Daily Readings and Thought for February 8th. “WHO THEN IS THIS?”

Now consider the experience of the disciples of Jesus, our heading is the question they asked themselves at a time when they had been “filled with great fear” and as a result had said, “Who then is this, that even wind and see obey him?” [Mark 4 v.41] We have already read in Mark of Jesus doing many marvellous healings; a paralysed man, a leper, a man with a withered hand, &c, so that “his fame spread everywhere” [1 v.28]: yet when he stills the storm and “the wind ceased and there was a great calm” [4 v.39] they then asked each other “Who then is this?”
Most of them were fishermen and this miracle occurred in an environment with which they were very familiar. Surely they had learnt when there was a risk of violent weather and would not venture out in their boats. Matthew, Mark and Luke all record this dramatic event, it was etched in their memory. It is described as “a great windstorm” and the “waves were breaking into the boat.” As Jesus dramatically stills the storm, he asks, “Have you still no faith?” [v.40] Compare this with what we read today in Exodus 16, there is a challenging parallel! The nation of Israel had witnessed miracles, the plagues, walking through the sea on dry land and the destruction of the Egyptians armies at the hands of their all-powerful God – the one whose name/reputation was being established by these events. As they “grumbled against Moses” because of the lack of food [v.2] Moses could have said, “Have you still no faith?”
We have commented several times that in this 21st Century we are travelled through a sinful Godless wilderness. Storms of God’s judgements are starting to break out on this world; they are going to get worse. We all need to get to more fully know our Lord and Master and an even fuller prayer life, couple with our daily reading of God’s word – leading to such a measure of faith that makes us certain Jesus is in control whatever may come on this earth and into our lives. Meditate on James 1 v.5-8
