children's christian magazine

STUDY PAGE 3
by Donna Huisjen
Quiet!
Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the
waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down
and it was completely calm.” (Mark 4:39 NIV)
In the story, “The Camping Trip,” Ben and his dad rowed all day. They enjoyed both the
unusual silence of the wild and the unusual sounds of nature. Their trip was uneventful in
terms of weather, but it isn’t always that way. Sometimes nature itself can be plenty noisy—
as in the furious storm Jesus’ disciples endured in the story told in Mark 4:35–41. Jesus was
there too—fast asleep in the boat.
Jesus wasn’t afraid of the wind, waves, and thunder, because he created them and is
their boss! In his human nature Jesus needed silence, just as we do. But he also cared
about his friends’ fears and need for quiet. That’s a need he created us to have. Listen:
SSSsssHHHhhh! Quiet! Please be
silent,
for the Healer’s day’s been long.
His oh-so-human self needs
rest. Disruptions, move along.
Wind, listen! This means you! You
rolling waves, stop crashing now.
Disciples, keep your voices down.
Hush! To your rowing bow.
“SSSsssHHHhhh! Hush now!
Peace!
Be silent,” the Lord of sea and sky
rebukes them both in quiet
tones. “We’re not about to die!”
His friends, though dazed in shock
and awe, accept this certainty.
“What kind of man is this who
speaks with such authority?”
Think about it:
1) What other needs are built in you as a
human being? What benefits do you
get from being quiet in a quiet place?
2) What are some other ways in which
Jesus showed concern for people’s
needs while he was on Earth?
How was it important for Jesus to
experience being human?
3) Think of a time when Jesus has
quieted either your circumstances or
your heart and mind when you really
needed a break. What did this mean to
you?
Pray about it:
How wonderful, Lord Jesus, to rest in
the silence that only you can bring to
my heart, mind, and soul. I pray that
you will order “Quiet! Be still!” on my
behalf when I need silence too. Amen.
32 - The Kids’ Ark