Chapter XVIII: There Arose a Great Storm

MARK 4.37

YOU have often heard of the Lake of Gennesaret, or the Sea of Galilee, for the gospels tell us many beautiful stories of what happened around those shores.

Several large cities had been built, and the lovely Lake was surrounded by mountains, and there were numbers of ships and boats which went across the Lake, some with fishermen plying their trade, and others carrying merchandise to the opposite shores.

But the Lake, looking so beautiful in the sunshine, and reflecting in its waters every shade of colour of the sky, or of the surrounding mountains, sometimes had violent storms, instead of calm on its lovely waters.

The wind suddenly rose, and swept down between the mountains; and almost before the sailors could furl their sails, the wind would drive the boat before it, as if it would swamp it altogether.

But one day, when all was beautiful and bright, Jesus was walking by the Lake, and a number of people out of the cities around came out to see Him, for they longed to hear His words; no one had ever spoken to them as He did, nor comforted them with assurances that their sins might be forgiven.

As the Lord saw the multitudes around Him, He entered into one of the fishing boats which were moored to the shore, and He talked to the people from there, because they could hear Him better.

So all day He sat and talked to them, until evening came on, and then He said to His disciples, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake."

And when His disciples had sent the multitude away, they took Jesus, just as He was, in the ship. And there were other little ships with Him.

But soon a great storm of wind swept down between the mountains, and the waves beat into the ship so that it was now full.

And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him, and said unto Him, "Master, carest Thou not that we perish?"

And Jesus arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!"

And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

And Jesus said to them, "Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?"

And the disciples feared exceedingly, and said one to another, "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"

Children! It is because Jesus is the Son of God, that He can do these wonderful miracles!

If we are in any trouble we can look up to Jesus in heaven and say, "Lord, help me!"

If we are sad, we can ask Him to comfort us.

If we have done what is wrong, we can ask Him to forgive us. He has all power in Heaven and Earth, and He will listen to our cry, and come to our help, as He helped the disciples in that great storm!