In times of great trouble and social upheaval, it’s worth thinking about Jesus asleep in the boat. The storm is surging; the vessel is filling with water; the disciples are scurrying. The significance of this event is underscored by the fact that it receives detailed treatment in all four Gospels. For our purposes here, we’ll turn to Mark 4:36-41:
"And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves owere breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' And he awoke and prebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!”\' And the wind ceased, and qthere was a great calm. He said to them, 'Why are you rso afraid? Have you still no faith?' And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, s“Who then is this, that even tthe wind and the sea obey him?”
This is a historic scene, not some vivid illustration, but let’s pause for a moment to acknowledge its fittingness as a metaphor for our cultural moment. As a nation, we’re facing massive divisions, and we’re heading into what’s shaping up to be one of the most contentious elections this country has seen. Though not facing brutal persecution, our North American churches are increasingly embattled and enduring opposition both from within and from without. The storm is raging, one might say, the boat filling with water.
A high degree of uncertainty hovers over America today, and this general sense of unease cuts across partisan lines. According to Pew Research Center, “64% of Republicans and 56% of Democrats – say they are fearful about the state of the country.” Issues encompassing everything from inflation to immigration loom large, as well as escalating global tensions. For many, the recent Trump assassination attempt has only deepened the anxiety.
Before drawing some modest conclusions, I’d like to offer up three questions for meditation. My hope is that we do turn these over in our hearts and minds for the next little while, especially as we look at the news or navigate the latest tensions and battles in our local congregations:
- “Is Jesus worried about the state of our world?” To be sure, Jesus cares for each of us, but the course of world events certainly doesn’t worry him. Worrying about inflation, immigration, and elections—these are marks of our human condition. We are finite creatures, but the modern world has often concealed this basic truth from us. Since 2020, however, we have had an extended opportunity to recognize our fragility and our dependency. In these times, we must dwell on the fact that Christ has triumphed over the grave, ascended his throne, and is preparing to return. He cares about our world, but he’s not worried about it.
- “Is he surprised?” Following on the heels of the last question, we can clearly state that the many tragic and indeed heinous events that fill our fallen world are no surprise to our Lord. When we confront the severity of our fallen condition, the question often arises: Why doesn’t God intervene? The answer is that he has, once and for all, at Calvary. Though we do suffer this eternity, we recognize that our suffering doesn’t have the last word.
- “Are those of us who recognize our Great Shepherd in any real danger?” With this question, we encounter a stark challenge. Dallas Willard once pointed out that the fear of death is a terrible scourge among believers. He was indicating that one of the marks of a mature faith is a notable absence of the paralyzing fear of death. To be sure, this doesn’t mean that we are reckless or that we count our lives as worthless. What it does mean, however, is that we understand on a heart level that no ultimate harm can befall us if we belong to Christ; our ultimate well-being is secure, no matter what happens to us in our earthly lives. If this sounds too mystical, it’s worth pressing into the very practical implications of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Consider John 8:51: “Amen, amen, I say to you, if anyone follows my word, he will never see death.”
If Christ is who he says he is, the answer to each of these questions is no. To be sure, this isn’t a recipe for complacency or quietism, nor is it a form of mystical denial. Instead, it is an invitation to the basic Christian faith. When the disciples rouse their teacher from his slumber and plead with him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” his response is stark: “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” Tellingly, these words arrive after he has calmed the storm. The implication is clear: The disciple’s fear of the raging storm is misplaced.
The passage doesn’t close in the absence of fear, though: “And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’” This, however, is fear of a different caliber, for it depends on the recognition that Jesus is the one in charge. No raging storm can overcome his command. We may be tempted to believe that politicians, world leaders, and other men and women of influence play a decisive role in world events. It’s a pronounced temptation, but it’s clearly wrong. If we believe that the state of the world depends on our own ingenuity and ambitions, we will find abundant occasions for fear and despair.
May I humbly suggest to you that what is needed today is not a greater fear of the manifold challenges facing us—eroding social fabric, rising crime and violence, aggressive sexual ideology, division in our churches, wars, and rumors of wars—but instead the fear of the Lord. After all, he’s the one in charge—not us.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/AaronAmat
Kenneth Boa equips people to love well (being), learn well (knowing), and live well (doing). He is a writer, teacher, speaker, and mentor and is the President of Reflections Ministries, The Museum of Created Beauty, and Trinity House Publishers.
Publications by Dr. Boa include Conformed to His Image, Handbook to Prayer, Handbook to Leadership, Faith Has Its Reasons, Rewriting Your Broken Story, Life in the Presence of God, Leverage, and Recalibrate Your Life.
Dr. Boa holds a B.S. from Case Institute of Technology, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Ph.D. from New York University, and a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford in England.
