A common interpretation of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4 is, “if you have faith, then Jesus will get you through the storm to the other side." And that’s true. But when we look at this story in Mark 4 together with the beginning of Mark 5, we see something deeper and more foundational to that truth. When my oldest son was 14, he signed up for an introductory flight course out at Centennial airport. The last day of the course was my 14 year old getting to fly the plane himself, and they said I could go up with him. Which I felt like could mean that his last day of class would be my last day on earth. My son did an amazing job. And as the flight went on I was able to relax, because no one would let either I or my son fly a plane without having a certified pilot up there with us, the one who has complete authority and control over the plane, it’s flight path and all of its systems that keep it in the air. The only way I was ok letting my son fly the plane, letting him ‘cross the lake to the other side’ so to speak, was that I knew that the one who had complete authority and control over that plane was sitting in the pilot’s seat. That is what is being put on display for us to see in our passage this morning.
