Mark 4:35-41 | Hebrews 2:14-18
There are many angles from which to view this passage. Jesus calming a storm is really something. But Jesus sleeping through it is something, too.
Mark is short on many details, especially where Matthew or Luke might give much more explanation. But Mark notes Jesus used a pillow. He hadn’t just laid his head back to take a brief catnap. He was going for it.
What humanity. In the Son of God.
Who can’t identify with that?
Mark 4:35-41
Later that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” They left the crowd and took him in the boat just as he was. Other boats followed along.
Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat so that the boat was swamped. But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?”
He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, “Silence! Be still!” The wind settled down and there was a great calm. Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?”
Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”
Hebrews 2:14-18
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he also shared the same things in the same way. He did this to destroy the one who holds the power over death—the devil—by dying. He set free those who were held in slavery their entire lives by their fear of death. Of course, he isn’t trying to help angels, but rather he’s helping Abraham’s descendants. Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way. This was so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, in order to wipe away the sins of the people. He’s able to help those who are being tempted, since he himself experienced suffering when he was tempted.
Prayer
God,
Thank you for sending Jesus to be like us, one of us. It seems there could be any number of ways by which you might have chosen to enter the world. But instead of something apart from it, you became part of it. Thank you for your solidarity.
Help me to enter situations similarly, not to breeze in with brute authority, but to come in with empathy and understanding.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.