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?” Mark 4:38

Do you ever find you’ve spent years hearing a story but missed an integral point? That happened to me recently.  I heard in a sermon how Dallas Willard the great theologian (highly recommended) was asked to sum Jesus up in one word and the word he chose was ‘relaxed.’

At first, I was a little baffled but then as the pastor unpacked that, the penny dropped. From before he was out the womb, and every second after, Jesus was under scrutiny and pressure. But we never see him freak out, act out or get tense. Not ever. 

I’ve heard the story of Jesus and the gang taking the boat out. One thing the Lord did often, was to take time away from the crowds and the demands everywhere he turned. So, this one evening, after Jesus has spent the day teaching, they decide to head across the lake. The passage even says they left the crowd behind, so we know it’s been a busy day. You probably know the story. A storm breaks out and the disciples are scared. 

Hardy Fishermen

But as ever, context is important. Changing transportation for a moment, when we fly anywhere, I get super twitchy if there’s turbulence. But that means very little. I’m a nervous flyer. I’ve never once, in almost twenty-five years, seen my husband get stressed on a plane. He’s a military test pilot. And if he’s nervous, I know we’re in trouble. Now let’s get back into the boat. The disciples are scared. Most of these men were fishermen. They lived their lives on the water. This wasn’t their first experience of poor weather. So, we know the storm was significant. And then we get to verse thirty-eight. Jesus was asleep. But not just asleep, on a cushion.

I don’t know how you nap. I have two modes: opportunist bonus napping and planned glory. In the first mode, I grab forty winks in whatever surrounding. Most recently, in the car while hubby had an appointment. Not comfy but a definite bonus. The second type usually involves pillows, a blanket and either the sofa or our chaise longue. And I am down for the count. 

Power napping

This is the type of snooze Jesus has planned. I can tell because he’s grabbed a cushion and gotten settled. How, in the midst of a storm so fierce the burly fishermen were freaking out, did Jesus remain so mellow he was asleep on a cushion? And what does that mean for us? It strikes me that Jesus knew he’d be okay because He knew His father and trusted Him. Can we say the same when the storm hits? As we roll toward the end of the year, it’s an odd time to make a resolution, but I want to know Jesus so well that the next time I’m facing down turbulence on land, sea or in the sky, I can lay my head on a cushion, because I know who’s got me.

Your turn: What’s one thing you can do to get to know the Lord a little more?

Cushion, by @debb_hackett – how do you handle a storm? Share on X