I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in Me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5.

We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as are we, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15.

How joyful are those who fear the LORD – all who follow His ways! Psalm 128:1.

And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 147: Ridiculed. Psalm 109:25: I also have become a reproach to them; when they see me, they wag their head. And, Matthew 27:39: And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads.

Today in our Friday Zoom Retreat we looked at Mark 4:35-41, where Jesus was sleeping in the boat with the anxious disciples while a squall was threatening to swamp the boat. We talked about hope. But while in yesterday’s blog we talked about these passages from the standpoint of the disciples faith in Jesus Himself and not in their having His faith in them, today we were reminded of how new Jesus Himself was to the disciples at this point in their 3 year journey with Him. The storm they were experiencing that night was a change in their circumstances and that became naturally all they could see. But when Jesus rebuked the wind and the sea, and the wind died and it became perfectly calm, they were terrified. When you meet with others to discuss Scripture and share insights together, it’s amazing what comes forth. Like building blocks, we thought about Moses and the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army, we thought about encounters people had in Scripture with God. Moses could tell the frightened Israelites to be still and see what God will do, but how? God had already told him while they were in Egypt. He was bringing them out of slavery in Egypt to a land promised to Abraham. It’s good to remember all that God has done. But – this was Creator God in the boat with them controlling the very nature He created, and they were terrified! Encountering Him in that way of controlling the wind and waves catapulted them into a new place they were totally unprepared to experience. And it was needed. One of the group suggested what if the storm was still raging as storms will and what God calmed was their fear. And isn’t that truly our need today for the storms we experience? Storms will rage, circumstances change. We count on all that is familiar until it is the familiar that changes, just like in that boat with the disciples and Jesus. I thought about and shared my thoughts about Paul while he was on a boat that was in danger of being ripped apart by huge waves, and yet he knew from God no life would be lost. He was able to reassure the seasoned, frightened sailors and direct them to God’s promise. Hope.

Listening to the video yesterday in our ladies Bible study by Jennie Allen talking about Paul and Philippians, she said something that stayed with me. “Paul had one aim. Jesus. His one aim changed everything. He (Jesus) is the best thing that has ever happened to us.” He is in the boat with us. In our world today everything familiar is changing rapidly. Our one aim changes everything => Trusting God. Let His peace bring calm no matter the circumstances. Let His Presence be our hope. Let His love be our teacher and His life guide us now. How? How do we experience these unexplainable certainties? We turn to God. We ask for His help. We are in the boat with Him. And how much better life is as we see by experiencing His help and then giving Him thanks and praise. Everything about their lives and understanding of God changed radically in the disciples time with Jesus. So can our understanding of God. One aim. To know Jesus. Everything changes. And we find we don’t need to be as afraid as we were before, because He is with us. Trusting Him is our hope and He is faithful!

***WE HAVE STRAYED – Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from Thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, we have offended against Thy holy laws, we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. But Thou, O LORD, have mercy upon us; spare Thou those who confess their faults; restore Thou those who are penitent, according to Thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our LORD; and grant, O most merciful Father, for His sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life to the glory of Thy holy name. Amen. Book of Common Prayer (1552).***