The Voyage, The Storm, and The Lord

The story of Jesus calming the storm is a familiar one, often depicted in Christian art and childhood stories. Its enduring power comes from its deep relatability. Like the disciples’ voyage, we navigate life’s storms in our own journeys. The story begins in Mark 4:35-36:

On that day, when evening had come, he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” So they left the crowd and took him along since he was in the boat. And other boats were with him.

The Voyage Relates to Life

Just as the disciples embarked on a passage across the sea, our lives are a journey, a voyage where storms inevitably arise. For centuries, life has been compared to a pilgrimage or a road trip, from the song “Life is a Highway” to John Bunyan’s classic book, The Pilgrim’s Progress. The main character, “Christian, undertakes a pilgrimage from the “City of Destruction” to the “Celestial City,” a symbolic representation of the journey of faith.

This voyage had a clear destination: “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” Though the disciples knew their path, they had no say in the matter of where they were headed. They had surrendered control to their Captain. This is a powerful illustration to us. Do we live our lives like we’re on a road trip, trying to steer our own way, or like we’re on a cruise, trusting the Captain’s plan? Declaring Jesus as Lord is one thing, but true devotion demands our actions mirror a life led by His direction.

This voyage was about more than just physical travel; it was a journey toward deeper intimacy with Jesus. Yet, while we focus on the disciples in their boat, we must not forget the “other boats.”

Jesus had been teaching a crowd. He wasn’t interested in drawing the masses for fame; his measure of success was the faithfulness of those who followed. Some in the crowd were merely curious, not committed. The “other boats” represent the additional followers who answered the call to cross over. They remind us that we are not alone on our journey. We are here today because someone before us heard the call and chose to follow after Jesus. In life’s storms, we must remember our brothers and sisters in their “boats” sailing alongside us.

The Storms

The disciples’ voyage wasn’t smooth sailing. As we read in Mark 4:37-38, a storm arose:

A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?”

There were two storms raging that day.

1. The Storm Around Them This was a real, physical storm. The Greek words used to describe it compare it to a hurricane or an earthquake. It was sudden, powerful, and destructive. It was also dark, as it struck in the evening. The disciples, many of them experienced fishermen, were in grave danger. What makes this so profound is that this storm was not a result of their disobedience. They were in this predicament because they had obeyed Jesus’s command to cross over. This reminds us that obedience to God does not exempt us from trials. Sometimes, our greatest storms come precisely because we are following His will.

2. The Storm Within Them More devastating than the wind and waves was the storm of fear and worry within the disciples. They were terrified. External factors caused their inner turmoil. This is so relatable. External anxieties, such as concerns over finances, health reports, or relational conflicts, can easily stir up an emotional storm inside us, leading to instability.

This internal storm was also a spiritual one. Despite witnessing Jesus perform miracle after miracle, they questioned if He even cared. “Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” they cried. This is a raw, honest question many of us have asked God in our darkest moments. The disciples’ uncertainty highlights how even those who have walked closely with Jesus can struggle with faith when their circumstances feel overwhelming.

The Lord That Calms the Storm

Jesus, a testimony to his humanity, was asleep, exhausted from a long day of ministry. But he was not too tired to answer their cry. As we read in Mark 4:39-41:

He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

Jesus’s response addresses both storms.

1. He Calms the Storm Around Them. With a word, he resolved the external chaos. He took a great storm and brought a great calm, demonstrating his divine authority over creation.

2. He Calms the Storm Within Them. He wasn’t content to simply fix their circumstances; he wanted to heal their hearts. He asked two probing questions: “Why are you afraid?” and “Do you still have no faith?” He didn’t rebuke them for waking him, but for their misplaced fear. Their fear should not have been in the storm but in the one who commanded it. He reminds them and us that no matter what we face, there is one mightier than our storms. He has given us a promise—to cross over to the other side—and we must have faith that He will see us through.

Conclusion

What do we do in the storm? We trust the Captain of Creation.

Is Jesus in your boat? Have you surrendered control of your life to him? It’s one thing to know who Jesus is—the one who died on the cross for us—but it’s another thing entirely to live a life surrendered to Him, where He calls the shots. If you have not, why not today? Storms will come, but there is only one who is mightier than our greatest storm.

Remember the “other boats.” They could have stayed behind and avoided the storm. But by choosing to follow, they witnessed the power of Jesus in a way the crowd never would. It pays to be a follower of Christ. There is no telling what we will encounter, but we know our Captain is in control.