Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Mark 4:38 NLT

When we read from the beginning of this story, we discover that the disciples ended up in the storm, not because they did something wrong but because Jesus told them to get in the boat. That whole day, Jesus had stood on the shore teaching about the Kingdom of God in parables to tremendous crowds. As the sun was setting and the people began drifting towards their homes, Jesus asked the disciples to get in the boat. At this point Jesus is probably exhausted, and though He was God’s Son, He needed a nap. So, while the disciples manned the oars, Jesus lay down in the back of the boat and drifted off to sleep. Soon the wind picked up, clouds rolled in and before they knew it, they were in the middle of a storm. I picture the scene a bit like this:

Andrew: Hey Peter, He put you in charge. Why don’t you go back there and ask Him what to do.

Peter: No way! We can handle this bro and besides, Jesus needs his sleep.

John: Hey guys, the waves are coming in faster than I can bail them out. Let’s wake Him up!

Thomas: What’s the use? Jesus is a Rabbi, not a fisherman. I doubt He would be any help right now.

James: That’s it! I’m getting Jesus. If we don’t do something, we’re all going to drown!

Now the actual behind the scenes conversation may have been a little different, but the outcome was the same. Somebody had to wake up Jesus before it was too late! Why do we wait for emergencies to wake up Jesus? Oh, I know that Jesus is always awake in Heaven. But what happens is that the Christ who lives inside falls asleep, because we so wrapped up in the busyness of our lives. The endless search for entertainment, comfort and success gives very little for Jesus Christ to do anything. Like the disciples, we think we are the professionals when it comes to sailing our own boats. We don’t want to bother Him, because we think that He must have more important things to do. Just like the disciples, we allow Jesus to doze in the back of the boat until it becomes a life-or-death situation, and we are about to drown. Jesus is there and we can come and ask for help at any time. Are you in a storm today and Jesus is sleeping in your boat? Don’t be afraid to wake Him. He might correct us, He might even rebuke our attitudes and motives, but He will never allow us to drown. Jesus wants to command our hearts just as He commanded the wind and waves, and when He takes control, there is no storm in the universe that can sink our little boat!