Relaxed

Dallas Willard once asked a friend - “If you had one word to describe Jesus, what would it be?” The friend listed off some various words that came to mind and then asked Dallas what word he would choose. His response was “relaxed.”

Twice in the last month, I’ve been in settings where this story of Willard was mentioned, and it got me curious about what it looks like to lean into the idea that Jesus is relaxed.

I certainly am not feeling relaxed. I feel like the disciples on the boat shouting at Jesus - “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we find this narrative of Jesus and the disciples getting into a boat to cross to the other side of the lake. Once on the boat, Jesus takes a nap while they travel. As he is napping, a storm suddenly comes up, and the disciples panic that they are going to die.

Let’s read each of these accounts. As you read, note what stands out to you. 

Matthew 8:23-27 (NLT)
Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

Mark 4:35-41 (NLT)
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

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?”

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

Luke 8:22-25 (NLT)
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.

The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”

The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”

There are a few things that stand out to me. 

• The disciples, who are used to being on the water, are clearly afraid, so I’m guessing this was a terrifying storm. 

• What did the disciples expect Jesus to do when they woke him up? They seem stunned that the wind and waves would obey his voice, so I’m curious what they thought would happen.  

• Jesus’s response is in two parts. 

  • He rebukes the wind and waves, which calm immediately. The word rebuke makes me curious. 

  • He asks the disciples about their faith. The wording varies between accounts, but I think he’s asking at the core - Don’t you trust me yet? If you don’t have faith in me, what is your faith in? 

Jesus is relaxed. He isn’t worried at all by this scenario or any others, for that matter. Jesus knows who he is and understands his authority.

He knows that when he speaks to the wind and waves, they have no choice but to obey him.

He knows when he calls Lazarus from the grave that nothing can stop him from rising.

He knows when he casts out demons, they must flee.

He knows when he heals, whatever the ailment, wholeness must come.

I think Jesus is asking me the same question he asked the disciples - If you don’t have faith in me, what is your faith in? Don’t you trust me yet?

I trust Jesus more today than 30 years ago. I trust Jesus more today than 5 years ago. I trust Jesus more today than one year ago. And still some days I am afraid, running to my Savior, shouting, where are you, why aren’t you fixing all the brokenness, what am I supposed to do, how will we survive?

And then I hear his gentle question - Why are you afraid? Where is your faith?

And then I hear him say - Daughter, I am here. You can trust me.

He is relaxed. 

~  Melissa