The Cross and the pen

One of the most powerful ways to read Scripture is to pay attention to passages that belong together. In Luke's Gospel, we often separate the story of Jesus calming the storm from the story of the demon-possessed man among the tombs because our Bibles place different headings over them. Yet when we read them as one continuous account, a deeper picture emerges. Jesus tells His disciples, "Let's go to the other side." Then He falls asleep. As they cross the lake, a violent storm arises. This is no ordinary storm. It is so severe that experienced fishermen become convinced they are going to die. Panic fills the boat while Jesus sleeps peacefully. Desperate, the disciples wake Him. Jesus rises, rebukes the wind and the waves, and immediately the storm subsides. Then He asks them a simple but profound question: "Where is your faith?" The disciples are left asking one another, "Who is this man? Even the winds and the waves obey Him." The story continues ...