Last week’s Lenten scripture reading was from Mark 4:35-41.  Jesus and the Apostles are crossing the Sea of Galilee when a violent storm comes up and overwhelms the crew and vessel.  While this is happening, Jesus is asleep on a cushion in the stern of the boat.  This trip comes after days of teaching and traveling and the man, Jesus, was plain tired.  However, the Apostles are frantic!  They wake up the Teacher and ask Him if He cares that they are about to perish in the sea.  Jesus speaks the words “Quiet. Be still” to the sea and the wind and they cease and calm.  He then asks the disciples why they are terrified, where is your faith?  At this the Apostles’ mouths drop open and they ask each other, “Who then is this whom even the wind and sea obey?”

Pastor’s homily made the excellent point that God is always here for us in all circumstances, no matter what is in our hearts at the time.  He is there to guide us through the rough seas and difficult times of our lives.  I agree wholeheartedly and believe from experience that this is true.

However, there is another interesting perspective to this reading.  Listen to the question that the Apostles ask after witnessing this miracle.  “Who then is this whom even the wind and sea obey?”  They have been following Jesus for some time now.  They respect Him enough to leave their daily lives and move from town to town with Him listening and observing His actions. They have watched Him cure the sick and comfort the grieving.  However, they haven’t yet made the connection that this man is God-the all-powerful God to whom they reverently pray and petition.  This action on Jesus’ part starts the wheels of faith spinning in their hearts.

I have often wondered why Jesus didn’t just come right out and say, “You know, I am the Son of God.  I am the one that you have been waiting for – for thousands of years.”  There are certainly other instances in the New Testament where the divinity of Christ is hinted at or spoken of (i.e.  His Baptism and the Transfiguration), but the disciples don’t seem to make the clear connection until the end of Christ’s ministry.

 Here’s my theological theory about this:  The apostles needed to come to this truth through their own free will and thinking minds.  This is not something that God wanted to thrust upon them unless they came to the belief fully committed in mind and spirit, not shackled by an order from above.  This command of nature opens their eyes to a new and wonderful possibility.  The same applies to us.

Why not follow a God who calms the angry sea and raises the dead and comforts the lonely and confused?  A God who came to earth in human form to die for us so that we could share in eternal life with Him.  A God who loves us unconditionally.

Terri