Mark 4:35-41

Where is the good news in all this mess?

What can make things better when we are in a difficult time, such as this Coronavirus pandemic?

We can change our circumstances - like the arrival of a vaccine for COVID-19; Or we can change our leaders - like the US election; We could change ourselves, our attitude. A popular choice, many people beleive in taking a positive attitude to their circumstances.

The problem is that all these things will eventually let us down. Circumstances are not lasting, things may get bad again. Leaders are always a dissapointment in some way. Our attitude is probably the most changing out of all these things. The more we try to control our circumstances, the more they control us.

Mark's Good News

Mark opens his writings by declaring that he had found the answer - the good news that holds fast through every storm. The incident we see at the end of chapter 4 is a perfect reflection of that.

In the storm, the disciples were doing their very best to control their boat, their circumstances - and Jesus wasn't helping! They were in dispair, facing death.

Jesus stood in the boat and stopped the storm in an instance. That is not possible for a mere human or even the laws of nature. Jesus demonstrates ultimate power to control our circumstances. He can even control creation and life itself.

Our Storm

While life may seem like the perfect storm, we as humans are stuck in a much worse one. Our sin is the ultimate storm - one that will cost us our life, and afterlife.

Yet Jesus, like in the boat, stands up to the storm and calms it. Through His death and resurrection He stopped the storm of sin in our lives, and all we have to do is surrender to Him and His saving power. Jesus draws us near in the face of the jaws of death - His comfort is what our life depends on. Circumstances cannot control our life when we live in the light of Jesus' love.