One evening, Jesus and His friends got into a boat. The sun was going down, and the sky was turning soft pink and orange. Jesus was very tired, so He lay down to rest on a little pillow.
Suddenly, dark clouds covered the sky like a big gray blanket. The wind started to blow hard, and the waves jumped up and down like wild horses. The boat rocked back and forth, and water splashed inside. Jesus’ friends felt scared. They held tight to the sides of the boat.
“Jesus, wake up!” one of them shouted. “We are going to sink!” Their voices shook like leaves in the wind. Jesus opened His eyes slowly. He saw the storm and His friends so afraid.
Jesus stood up and spoke softly but very strong, “Be quiet! Be still!” Then, something amazing happened. The wind stopped blowing. The waves stopped jumping. The water became calm like a quiet lake.
The friends looked at each other, their eyes big and bright. “Who is this?” they whispered. “Even the wind and the waves listen to Him!”
Jesus smiled gently and asked, “Why were you so afraid? Don’t you trust Me?” His friends felt safe now, like when a warm blanket wraps around you on a cold night.
That night, the friends learned something very important. Jesus is powerful and kind. He can help us when we feel scared or alone. We can always trust Him because He loves us very much.
Questions to think about
- What did Jesus do when the storm came?
- How did the friends feel during the storm?
- What did Jesus say to make the storm stop?
- Why do you think the friends were surprised?
- How can we trust Jesus when we are afraid?
Message of the story
Jesus is powerful and always takes care of us, even when we feel scared. We can trust Him because He loves us very much.
Bible passage
Mark 4:35-41
Mark 4:35-41 (ICB)
That day, when evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.”
So they left the crowd and took Jesus with them in the boat, just as He was. Other boats were with them.
A strong wind came up, and the waves beat into the boat. The boat was almost full of water.
Jesus was in the back of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. The disciples woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are going to die?”
Jesus got up and spoke to the wind and said to the lake, “Be quiet! Be still!”
The wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
Jesus said to His disciples, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were very afraid and said to one another, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!”
