1. Jesus is God, yet he became a man to fully identify with each of us. As such, He was exhausted, and after a full day of ministry, He crashed. He fell into a deep sleep on a pillow at the back of a small, wooden boat. He was in such a deep sleep that even the wind and the waves that violently rocked the boat, and began to fill it with water, did not wake Him. He was a human being like all of us.

2. Jesus revealed that He was personable and relatable. Although He separated Himself during times of prayer, for the most part He was not a loner, nor did He pontificate like someone living in an ivory tower. He interacted with people and was a close friend to His disciples. He was in the boat with them and He was always sharing His heart with them.

3. Jesus was always teaching his disciples. Night was falling and it was getting dark, yet Jesus said, “Let us go to the other side”(Mark 4:35). I think He knew that a storm was coming, and intended to use it as an object lesson. In our lives, Jesus is always saying, “Let us go to the other side.” As we journey through the storms of life Jesus teaches us, and that is when great testimonies arise. If Daniel had not been taken as a prisoner to Babylon, His life would not have been so powerful. He may have been completely unknown. On his “journey to the other side”, he served five kings, was saved from lions, revealed historical dreams, defied witchcraft and evil men, and set up the community of God in a pagan land. That eventually led to the wise men who emerged to be part of the Christmas story. When the storm was calmed, Jesus taught a life message to His disciples. He taught them to trust Him and have faith, even in the middle of the storm.

4. Jesus revealed how much He cares for us. The storm was raging and the disciples woke Jesus up. They said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38). When we find ourselves in the middle of the storm, we may ask the same question, “Lord, where are You, don’t You care about our pain?” When in trouble, we must do what the disciples did; they called on the Lord. Scripture says, “Therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). We wish there were no storms in this life, and that if they did come they would end quickly. That, however, is not the case. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus promises never to leave us nor forsake us, therefore cast your cares on Him for He cares for you.

5. Jesus is all powerful. After Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples said, “Who is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41). Every Spirit-filled veteran of Christ can tell you a story of how they were rescued by Jesus. Over the span of my lifetime, I could literally tell you a hundred stories of how Jesus has rescued me. Miraculous signs and wonders are common experiences for a Spirit-led Christian. In time, we learn that Jesus is all powerful and even the wind and the waves obey him. Regardless of the storm that rages around us, if Jesus is in our boat, and we call on Him and cast our cares upon Him, miracles always follow. They do not come according to our timetable, and sometimes they are different than what we expected, but miracles always come.