Belonging (S2) : WK 2 - THU
(Mark 4:35-38a NLT) As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake." [36] So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). [37] But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. [38] Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion.
My wife says I can sleep through anything. I told her it’s a spiritual gift. Let’s just say she didn’t like that answer very much. When our first child would wake up in the middle of the night crying, I never heard him. She would get up to console him at times, and after a while, she couldn’t understand how I could sleep right through his wailing. She was pretty convinced that I was not asleep, but just pretending. To test her hypothesis, next time our son woke up crying and screaming, she brought him to me and put him right next to my head. I don’t remember this at all, because I was sound asleep. She couldn’t believe it! How could I stay asleep even when he was crying so loud right next to my head? My answer is that I have no idea. But I’m glad my wife was able to care for our son because his life may have depended on it one of those nights, and I would not have been able to help him.
How on earth did Jesus remain asleep during a “fierce storm” that included “high waves” breaking into the boat, filling the ship with water? By the way, I’m not suggesting with the story about me sleeping through my son’s middle-of-the-night wailings that I’m a lot like Jesus. I believe the reasons for His sleep and my sleep were totally different.
When Dallas Willard was asked what one word he would use to describe Jesus, he said “relaxed." I’m not sure that is the word any of us would choose. However, I think Dallas is onto something. Jesus was completely relaxed (spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially) because He rested in the reigning love of His Heavenly Father. His Abba/Daddy. He could rest because His father was always working. Always caring for Him. Always loving Him. Why? Because He knew Who He belonged to. He was living with peace and rest beyond an earthly understanding that was steeped in a profound Father and Son abiding intimacy.
My wife says I can sleep through anything. I told her it’s a spiritual gift. Let’s just say she didn’t like that answer very much. When our first child would wake up in the middle of the night crying, I never heard him. She would get up to console him at times, and after a while, she couldn’t understand how I could sleep right through his wailing. She was pretty convinced that I was not asleep, but just pretending. To test her hypothesis, next time our son woke up crying and screaming, she brought him to me and put him right next to my head. I don’t remember this at all, because I was sound asleep. She couldn’t believe it! How could I stay asleep even when he was crying so loud right next to my head? My answer is that I have no idea. But I’m glad my wife was able to care for our son because his life may have depended on it one of those nights, and I would not have been able to help him.
How on earth did Jesus remain asleep during a “fierce storm” that included “high waves” breaking into the boat, filling the ship with water? By the way, I’m not suggesting with the story about me sleeping through my son’s middle-of-the-night wailings that I’m a lot like Jesus. I believe the reasons for His sleep and my sleep were totally different.
When Dallas Willard was asked what one word he would use to describe Jesus, he said “relaxed." I’m not sure that is the word any of us would choose. However, I think Dallas is onto something. Jesus was completely relaxed (spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially) because He rested in the reigning love of His Heavenly Father. His Abba/Daddy. He could rest because His father was always working. Always caring for Him. Always loving Him. Why? Because He knew Who He belonged to. He was living with peace and rest beyond an earthly understanding that was steeped in a profound Father and Son abiding intimacy.
- What keeps you up at night when you can’t sleep?
- What do you think about how Dallas describes Jesus being relaxed?
- What do you sense is Jesus’s desire for you in this moment?
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