Asleep On The Cushion
Sleeping on the cushion indicates intentionally sleeping, not that Jesus just dozed off while riding along in the boat. Christ purposefully lay down and went to sleep, knowing the storm would come, but at perfect peace to rest in His Father’s care. And at no time was He ever separated or disconnected from His Father. He was just as much in contact with His Father whether awake or asleep. God as Spirit never sleeps. We never need lose confidence in the Lord even when it may seem like He is sleeping on the job, not paying attention, or doesn’t care about us. Faith in Christ goes beyond appearances. He never misses anything, as this narrative demonstrates, and His timing is always perfect. He was actually testing and increasing their faith. Luke records (Luke 8:22) that He said, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” He did not guarantee it would be smooth sailing. But just as with the disciples, we must trust that He will indeed get us to the other side of the lake if that’s what He said He would do. We may face challenges along life’s path, but we can be confident that Christ will never leave us nor forsake us, but rather will go with us even through the challenges. That’s not to say that at times He may remove the storm instead of taking us through it. That’s up to Him. It’s up to us whether or not we will trust Him in whatever He does.
Mark 4:38English Standard Version
But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
- As a man he needed rest, but as God he could calm the storm with a command.