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FEBRUARY 25
grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves
and shoots out large branches, so that the beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
birds of the air may nest under its shade.” 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.
33 And with many such parables He spoke And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher,
the word to them as they were able to hear it. do You not care that we are perishing?”
34 But without a parable He did not speak to 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and
them. And when they were alone, He said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind
40
explained all things to His disciples. ceased and there was a great calm. But He
35 On the same day, when evening had come, said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is
41
He said to them, “Let us cross over to the it that you have no faith?” And they feared
36
other side.” Now when they had left the mul- exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who
titude, they took Him along in the boat as He can this be, that even the wind and the sea
was. And other little boats were also with Him. obey Him!”
DAY 24:Why would Jesus’ own disciples fear Him?

In Mark 4:35,Jesus and His disciples were on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.To escape
the crowds for a brief respite,Jesus wanted to go to the eastern shore,which had no large cities and
therefore fewer people.But as they crossed the lake,they were caught in a “great windstorm”(v.37).
Wind is a common occurrence on that lake,about 690 feet below sea level and surrounded by hills.
The Greek word can also mean “whirlwind.”In this case, it was a storm so severe that it took on the
properties of a hurricane. The disciples, used to being on the lake in the wind, thought this storm
would drown them (v. 38).
Meanwhile, Jesus was asleep (v. 38). He was so exhausted from a full day of healing and
preaching,even that storm could not wake Him up.Thus they woke Him.He then rebuked the wind
and said to the sea,“Peace, be still!” Literally, it means to “be silent, be muzzled.” Storms normally
subside gradually, but when the Creator gave the order, the natural elements of this storm ceased
immediately (v. 39).
At that point, we are told “they feared exceedingly” (v. 41).This was not fear of being harmed
by the storm, but a reverence for the supernatural power Jesus had just displayed.The only thing
more terrifying than having a storm outside the boat was having God in the boat! “Who can this
be…”This statement betrayed the disciples’wonderment.

February 25 4 ‘Do not turn to idols, nor make for your-
selves molded gods: I am the LORD your God.
5 ‘And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offer-
Leviticus 19:1–20:27
ing to the LORD, you shall offer it of your own
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And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, free will. It shall be eaten the same day you
19 “Speak to all the congregation of the offer it, and on the next day. And if any
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children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall remains until the third day, it shall be burned
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be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. in the fire. And if it is eaten at all on the third
3 day, it is an abomination. It shall not be
‘Every one of you shall revere his mother
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and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am accepted. Therefore everyone who eats it
the LORD your God. shall bear his iniquity, because he has pro-
faned the hallowed offering of the LORD; and
that person shall be cut off from his people.
9 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land,
19:2 I the LORD your God am holy. This basic you shall not wholly reap the corners of your
statement, which gives the reason for holy liv- field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of
ing among God’s people, is the central theme your harvest. And you shall not glean your
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in Leviticus (see 20:26). See 1 Peter 1:16. Israel vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of
had been called to be a holy nation, and the your vineyard; you shall leave them for the
perfectly holy character of God (see Is.6:3) was poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your
the model after which the Israelites were to God.
live (see 10:3; 20:26; 21:6–8). 11 ‘You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie
to one another. And you shall not swear by
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