“Awake now, He told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet, settle down!” The wind ran out of breath, the sea became as smooth as glass.” (Mark 4:39 MSG)
My daily reading from John Eldredge points out how this story always precedes the story with the pigs: the demoniac plagued by a legion. The man with the demons was surviving a storm every bit as much as the disciples out on the waters. What’s more, these two stories are included in all three synoptic gospels. It made me think this morning, how we face two kinds of storms in our lives: external and internal. The writers of the gospels believed we needed to see Christ’s lordship over both, back to back. Over the seen and the unseen. Over the corporate and the private. Over the physical and the spiritual.
John Eldredge also pointed out how Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (overnight and in rough waters) for just one very troubled soul. This is the practice of our Savior; leaving the ninety-nine, even inconveniencing and alarming the flock in order to go after the one. If you are the one, though, the sacrifice seems worthwhile.
Beloved, you are the one. Perhaps you are like me, and you struggle to believe it. Your story has left you like the man living in the graveyard; rejected, ruined, alone, unsure. You’ve been beaten listless by the scariest storms of your life. But Jesus sees you from across the waters and He’ve moving now, toward you. He didn’t just cross a choppy sea through the dark night, but crossed the chasm between life and death to come to your rescue, to claim you as His.
He would have gone to the cross just for you. My husband has always said this, but I’ve long struggled to believe it. Today, though, in the story of the man plagued by a legion, I see His ardent effort to extricate just one. He would have gone to cross for just you or just me or just any one of His children. His love wouldn’t let us go by the wayside. He believes heaven won’t be quite right without us. He exhibits extraordinary power over natural and the supernatural in His plight to carry us home. He is able. He is faithful. And He is for us.
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
(Ephesians 3:20 NLT)
Lord, we acknowledge Your power over our storms: external and internal alike. Thank You for coming to our rescue. May we see the love that motivates You and respond in kind. We cooperate with Your salvation efforts, we give You glory as You calm our storms. Amen.