Sleep: Relaxing in faith.
He (Jesus) was in the stern, asleep on a pillow (Mark 4:38).
During sleep, we relax. It is difficult to think of a more vivid picture of peaceful sleep than the Saviour in Mark 4. A great windstorm had arisen and the boat He was sleeping in appeared to be in danger. Its occupants, seasoned fishermen, were in fear of their lives. But Jesus was asleep. They woke Him up with the words, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” The Lord responded to their fear by rebuking the wind and saying to the sea, “Peace be still.” The sea was in turmoil because of the wind. We can also be in trouble and distress because of our circumstances. The difference is that the sea cannot resist the power of the wind, but, through faith in Christ, we can resist the power of the situations we find ourselves in.
Jesus teaches us how to do this. He asked His disciples, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (v. 40). We often think of the Lord’s astonishing power over His creation in Mark 4, and we praise Him for this revelation. But the Lord seemed to be saying to disciples, “Why did you wake me up? There was no need for me to do this. There was no need for you to be afraid. All you needed was faith in me.” We need to take David’s words in Psalm 37: 7-8 to heart, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him…Do not fret—it only causes harm.” Peter proved this. Peter knew what it was to be afraid as he witnessed the shameful treatment of His Lord. All his confidence deserted him, and he was bereft of faith. But after the Lord restored and empowered him, we find Him asleep in Herod’s prison in Acts 12. He was not afraid in the face of death, and His slumber was evidence of His profound faith.
Some Christians feel guilty about relaxing. In Mark 6, the Lord sent out His twelve disciples on a preaching and healing mission. When they returned, they told the Lord what they had done. Jesus says to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile” (v. 31). The Lord describes His concern that we build into our lives times of rest and reflection in fellowship with Him and one another. In this way our faith and fellowship are deepened. Think of the refreshment and encouragement we receive on holidays, at conferences, in fellowship with each other and above all in the presence of the Lord. He teaches us that it is necessary to spiritual service that we pause to consider the work we are involved in, reflect on what we have done and seek His guidance and blessing. God Himself rested after His work of creation. Rest and reflection are essential to healthy spiritual growth and fruitful service. They are crucial to ensuring we are not overtired and in danger of being worn out. If we do not build this practice into our lives, we suffer. Our service can become sterile, and we can find ourselves driven by duty, not love. If our days are filled with a frenzy of activity, we will burn out, the burden we carry will become too great for us, and we may break down. In Psalm 23:1, David did not lack anything because the Lord in verses 2 and 3 taught Him to lie down and drink beside still waters. This communion with God was the basis of his being re-energised and led in paths of righteousness. By being still He learned the right way to be active. May we listen to the Lord’s invitation to “rest a while” – and discover the daily experience of the peace of His presence, our burdens lifted, vision refocussed, spirits refreshed and restored, so that we can better live for the Saviour.
