'Whether it is a terrifying and difficult thing like a great wildfire, My soul is always at peace, my soul, my soul is at peace ~'

'Whether it is a terrifying and difficult thing like a great wildfire,
My soul is always at peace, my soul, my soul is at peace ~'

 

 

Jesus had been teaching the crowd by the sea, using parables, and when evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the sea” (Mark 4:1-2, Korean Modern Bible).  So, the disciples left the crowd and set out in the boat with Jesus.  But suddenly, a fierce storm arose, and the waves began to swamp the boat, causing it to fill with water.  However, Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.  The disciples, terrified, woke Him and cried out, “Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?”  Jesus got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!”  Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm.  He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?”  They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this?  Even the wind and the waves obey Him!” (Mark 4:35-41, Korean Modern Bible).  As I reflect on this passage, several thoughts come to mind:

 

(1)    When I read the passage about how the boat with the disciples and Jesus was caught in a "sudden great storm" and the waves overwhelmed the boat, causing it to nearly sink (Mark 4:37, Korean Modern Bible), I was reminded of the story of the prophet Jonah. In Jonah's case, a "great wind" sent by God caused a "great storm" that nearly broke apart the ship he was on (Jonah 1:4). I also thought about the wildfires I learned about on Wednesday morning. For instance, a wildfire broke out not far from my neighborhood, and the wind was so strong that the fire kept spreading. As of now, it is still only 0% contained, and many homes and buildings have burned down to ashes, with reports of fatalities. The year 2025 has begun with significant hardship (great disaster). Just like this, our journey in life can suddenly be filled with great difficulties.

 

(2)    As I reflect further on the passage where the boat the disciples were in with Jesus was about to sink (Mark 4:37), I vaguely remember about 22 years ago during a retreat at the Ansan Retreat Center in Korea, where the late Pastor Han-eum Ok used a boat to symbolize the Korean church during the Church Pastors' Renewal Association retreat.  He said something along the lines of, "If the leaders of our church lower their standards, the Korean church will sink like this boat."  I remember him saying that if the church leaders lower the bar, the church will face destruction, just like a sinking boat.  Perhaps that's why, while I was taking photos and videos of the wildfire and sharing them with people online and via KakaoTalk, I suddenly thought of the lyrics from the praise song "Revival" that we sang during last Wednesday's service (https://youtu.be/P2ZkvRqUHVI?si=AaCILCU-5_hlSRij) and Sunday service: “Let the flames of revival rise up,” “Holy Spirit, blow the wind  …”  As I witnessed the crisis of this great disaster, I prayed that the Holy Spirit would blow upon our church leaders and ignite the flames of revival. I continue to pray this today  Our conviction is that true revival, which is sparked by the Holy Spirit, begins with repentance. Leaders like me in the church must tear our hearts and return to God (Ref.: Joel 2:13). [Repentance, Reconciliation, Restoration, Reformation, Revival. Without repentance, reconciliation, restoration, reformation, and revival are meaningless!].

 

(3)    As I reflect on the verse where Jesus was sleeping with His head on a cushion in the back of the boat, even though the boat was about to sink (Mark 4:38), I remembered something my beloved wife said to me yesterday.  Usually, my wife sleeps well, while I have trouble sleeping.  However, on Tuesday night, there was such a strong wind (probably the Santa Ana winds, blowing at 95-112 km/h?) that it felt like our house was shaking.  Despite that, my wife said that I slept really well. Haha.  I found it hard to believe at first, but I thanked the Lord for giving me a deep sleep during that time.  As I read and reflect on Mark 4:38 today, I think that, no matter how difficult the situation, we should be able to sleep peacefully like Jesus, who had perfect peace in His heart.  We must have the peace that only the Lord can give, even in times of great difficulty.  I pray that the Lord will grant this peace to all of us living here in Southern California, where the wildfires are causing so much distress.

 

(4)    When the boat was about to sink, Jesus was peacefully sleeping, but it seems that His disciples were filled with fear of death.  So, I believe they woke Jesus, shouting, "Teacher, we're going to die!  Do you not care?" (Mark 4:38, Korean Modern Bible).  But did Jesus really ignore His disciples?  Of course not!  How could God, who loves His disciples, possibly ignore them?  He never would!  Our God is not ignoring His children, who are currently facing great difficulty due to the wildfires.  However, like the disciples of Jesus, if we are also caught up in the fear of death, we can easily misunderstand the Lord.  The Bible clearly tells us that our Lord is "Immanuel" (which means "God is with us") (Matthew 1:23), so why are we not able to overcome the fear of death with the faith of Immanuel?

 

(5)    Our Immanuel Lord, being the Almighty Creator God, rebuked the wind and commanded the sea, saying, "Peace, be still!"  And as a result, both the wind and the sea obeyed, and the wind ceased, and the sea became completely calm (Mark 4:39, 41).  In this way, our Lord, through great difficulties in our lives, when we lose our peace and our hearts are stirred by great storms and waves, says to us, "Peace be with you" (Ref.: 20:19).  He calms the stormy waves and winds of our hearts, bringing peace and serenity to our souls (Ref.: Psalms 131:2).  May this great blessing be upon God's children who are facing great difficulties due to the wildfires.

 

(6)    Jesus, who calmed the great storm and waves, asked His disciples, "Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40, Korean Modern Bible).  I believe that Jesus was pointing out that the disciples' unbelief made their souls uneasy, causing them to live in fear of death. In reality, if we do not fully trust the Lord and continue to question and doubt, our souls will not be quietly focused on Him alone.  As a result, we may allow the great storms and waves in our hearts to overwhelm us in times of difficulty.  We need to listen carefully to the words in Isaiah 30:15 (Korean Modern Bible): "The Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says, 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.'"

 

(7)    The disciples of Jesus were extremely afraid.  The reason for their fear was because they were astonished at who Jesus was—who else could make even the wind and the sea obey Him? (Mark 4:41).  This shows that they did not fully understand who their Teacher, Jesus, was.  Because of this, they could not trust Him as they should.  Even though Jesus was with them on the boat, they failed to sleep peacefully like He did, filled with fear of death instead.  This is not how we should be.  No matter the circumstances, we should be able to sing praises to God in faith, saying, " When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’  It is well with my soul; It is well, it is well with my soul" (Hymn " When Peace, Like a River, Attendeth My Way," verse 1 and refrain).

 

[https://youtu.be/EQpiiI1Hd64?si=Z-BepQenWar_9X8N]