Rebuking opposition
Mark 4:35-41
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Jesus told the disciples to cross over to the other side of the lake. His purpose was to move from one part of the country to another, in order to minister to a different group of people. The storm was an interruption to that journey, and it was not Jesus’ purpose, or the purpose of the disciples, to drown in the lake.
I find it interesting that Jesus is described as rebuking the wind and the waves… the dictionary describes the term as expressing sharp disapproval or criticism. Historically, it has also meant beating or forcing something back. The picture we get is of Jesus beating or forcing back the waves with His command, and it would seem that He expressed some sort of disapproval of the waves. Jesus was on a mission and He disapproved of the wind and the waves getting in the way.
How do I respond to opposition? What do I do when things rise up and get in the way of what God has called me to? Do I shrink back in fear like the disciples, or do I force back the opposition with the authority of Jesus? Do I express sharp disapproval of that which would get in the way of God’s mission? God, please help me to have a healthy dose of Jesus’ attitude and be prepared to rebuke that which opposes what you’ve called me to. Amen.
Written by Bethany Waugh