June 23, 2024 

Today's Reading: Mark 4:35-41

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 27:1-24; Proverbs 28:1-29:27; John 20:1-18

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?” (Mark 4:41)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus doesn’t have a smile on His face, and the disciples don’t seem like they have a handle on what just happened. After all, a storm of monumental proportions just occurred. They were goners, done for; the boat was filling with water. While the disciples are panicking, Jesus is…sleeping?

This storm is nothing to Jesus, so why should He be worried about this? His disciples could just call on Jesus to handle this. But they don’t. In fact, the disciples fail, and their fear sinks their faith entirely. 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?” (v. 38) Hold on a second; this is Jesus, the man who cleansed lepers, healed a paralytic, and restored a man’s withered hand. He has clearly shown He is Lord over all creation.

Jesus does care, so He gets up and rebukes the wind and tells the sea, “Peace! Be still!” (v. 39) And to the disciples' astonishment, they realize there’s more to this Jesus than just healing miracles and exorcisms. 

This Jesus is the one who, despite their unbelief, saves them and ensures their safe passage. Hindsight is 20/20, and, looking back, the disciples had to have seen how foolish they were. We can feel quite comfortable in their shoes. The moment something goes wrong, a diagnosis from the doctor doesn’t sit well, the car won’t start, you bombed the test you prepared for all week, you said something you didn’t mean to your sibling or parent. The whole world can seem like it’s spinning out of control. 

Let me tell you, friends. The Jesus who commands the winds and the sea has come into our human flesh for you. He’s come to live under the Law and fulfill it perfectly for you. He’s come to see your struggle against sin and take its yoke from you. He’s come to die for you that you might not taste the sting of death. He rose for you and ascended for you, that you might know He is at your heavenly Father’s right hand, ruling over all things for you. Jesus, the Lord over all creation, the manifestation of God’s love and mercy, has come and will come again on the Last Day for you. 

And until that day, you have your fellow brothers and sisters to bear the burdens of this life, as well as the Means of Grace that Christ has promised to be there for you as often as you run to receive them. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, in Your mercy, guide the course of this world so that Your Church may joyfully serve You in godly peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

- Vicar Justin Chester, Vicar at Shepherd of the City, Fort Wayne, IN

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

A Complete Guide to Christian Symbols This collection of over 600 hand-drawn Christian symbols by artist and author Edward Riojas will teach you the extensive history of the imagery of the Church. Each symbol is a beautiful and historical connection to generations of Christians that have worshiped before you. A Complete Guide to Christian Symbols. Now available from Concordia Publishing.