Mark: Insight.

This past winter break, I ventured to the California with some of my new college friends. As we sat an surveyed the sea, my favorite ‘ocean’ verse, Psalm 139:17-18, came to mind. Yet as I read through Mark, I discovered two passages marked by God’s extraordinary power, concerning the ocean and nature in general: Mark 4:35-41 and Mark 6:45-52. In this first passage, Jesus calms a storm that frightens his disciples by simply telling the wind to be still. Amazed by his power, their faith was invigorated by this act. In verse 41, “They were terrified and asked one another, ‘Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!’” How powerful is our God that not only does he rule the forces of nature and produce a calm, but that he can invoke a similar calming affect in my soul. Jesus wields peace in so many aspects.

In Mark 6:45-52, Jesus defies the laws of physics. While his disciples were suffering high winds in their boat on the sea, so He decided to approach the boat by walking across the water. At first they were extremely frightened at this sight. Yet Jesus reminded them to have courage, and as he stepped into the boat, the winds died down, and the disciples were comforted. Sometimes, I am frightened by what is going on in my life, but Jesus always has a way of reminding me to have courage, like the disciples, and trust in His sovereignty.