Creating Peace in Your Space: A Reflection on Mark 4:39-40

by Ezekiel Isaiah James Johnson 

Religion & Philosophy Major Spring 2020 Graduate 

Word for the Wildcats Newsletter Excerpt

“Peace be still,” I wonder have you ever really considered these words of Jesus? Have you ever really discovered the depth and meaning these words have over the life of those who are connected to the one who said them? These words of comfort and calm uttered from a place of disruption. Notice what happens, Jesus has been disturbed. He is woken out of his sleep, but Jesus even with peaceful rest disturbed commands peace. Once things return to normal Jesus turns to his disciples and asks, “why were you afraid, don’t you have faith?” These two phrases and their connection with one another have recently been invading my thoughts. Especially, in this chaotic moment.

Over the course of just three weeks, life as I knew it shifted and what I knew as the norm changed. Plans that I had were disrupted, and everything that I looked forward to with great expectation was cancelled. Things that were going smooth became slightly difficult over the course of a week and a half. However, these two statements permeated my soul and captivated my thoughts. The question of Jesus is a very suggestive one, it begs for clarification, when connected to the command of “Peace be still.” It’s almost as if Jesus is suggesting that the disciples had a similar capability. That like Jesus, they too had the power to command peace in a chaotic atmosphere. If this is correct, then Jesus’s observation of their cowardice is justified. This may be what Paul meant when he told Timothy “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power” (2 Timothy 1:7) that we like Jesus have the power to command peace and dismiss chaos. This power is only accessible through faith.

When we possess faith over fear, we possess the power to command peace in our lives. We liberate ourselves from the symptoms of fear and our lives begin to look different, inwardly and outwardly. When we make the conscious decision to respond in faith, we command and create peace in every moment of chaos. However, when we are consumed by fear and worry, we allow for that power within us to be disturbed. Responding in faith looks like caring about your neighbor and their well-being. While responding in fear looks like harming your neighbor with the excuse of faith. Therefore, faith is not an excuse for poor decision making, but it is a conviction that inspires us to act in wisdom and love. So, as norms change, let's command peace by responding in the wisdom that faith affords us. Even though we are disturbed, we can still create and command peace. So, how have you created peace today?         -