Living on the coast of South Carolina you learn to prepare for hurricanes.

You learn to keep food, water, flashlights, and supplies in your home.

Or you load your car up and drive to Columbia and avoid the storm.

In Mark 4, Jesus Christ and his disciples are confronted by a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee. A storm with hurricane force winds.

When the storm hits, Jesus Christ is asleep on a small fishing boat with his disciples. Interestingly, this is the only time in the Gospels where we see Jesus napping; a reminder that while he is the Son of God, he is also 100% human.

The disciples are terrified of this storm. In a moment of panic, they wake up Jesus Christ and shout, "Do you not care that we are perishing!"

Instead of trusting in the Lord during the storm, the disciples become full of fear. Jesus Christ responds by speaking to the winds and waves, "Peace! Be still!"

Mark records that at the word of Christ the winds ceased and water became calm. Jesus Christ was in complete control. The disciples had nothing to fear. Moreover, Mark's record of this story alludes to the story of Jonah in the Old Testament. Think about it:

In the story of Jonah and the story from Mark 4, a violent storm suddenly arrives. When the storm hits, Jonah and Jesus are both asleep. In desperation, the captain of the ship wakes up Jonah just as the disciples woke up Christ. Finally, both stories end with the storm being calmed and the survivors fearing the power of God over creation.

Mark's account of Jesus in the boat on the Sea of Galilee parallels the story of Jonah.

However, Jonah had to throw his body into the water to calm the storm. Jesus Christ merely had to speak to bring peace.

Jonah's body sank into the dark waters to save the sailors.

Christ's body sank into the dark abyss of death on the cross to save his people. To save you. 1 Peter 2.24 says, "He (Christ) himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."

Jesus Christ didn't go into the sea like Jonah to save some sailors. He went to the cross that through his body he might save his people - the church. Through his words on the waters of the Sea of Galilee he brought peace amidst a violent storm. Through his death on the cross he brought peace amidst the spiritual storm of sin and death.

Your hope in the midst of sin and death is to look to Jesus Christ with faith, trusting that his redemptive work brings you peace and promises you eternal life.