Jesus & the Storm

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Mark 4:39

This is such a great story to read over and over. It’s also one that children really love acting out, so we encourage you to give that a try this week!

Also, The Storm that Stopped is great children’s book that retells this story and you can click here for a link to a reading of the book that you can also show your children.

As you lead your children in this devotion, let them wonder about Jesus, His character and also how they would interact with that same Jesus if they were there in the boat. Allow the person of Christ to love and minister to you and your family as you imagine this man who quiets storms.

Devotion – Jesus and the storm

As we said above, this devotion really gets your children into the story: acting it out, pretending along and enjoying the drama of the storm and Jesus showing His power to calm it immediately. Try to get into with your children and encourage participation by putting yourself right there in the boat alongside them!

Gather your children and begin to imagine with them: “Imagine you are one of Jesus’ disciples. You are standing on the shore of the sea, listening to Jesus teach from a boat. He has been teaching for a while, what do you think He is telling the people?”

Next, Jesus gets into a boat with the disciples, let’s pretend to climb into a boat! (You can use a couch, the bathtub for younger children or just the floor) Ok, let’s row out to sea! Everyone row together now. Ah, it’s a nice, calm sunny day, how nice!

Oh, I see Jesus yawning, He must be so tired. I think he’s going to sleep! Anyone else need to rest? I may lay down for just a few minutes…

Uh oh. What’s happening? The clouds are getting dark and the wind is getting really strong! (Pretend with your kids that the storm has come with wind and waves pushing and crashing into the boat). AHHHHH! Help us! This storm is so terrible! Row harder, no, get the water out of the boat, or maybe we need to get out and swim. Wait, I can’t swim!!!! What do we do????!!!!

Wait, what? Jesus is still asleep? Wake Him! I can’t believe He’s sleeping! Doesn’t He care that we might drown???? Jesus!!! Wake up!!!

OK, Jesus is awake. Whew! Wait, what’s He doing? He’s talking to the storm? I couldn’t hear Him, what did He say? He said Quiet? and Be still???

Wait, it worked????!! Everything’s calm again?? How did He do that???? How can a man do that kind of thing? What do you think?

Yes, Jesus is no ordinary man, He is God as a human. Even now, He is still with us and wants to help us when we feel alone, scared or a little shaky. What kind of storms do you run into sometimes? Let’s ask Jesus to help us through those and to quiet and still those for us. End with a short prayer.