swamped.” (Mark 4:37) This was going to be
their first test case in their new profession as disciples – it was not a
question of their seamanship. They have been sailors all their lives and have
crisscrossed on numerous occasions the Sea of Galilee. But this time around it
was a test of the resilience of their faith. Their knowhow unfortunately served
no useful purpose. They could no longer rely on their strength but in the One
who had recruited them.
This
test was a real-life situation and their lives were in jeopardy. What did they
do? They decided to wake up the Master who was sleeping on the stern of the
boat peacefully. These were trying times and their question confirmed it;
“Teacher, don’t You care if we drown!” (Mark 4:38b) The cry of desperation! We
have all been there one time or the other.
Hopelessness
pushes us to ask those who are in a position to help why it is they are not
doing anything about our situation. Is their attitude the result of apathy,
nonchalance or they just cannot be bothered, we often wonder? The Master would
later make a pronouncement stating: “Without me you can do nothing!” (John 15:5)
Was this one of those instances?
Mentoring
starts with putting your disciple on the spot – while still on familiar terrain
-- yet they could not cope. All their efforts at trying to save the boat from
capsizing and them drowning were ineffective. Their experience could do nothing
for them. The reason is that this case was one of spiritual warfare and Jesus
knew He would win it hands down. Besides, He could not afford to lose with all
the eyes of his disciples on Him. Overwhelmed by the Master’s inability, the
disciples would not have been around Him to even witness the crucifixion.
What
happened is an eye-opener for the unbeliever. “He (Jesus) got up, rebuked the
wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it
was completely calm.” (Mark 4:39) In everyday parlance or in street jargon it
would have been said: ‘Man pass man!’ What Jesus demonstrated by quelling their
fears is that He has authority over His creation. He ordered the wind and the
waves, otherwise the storm, to be quiet and instantly it obeyed. The storm
ceased. How did He do it, you may ask?
The
writer of Hebrews has given us the answer. “In these last days He (God) has
spoken to us through His son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through
whom he made the universe.” (Hebrews 1:2) “But so that you may know that the
Son of Man has authority on earth ....” (Matthew 9:6) “All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to me (Jesus).” (Matthew 28:18) “... He (Jesus)
taught as One who had authority...” (Matthew 7:29)
Throughout
His ministry, Jesus commanded the demons that had invaded the bodies of their
victims to leave and they were sent packing. Reader, what is it that you are
afraid of? Is you life in jeopardy? Are demons harassing you or have they
illegally taken residence in your territory? No need to fear, the Son of God in
whose name still resides power and authority is willing and able to help you if
you are willing to put your case before Him this instant. Whatever is bothering
you or has overpowered you, take it to the Lord in prayer.
What
lesson should we learn regarding the attitude we should adopt when faced with
adversity? God admonishes us to be still and know that He is God. The
inexperienced disciples failed to discern Jesus’ authority, that when He said
they should go to the other side, nothing could have stopped Him. If they had
known this, there would not have been the need to wake Him up. One thing is
certain though, a boat in which the Lord has entered cannot capsize; nor would
a storm have put His life in jeopardy.
“He said to His disciples, “Why are you so
afraid? “Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)
In
the light of what they saw, they remarked; ‘saying one to another, ‘What manner
of man is this! For He commands even the wind and the water and they obey Him.”
(Luke 8:25)
The
Lord Jesus can calm your worst storms and fears; that is the reason He came.
“If
you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength.”
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