Covid19 has us stuck at home preparing for Easter… but we can mark each day with devotion. Click here if you missed a past day’s reading.

Mark 14:32-52

“Jesus was in the stern sleeping… ’Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’” (Mark 4:35-41)

The storm on the lake would make anyone quake. These were not landlubbers in a rented boat. Many of the disciples were experienced fishermen – they understood sailing. But Jesus was sleeping…

In the Garden we find the reverse: the disciples sleeping, Jesus urging them awake (three times, always significant!). Asking them to not simply open their eyes, he urges them to pray.

I can panic over the wrong things. And when the real crisis arrives I am not even as advanced as the disciples. I run around lowering the sail and batting down hatches… the disciples knew to cry out to Jesus.

We are in a momentous moment. It feels like nothing will ever be the same (while I long for everything to go back to normal). Now is not the time to sleep. Now is the time to pray that we do not drown in the storm.¹

¹ This morning’s video devotion talks about a way to pray called the Welcoming Prayer. First, review the day’s events and allow these feelings to fill you. Second, welcome God into the events and feelings (God has always been present, but acknowledge this reality). Finally, let go of the events and feelings. Allow God to save. (Click here to watch the video.)

Deeper: “he fled naked” — Biblical Streaking? — Most assume verses 51&2 refer to the author of the gospel. It is only included in this gospel (Matthew and Luke, who used Mark as an example, chose to exclude these verses). But some scholars see it as symbolic for disciples and reference Amos 2:16 (“On the Day of the Lord the bravest will flee naked.”)