Carest Not That We Perish?

On a storm tossed sea, fearful disciples approached the Savior with caution.

He had been sleeping through a violent storm on a raging sea, so what were the chances He would awake by a tap on the shoulder?

Nevertheless, someone within their company approached the sleeping Savior as he lay fast asleep on a pillow.

“Master!” the disciple cried out, followed by a question that would cause millions of others - for generations to come - to ask the same in their hearts: “Carest thou not that we perish (Mark 4:38)?”

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It is important to note a few items of business before answering this vital question.

First and foremost, Jesus experienced fatigue and hunger just like you and I.

He felt hungry. He thirst at times. He desired to be alone. He wanted to sleep. He walked day in and day out. And yet He had no place to rest His head.

It is of no coincidence - the conversation Christ had with a scribe - moments prior to debarking on His vessel.

“Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest,” said the scribe (Matthew 8:20).

“And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head (Matthew 8:21).”

It was important enough to Jesus Christ - to tell this scribe - He had no where to lay His head.

Sleep was as important to Him as it is for us. 

So, what did He day look like prior to laying His head to rest on a pillow?

• Finished teaching the Sermon on the Mount

• Hiked down a mountain 

• Healed a leper

• Walked to Capernaum

• Centurion asked Him to heal his servant, and He does

• Went to Peter’s house and healed his wife’s mother 

• Ate inside Peter’s house - (assumption, as He was ministered to by Peter’s mother-in-law)

• As the day came to a close, a multitude of people found Him and brought their sick and, and those possessed with devils. He healed them all.

• A larger multitude of people approached after the sun set, so Jesus told them He would meet on the other side of the lake.

• He talked to two individuals just moments before their departure.

Summary of Matthew 8:1-23

With little to no sleep, Jesus healed a countless number of individuals, walked until His feet were sore, and sat down once while at Peter’s house.

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As His sleepy head rested on a water logged pillow, the storm raged on.

Water filled the boat and those inside became fearful for their lives.

I don’t think we will make it. Someone has to wake Him. Nose goes. 

Ah... come on!

With a tap on the shoulder, the disciple yells against the raging sea, “Don’t you care that we are about to perish?”

You’ve been sleeping while we have been battling this raging sea. Don’t you care that we are about to die? Don’t you care that we are about to sink? Don’t you care...

Without saying a word, the look on His face must have said it all.

Standing up, the Creator controls the created, with these words; “Peace, be still.”

Suddenly, there was a great calm, followed by a gentle rebuke.

“Oh ye of little faith... Why are ye so fearful?” Jesus says.

While attending a sacrament meeting one Sunday morning in Ammon, Idaho, I heard someone say, “When you call upon Jesus, one of two things will happen... He will either calm the storm, or He will calm you during the storm.”

In this case, Jesus calmed the storm.

But what does it look like when Jesus calms us during the storm?

There is only one difference: you are the one who changes, not the storm.

The familiar words, “Peace, be still,” will sound, but instead of the winds ceasing, they rage on, and instead of a great calm upon the waters, there will be a great calm within you.

You are one to whom Christ speaks words of peace, not the storm.

You become comforted in an uncomfortable circumstance.

And you become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

That’s the difference, and needless to say, that change is mightier than any control over Mother Nature because the thing that changes is you.

It is clear that if Jesus wants to calm a raging sea, He can, but what He cannot do is control us. 

He cannot exercise dominion over us. We must choose to accept Him. We must choose to let Him in. We must choose to trust Him, and we must choose to let Him calm us.

For this reason, when Christ chooses to calm us - and it is His choice to make - the greater miracle that takes place happens within us. 

To answer the question, “Carest thou not we perish?” 

Quite simply, He does care. He cares greatly. 

He does care, which is why He gave us His life.

He does care, which is why He doesn’t rest.

He does cares, which is why He hears and answers our prayers.

So if the Savior doesn’t wake, and the storm rages on and the winds don’t cease immediately, let the Savior sleep a little longer.

He will not let you sink. 

But if you feel like you are, He will catch you just like He did with Peter.

He has no place to rest His head, and will ensure that you sleep.

And if by chance you don’t sleep, He will give you the strength to keep going.

He will ensure you are calm, however, that doesn’t always mean you will be without storm.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not... (Matthew 7:24-25).”

Notice how Jesus did not say if the rains will descend - He said they will. 

No one is immune from the storms, or the rain or the floods.

They will eventually come, and when they do, Jesus will speak the words of “Peace,” to any who wake Him.

Because He does care that you perish. 

Master, the tempest is raging!

The billows are tossing high!

The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness.

No shelter or help is nigh.

Carest thou not that we perish?

How canst thou lie asleep

When each moment so madly is threat’ning

A grave in the angry deep?

The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:

Peace, be still.

Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea

Or demons or men or whatever it be,

No waters can swallow the ship where lies

The Master of ocean and earth and skies.

They all shall sweetly obey thy will:

Peace, be still; peace, be still.

They all shall sweetly obey thy will:

Peace, peace, be still.

// Master, The Tempest is Raging, Hymn 105

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Let Him sleep a while longer... 

Because eventually He will wake, and He will come to your rescue.

Whether at the Fourth Watch or the first - sooner or later - He who is without pillow will come with pierced, but outstretched arms, to those who call upon Him.