Moments of Grace: Come As You Are

35.  "On the same day, when evening had come, He (Jesus) said to them,

'Let us cross over to the other side.'

36.  Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was.

And other little boats were also with Him."

Mark 4:35-36

When I first read the above verses as a part of my devotional reading this morning, I didn't fully comprehend the meaning of the phrase in verse 36 where it says "they took Him (Jesus) along in the boat as He was".  Right after embarking (?) into the boat with Jesus a big storm blew up while He was asleep in the stern of the boat on a pillow.  His disciples thought He must not care that they were about to perish in the sea, so they woke Him up.  Verse 39 says that

"He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" 

And the wind ceased and there was a great calm."

Then He turned to His disciples and said to them:

"Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

Now comes the question...Just how WAS Jesus when they took Him along in the boat? I expect He was pretty exhausted, as He had just spent many days healing the sick and teaching the multitudes so many parables and answering numerous questions from His followers. It says in Mark 3:20 that "the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread." In Mark 4:1 the Bible says that "a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea."

In other words, for days and days Jesus and His disciples had been dealing with huge crowds of people pressing in around them and asking so many questions and clamoring for Jesus' attention so much so that they could not even take the time to eat.  The crowd was so great that Jesus had to sit in a boat in the water just so He could face the multitude on the shore and teach them.  

So, how was Jesus?  I'd say He was extremely hungry and completely exhausted. His disciples may have had to literally carry Him into the boat to get Him away from the crowds so that He could eat and get some much needed rest. No wonder He was sleeping through the storm!

I love what Jesus asks the disciples after He had quelled the storm. He wants to know why they were so fearful...and where was their faith?  Hadn't they just seen Jesus casting out demons, healing the sick, the lepers, the paralytic...and even forgiving men their sins? (see Mark chapters 1-3) Hadn't they been listening and watching as He taught the multitudes and displayed His power for all to see? I mean, how could they NOT have faith after all they had witnessed?

Well...what about you? What about me? How many times have we doubted that Jesus could quell the storms in our own lives? How often have we crouched in fear as we have faced the demons of sickness, disaster, or personal crisis and forgot all the miraculous and marvelous things He had already done for us so many times before?

Or perhaps we've just been so exhausted and weary from the anxieties and perplexities of life that we've fallen down into our own little boats of despair and could not begin to muster the strength or courage to get back up and face a new day.

It gives me great comfort to know that Jesus has already been there. He knows what that feels like. He was human even if He was God. He was God in the flesh, and His human body suffered just like you and me.

Hebrews 4:15-16 says

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our 

weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are,

yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of GRACE,

that we may obtain mercy and find GRACE to help

in time of need."

I love that I can come to Jesus just as I am, and know that He will be there ready to receive me with open arms.  Sing this beloved hymn along with me and remember that Jesus knows exactly how you feel...

1. Just as I am, without one plea, 
but that thy blood was shed for me, 
and that thou bidst me come to thee, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

2. Just as I am, and waiting not 
to rid my soul of one dark blot, 
to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

3. Just as I am, though tossed about 
with many a conflict, many a doubt, 
fightings and fears within, without, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

4. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; 
sight, riches, healing of the mind, 
yea, all I need in thee to find, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

5. Just as I am, thou wilt receive, 
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; 
because thy promise I believe, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

6. Just as I am, thy love unknown 
hath broken every barrier down; 
now, to be thine, yea thine alone, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

AMEN!