Before too long a storm comes rolling in, which was not an uncommon experience given that the Sea of Galilee is 680 feet below sea level and surrounded by hills. The storm came up and became fierce; as waves beat against the boat they were all in, yet Jesus is fast asleep (4:38)!

The disciples cry out to Jesus, "Do you care if we are perishing?" When you think about it, this question is a pretty profound question, shouted out in the middle of the storm. Does Jesus care if we perish? His peaceful state, in the middle of a ragging storm is impressive, but does Jesus' calm extend to the fate of his disciples as well, or is this state of calm only for him?

It seems to me that this story is told in response to this basic question of faith: does Jesus care? Does Jesus really give a hoot about any of his disciples? Does Jesus really care about us, especially when things are rough? Upon hearing the cry for help, Jesus arises and rebukes the wind and the waves (4:39). Then Jesus rebukes his disciples, "Had they no faith?" Well the beginning of the story is an answer to that question. They have faith, but when the waves start crashing over their boat, and the wind whips up with a frenzy, they ask the fundamental question: "Master do you care if we perish?" The whole story ends with the disciples' question: "Who is this? Who is this Jesus? The story is certainly meant as a response to that question by the disciples, and the church. "Who is this man Jesus?"

This story is full of strong metaphors and vivid imagery. It's a story that speaks its own truth. And it's a story that each of us can relate to very easily. Jesus never promised his disciples smooth sailing! Jesus never promised us a life full of angelic singing and rose gardens. Yet, in his great mercy, he does care for us deeply. Jesus is not only merciful, but also powerful in his rebuke of the wind and the waves. He's also merciful and full of grace in his active compassion for us in our troubles. He's Lord, even in the middle of those storms, which come blowing our way; tossing and turning us sometimes to the point we don't know what to do next. Yes, Jesus is there as the master helmsman steering us back on course, providing the wind for our sails so we might emerge from the storm stronger in our faith.

Let's take a closer look at some key points highlighted in our gospel reading to see how this story might more specifically relate to us. Jesus invites the disciples into the boat. The whole journey into the storm, out onto the sea in the dark, was Jesus' idea, not the disciples. Jesus called the disciples, the disciples didn't call Jesus.

Jesus is in the boat with his disciples. Jesus journeys with his disciples, they don't have to "go it alone." However, don't lose the point that even though Jesus is with them there is still no guarantee they will always experience smooth sailing! And I think we can all relate to this. Life isn't always easy, we do encounter bumps, and sometimes boulders along our life's journey. But even in these cases one thing is constant and that is Jesus love for us, and his desire to sail with us during the storms we encounter.

There is a storm, a "great storm" which comes up all of a sudden. Sailing with Jesus doesn't mean exemption from real bad storms either. And in some cases we don't even see the storms until they're on top of us. We have no warning. In fact, Jesus sometimes (at least the story implies) is the one who invites us into, even leads us toward great storms.

Why is this? It's because it's often times in the midst of the storms that we finally get it. We finally realize we can't do it all ourselves, we finally realize it's not about us, we finally understand we need help, we need a savior, we need Jesus Christ to lead us through the eye of the storm to experience calm and serenity once again.

Jesus is un-phased by the same storm that so terrifies his disciples. Jesus is the serene, the majestic Lord of the storm. He's not worried. He's in control. God in Jesus Christ is in control. Not humanity, not Satan, but God. And thanks be to God for that.