Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Even the winds and the water obey Him!


When I visited Israel one of my favorite places was the Sea of Galilee.  The water is a beautiful bluish green, and the day that we went out on it by boat the water was smooth and glassy.  It brought to mind the story from Luke Chapter 8...

Jesus had said to His disciples that He wanted to cross to the other side.  This was in the daytime and several of them were former fishermen, so I'm sure they would have sensed if the weather wasn't good to be out on the water.  I imagine it might have been like the day I was there; bright sunlight shining down, a gently breeze blowing, and good friends enjoying fellowship as they sailed across the calm water.  Jesus curled up and fell asleep as they went.

Suddenly a squall came down, so furious that the boat was being filled with water from the waves.  They took on so much water that they were in danger of sinking.  The disciples were terrified and woke Jesus.
"Master, Master, we're going to drown!" they yelled above the noise of the storm.  It must have been a terrific storm that the experienced fishermen among them were so afraid.

Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind and violent water and the storm stopped at His command.  Once again the water was calm and peaceful.  Then He turned to His disciples.  "Where is your faith?" He asked them...Luke 8:25
I can only imagine what the disciples felt at that moment.  They'd seen Him do many mighty miracles.  They'd seen Him heal the sick and blind.  They'd seen Him raise the widow's son back to life!  But to see Him command the elements amazed them.  It even scared them.  ...they asked each other, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him."- Luke 8:25

It's interesting that Jesus asked them about their faith.  Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.- Hebrews 11:1
What did Jesus expect them to be sure of and certain of?
Perhaps that being Messiah, He would not perish by drowning in a boat...which told Him that they were still not understanding that He was Messiah.
Peter was the first to understand.  In Luke 9, while Jesus was praying privately He asked His disciples who the crowds thought He was.  They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."
"But what about you?" He asked.  "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered, "The Christ of God."  Jesus warned them not to tell this to anyone.- Luke 10:19-21

Eight days after this the transfiguration took place in front of Peter, John, and James which would have removed any remaining doubts any of them may have had, you would think.  But after the resurrection, Thomas didn't believe Jesus had risen until he was able to put his fingers in the holes in Jesus' hands and the gash in His side.  Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."- John 20:29

So you and I, my believing friends, are blessed indeed!
May God bless and keep you.


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2 comments:

  1. I love when Jesus calmed the storm. He's done that so many times in my own life!

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