Sleep and the Storm

Stepping outside that February night, something didn’t feel right. The normal sight of frost forming was replaced by warm tropical air being pushed by a strong south wind. It is known that sometime that night a war would be waged to reclaim atmospheric normalcy. You are told earlier that evening that is once or twice a year that conditions are this favorable for severe storms. Then shortly before you lay down to go to bed, damage is reported 3 to 4 hours west of you and a watch is issued for your area. It’s been an exhausting day and you can barely keep your eyes open but each gust rattles your siding a little harder making you question your safety. You have two choices; spend the night in fear or trust the Lord (Matthew 11:28).

The disciples had the same choices that stormy night on the Sea of Galilee except they were in much more imminent danger, or so they thought. The disciples that night chose fear. Mark’s account of this night in chapter 4 lends itself to some well documented “types” our lives being the boat in the storm of sin and Jesus being the only way out. And a lot can be gleaned from these aspects of that night. But we can also look at two other aspects of this night and make a distinct contrast. They are sleep and the storm. Great is our Lord that make the disciples ask: “What manner of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him.” (Mark 4:41)

Without getting into a deep study, we can see the terror in the disciple’s eyes. They were “out on the perilous deep” as the song says “driftin' too far from the shore.” The thought of navigating a ship at night without modern day conviences and navigation tools is frightening much less no light. Oh but they did have light, the light of the world and didn’t even know it. (John 1:5). The disciples and Jesus were somewhere in a sea that was around 13 by 8 miles in area. They could have been as much as 6 ½ miles from the safety of dry ground at night when the scripture says great storm of wind arose. This was a “great” storm. In Mark 4:37 the waves are said to “beat” into the ship. This must have been a terrifying sound in comparison with the gentle sound of waves that people fall asleep listening to at seaside resorts. But that night the thunderous roar pushed them ever so much further from their faith in Him like problems in our life. The disciples had somewhat cause to worry for the scripture speaks of the boat; “it was now full.” Luke 8:23 describes the disciples as being in “jeopardy.” All the while Jesus was sleeping. They said “carest thou not that we perish.” (Mark 4:38). They could have asked what manner of man can sleep through a storm like this. A man sure of his placement in Heaven with his Father. You could say that the focus that night for all but One was on the storm.

People who have been in great wind storms or tornadoes often report the sound of a freight train at deafening levels. There have been reports of wind pulling the asphalt off of a roadway. The sound alone that night would keep anyone up. Many people have to have complete peace of mind before they can fall asleep. Jesus could have easily considered his death and be kept up every night. It is easy to stay up all night strategizing in your head how a bill will get paid, a test will be passed, or some other problem that you will face the next day. How could Jesus sleep knowing the tortuous death He would face for a lost people? Jesus said “I am the way, truth, and the life.” (John 14:6). Not only did Jesus say he was the way, He said He was the truth so when he told the disciples that they were going to the other side of the sea, they should have believed Him. Jesus knew he would be on the other side so He slept when He was awakened by His disciples who were certain of their death on that violent sea. Jesus then “rebuked” the wind and there was a “great calm” after the “great storm.” The study could be done to find the origin of the storm; was it a tool used by God to induce obedience (psalm 83:15) or a symptom of a fallen world where the sea like the waves rebel (psalm 89:9). No matter, then Jesus slept during the storm but calmed it when it became the fear of those on the ship. “And he said unto them, why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). Jesus knew his destiny that night much like we know ours in Him.

In the midst of the sea Jesus slept so he could focus on his ministry on the other side of the sea while the disciples were focused on the storm. We have two choices as believers to sleep with the comfort of Christ during the storm knowing he will lead you safely across the sea or to fear the storm and let it stop us in our tracks. There is no doubt that like that February night and the night on the Sea of Galilee that there will be a storm in your life. But if you have believed that Jesus God’s only son died for your sins in which could not pay and rose on the third day, the storm has already been calmed for you. So you can either focus on sleep and Jesus or the storm.

Josh Upham