WHAT IS A STERN AS WE READ IN MARK IN 4:38?
Mark 4:35-38;”And the same day, when the even was come,he saith unto them,Let us pass over unto the other side.
And when they had sent away the multitude ,they took him even as he was in the ship.And there were also with other little ships.
And there arose a great storm of wind ,and the waves beat into the ship,so that it was now full.
And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow:and they awake him,and say unto him,Master,carest thou not that we perish?”
From the incident in this passage, Jesus’ disciples took him along with them in the boat, just as he was.This means he took nothing e.g. food or clothing,along the way.It’s just as when someone offers another a lift in their vehicle.
While they sailed along,Jesus went in to the stern where he fell asleep.
Now,the stern, is the the hinder (rear) part of a ship/boat/vessel;where cargo is kept,and has rooms where people sleep.The bow,on the other hand,is the front part of a ship that makes it easier for the vessel to sail steadily.
The Lord went and slept off in the stern where it was spacious; lying on a cushion.Then a furious squall came up against the boat,so that it was capsizing.The disciples woke him and the Lord rebuked the storm.The wind dies down and there was a great calm.
We learn that if we let the Lord Jesus sleep in our lives,we suffer the storms of life he is utterly silent.This challenges us to be prayerful always.We should be persistent and fervently call unto Jesus,lest he falls asleep.While the squalls of the life threaten to sink us or drive us off-course,he will rise up to make things calm.
May the Lord help us be prayerful.
Maran atha!
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God bless you.