That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" Mark 4:35-38

When Jesus says, “Let us go,” we expect smooth sailing ahead. But these verses show something different. When Jesus says, “Let us go,” do you focus on the word “go” or on the word “us.” Jesus wants us to focus on both words. The word “go” is a calling, and the word “us” is a relationship. Following Jesus is a calling and a relationship.

Because Jesus did not respond according to the disciples’ expectations, they accused him of not caring about their lives. Like the disciples, we sometimes accuse Jesus about his lack of care for us. But the cross is Jesus’ ultimate sign of care for us. He gave up his life to die on the cross so that we might have life in God. Then he gave us his Holy Spirit as a personal sign of his eternal relationship with us. The next time you accuse Jesus in your heart of not caring for you, remember the cross and the gift of his Holy Spirit in you. ...Jonathan Bissel
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