That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
We see a destination, He sees a destiny
Where God leads us is a mystery to us, but never to Him. He knows what we need and when we need it. He know what we can handle, and what we cannot. The disciples thought they were going on a simple little boat ride. After all, they were fisherman, skilled navigators. They knew the sea. There was no need to worry. A child could navigate this small sea. The confidence in themselves was sure and secure... or so they thought.
We see a storm, He sees a nap
As the storm on the horizon drew closer, Jesus took advantage of some good nap time. He was not worried. Nor concerned. He fell fast asleep. I am amazed as to why the disciples woke Him up in the midst of the storm. Did they want Him to grab an oar? Did they want Him to help with the sail? Just exactly how much help could a carpenters son be on a capsizing boat? Panic and fear gripped the crew. Perhaps they were angry at Jesus because He was not afraid but asleep? How dare He not be concerned for them? Perhaps they just wanted some company as they thought that they were going to meet their certain doom.
We see Him not caring, He sees us not believing
It was not that Jesus did not care, it was that the disciples did not see. They saw Jesus in His humanity asleep, but in His deity, He was wide awake! They were looking for a human solution, not a God solution. Jesus responded in a God-like fashion and stilled the seas. I believe the disciples were attempting to dictate the terms of God's work in their lives. Just help us row a little bit Jesus, just until we get out of this mess. Jesus says "I put you in this mess so that you would treat me with the respect I deserve."
We see the problem as the storm, He sees the problem as our faith.
What limitations we place on ourselves by our lack of belief! What negative thoughts we think, what impossible odds we stack against ourselves by our lack of faith! The disciples battled, struggled, failed until their faith showed up! What battles are you facing today? Where is your faith in the midst of the storm?
We fear the storm, the storm fears Him.
Storms are nothing to laugh at. The story of Joppa, Missouri is a tragic one. We can see the effects of weather and the damage which tornadoes and storms can do to an entire community. The question is not why did Jesus calm the storm for the disciples but not for Joppa, the question is whether the Deity of Jesus ceases to be true because Joppa was hit. The answer is clearly "no". Jesus remains true to who He is regardless of the effects of storms in our life. The point of the story is not that Jesus stops storms, the point is that Jesus can stop storms, because He is God. Our fear of God http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifshould not be based on His activity, but rather His power.
We ask skeptics who He is, but we should ask the wind, "Who is this man!"
Don't wait before it is too late to trust Jesus as your Savior. Believe on Him now. Don't judge His effectiveness as a Savior on your situation, or even on other people who do not know Him. Look at the world, the creation, the smallest to the greatest and asked "who created all these?" Then look to Jesus, the author, the perfecter and finisher of life to be everything you need for today!
Pastor Vince Gonzales
North Dallas Family Church
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