When Jesus told His disciples in Mark 4:35, “Let us cross over to the other side,” He had no doubts about getting to the other side. Why? The Son knew the Father, perfectly trusted the Father’s will and was thus absolutely certain that His journey to Golgotha would not be delayed, much less thwarted, by a storm. And so He slept peacefully in an uncomfortable position on a storm tossed boat.

I want to sleep like that. I want to so know my Father and so trust His will that I can lay my head to the pillow in the midst of life’s suddenly changing seas and sleep the deep sleep of confidence that nothing on this earth is going to thwart God’s plan.

All of us who believe Jesus want to sleep like that, don’t we? And we do at times experience those moments of peaceful rest for our souls, simply content to be in the boat with Jesus regardless of the storm raging around us.

Yet there are times, maybe more than we would like to admit, when we find ourselves standing on the deck, clinging to the rail, soaked to the skin, struggling to keep our stomach down, wondering why Jesus doesn’t do something.

In Mark 4:35-41, even when Jesus was asleep, He was doing something. He was teaching His disciples about faith, showing them what trusting the Father looked like. The worried disciples wanted Jesus to be worried too. But Jesus knew there was nothing to be worried about. The storm would cease at His command. The question was never whether or not the boat would capsize; the question was whether or not they would trust Jesus.

That’s still the question.

This Sunday morning at Faith Baptist Cabot: Follow Jesus and Relax (Mark 4:35-41)