Luke 8:
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."
The Sea (Lake of Galilee) is a very moody body of water that can be given over to quick and fierce storms. For instance, in the 1990's it produced 5-7 foot waves...that is huge for the small body of water it is. One day Jesus and his disciples were crossing the lake and storm like that broke loose. Even though the waves tossed the little boat all around Jesus slept. Finally, the disciples wake him up saying, "Do something or we are all going to die!" Jesus wakes up, asks them where their faith is and calms the storm.
I relate to the disciples. How about you? The storms of life come and I react..."O, no...What are we going to do? What if the worst happens? We're all going to die!" Panic, worry, fear, stress, irritability...these are familiar emotions when our little boat is being mercilessly tossed to and fro.
And then, there is Jesus...sleeping...(ever feel like Jesus is sleeping when he should be doing something? ...Me too). Jesus is sleeping...why? Because he knew what he told the disciples, but they forgot. What did Jesus tell them before they boarded the boat? Look at verse 22 again...One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake."
Did you catch that? That is why Jesus slept in the storm and that is why the disciples did not have to panic. Why is that? Because Jesus told them before they left that they were going to go to the other side. Before they set sail Jesus confirmed that they would arrive at the other side. The storm did not change the promise of God...storm or no storm Jesus said they were going to the other side and that meant they were going to the other side.
However, the disciples forgot that. When the storm came all they could see were 7 foot waves, dark clouds and them sinking to the bottom of the sea. And so they panic and in turn Jesus asks, "Where is your faith?" He had told them they were going to the other side. Why did they trust the threat of the storm more than the promise of his word? May be that is a good question for you and me? Why do we trust the storms of life more than the promise of God's word that says, "Storm or no storm with him we will always get to the other side." It does not mean bad things won't happen. It just means that we have God's promise that if we follow him then no matter what happens some way and some how he will get us to the other side.
The next time you find your self struggling in the midst of a storm, even though it is difficult, ask God to help you remember what he said before you set sail, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." Jesus would not have told you he was going to take you to the other side if he did not intend to fulfill his promise.
2 comments:
I might cut the disciples a little slack here. When a friend says, "Let's go over to the other side," he is expressing his intent, not his control over the situation. Sure, they've seen a few miracles, but have they settled on who He is? Perhaps not, looking at the question in 8:25.
However, those of us who know who He is, and maybe even have held out the hope in the words, "God is completely trustworthy" to others, do we have an excuse? Or should we confess "Forgive me for doubting" and continue on the journey? That's where I find myself.
Yeah, I hear you...the interesting thing is that Jesus did not cut them any slack as he said, "You of little faith." And before we let ourselves off the hook too easily, perhaps, we need to let Jesus speak those strong, convicting words to us, too...you know what I mean?
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