Evening

                                                        Mark 4:37-38

A great wind-storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him and said”… do you not care that we are perishing?” 

        I had two thoughts as I read the Mark passage tonight: one a realization about Jesus and one a realization about me. (Isn’t it a good thing that we get to read this over and over again? It’s new every time! Well, maybe not every time, but often.)  

The first is how utterly exhausted Jesus would have had to be to Still be asleep in the stern as the waves buffeted the little boat. This was no longer the gentle, restful lapping of waves agains the side; these were waves big enough that the boat was already taking on water. We all know in our bones that beyond-tiredness kind of exhaustion from taking care of ill spouses or being up with little children night after night. We can feel that  Jesus is utterly used up. 

     The second is how quickly the focus switches  from you, or even us, to me - add little panic, and it’s all about me! They go to waken Jesus but they don't  say “We’re in trouble here!” No, the tone is completely accusatory: “Do you not care that we are perishing?” What, and he is not? 

    It’s astounding stuff.