The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 4:35-41, “And on that day, when evening had come, He said to them, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’

36 And leaving the multitude, they took Him along with them, just as He was, in the boat; and other boats were with Him.

37 And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up.

38 And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’

39 And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.

40 And He said to them, ‘Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?’

41 And they became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’”

Do you ever tired? I mean, so tired that you just fall asleep? Have you ever been so tired that you slept through a storm and didn’t know that it had rained at all until you awoke the next morning? I have. It’s a “human thing” to do. Yes, Jesus is God; but He is also human. And teaching all day as he had (read the whole chapter), He did the “human thing” and fell asleep in the boat.

Storms occur quite often on the Sea of Galilee, sometimes quite spontaneously. Winds were fierce, and waves of water were splashing over and into the boat. Jesus was asleep in the stern, and the disciples were afraid. So they awakend Him, alerting Him to the situation. Siopao! Phimoo! Be silent! Be muzzled! And with two words He stilled the storm and peace prevailed like a warm blanket on a cold night.

“Why are you so fearful,” He asked. “Do you possess no faith?” John, who was on that boat that night, later wrote, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world– our faith” (1 Jn. 5:4).

Whatever storms you may encounter, faith in the authority of Christ will deal with it.

“But, I’ve tried that,” you say, “and I’m still in the storm.” Remember that His ways and His purposes are not always known to us. I don’t have to know how or why a surgeon does what he does, I just have to have faith in the surgeon. So it is with the LORD. Read His Word! Repent of all known sin in your life! Rely totally upon Him! “He has done all things well” (Mk. 7:37).

Prayerfully and lovingly yours,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”