Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus Calms a Storm

Jesus’ disciples were no strangers to the sea. Many of them were fishermen. I am certain they had their share of experiences with storms  at sea. This storm must’ve been strong enough to get them concerned about their safety. “The boat was being swamped by the waves” and they thought they were perishing. In such a dangerous situation, Jesus is asleep. They decide, in their desperation, to wake him up and ask for help. Their plea is for Jesus to rescue them from the dangerous situation. It seems they had enough faith to believe that Jesus was able to get them out of trouble. Nonetheless, when Jesus is awakened, he attributes their fear to their “little faith.” Why is the faith little? It is enough to ask for help in danger, but not enought to be confident (not threatened) in the face of danger. Jesus then rebukes the winds and the sea producing calm and causing the men to marvel at his control over nature.

Jesus is the Son of David, Son of Abraham, Son of Man, Son of God who has sovereign control even over nature. He is the Lord of Creation. To follow him is to trust he is in control of all things at all times. He expects us to trust he is able to rescue us from trouble, but he also wants us to trust that he is in control of all circumstances of life without fretting.

Jesus, increase my faith to trust in you. May I learn to trust you can rescue me in my hour of trouble, but also that I may confidently trust without fear that you are in control of all circumstances while I am going through the trouble.

Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus Walks on the Water

Jesus takes time for a prayer retreat. Much ministry is ahead of him and he needs to prepare for it. Is it also possible that after ministering to over 5,000 people, he needs some rest? It is easy for me to think of prayer as preparation for ministry, but it is not that easy to think of prayer as recovery from ministry. Rest in the Lord is not just sleep. Isn't it also to have peace, inner quietness, and focus? I can't achieve that on sleep alone, but through prayer.

Jesus prayed alone. He sends his disciples ahead of him to be alone in prayer. The disciplines of prayer and solitude are very important in life and ministry. Am I willing to be alone with my Lord in prayer? Silence and solitude are the ingredients necessary for contemplation and self-reflection though many despise them because silence can be deafening and solitude can be overcrowding.  If I desire depth in my relationship with God, I must take time to be with him alone.

By the fourth watch, the disciples are still out on the Sea of Galilee fighting a storm and trying to reach land. A watch is a three hour period during the night. The first watch is 6-9pm; the second is 9-12am; the third is 12-3am; and the fourth is 3-6am. This means that the disciples have been on the boat for over 9 hours fighting the winds of a storm. Mind you that these men are no amateurs when it comes to sailing since many of them used to make a living fishing there. They were obeying the Master's orders to go to the other side and yet encountered a great storm. Many obstacles await me in my obedience to the Master. Will I be as faithful as the disciples battling against the storms of life to obey?

Finally, the Lord comes to their rescue. The disciples are frightened because they think he is a ghost. The Lord identifies himself and encourages them not to fear and Peter requests to be with him. Unfortunately, fear grips his heart in the middle of the storm and he begins to sink until he cries out for help and the Lord takes a hold of him. Not only are there obstacles in accomplishing Jesus' mission, but there are obstacles in getting close to him. Neither one can be accomplished on my own strength and power as capable as I may think I am. I need Jesus.

The accomplishment of Jesus' mission is dependent on my relationship with Jesus just like Jesus' ministry is totally dependent on his relationship with the Father. That's why Jesus prayed alone. I am called to faith and not fear if I am to enjoy fellowship with Jesus because faith overcomes all obstacles. Trust in and obedience to Jesus ensures my footing even upon the stormy waters of life. Thank God for his compassionate hand when my faith waivers and my footing is lost that rescues me from sinking altogether.

Lord, may I seek you day by day in prayer and solitude so that my faith may grow. Sustain me in my attempts to obey you. Hold me with your compassionate hand when all of life seems to fall apart.

Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus Calms a Storm

Life is like catching a boat into the sea. Some get in and set a course to a desired destination. Others get in but simply float aimlessly around carried by the waves of the sea. No matter what kind of boat we've boarded, we are all in "the same boat" when it comes to the storms of life. Some of those storms will bring waves that will swamp our vessels and threaten our lives.

What kinds of storms are we talking about? It can be anything that "rocks your boat." Storms come in different shapes and forms. It can be the loss of a loved one; the loss of a job; the loss of health. It can be an abusive parent; a runaway teenager; a sick rapist. It can be an oppressive boss; an oppressive neighborhood; an oppressive government. 

How can I survive the storms of life? Some think that the boat is the most important thing. The bigger, the better. The more advanced in technology, the merrier. But we must not forget the Titanic. Others think that personal training and skills are going to get you out of trouble. But we must not forget the many capable people who have lost their lives trying to fight a storm. It is not the boat or my personal skills.

What is the most important thing to survive a storm? If anything makes a boat special is who is in the boat. If I am to survive the storms of life, I must follow Jesus into the boat of his choosing. I can't expect him to follow me into a boat of my choosing; it is the other way around. Once there, I must trust him with my whole life. At times, my faith fails and it seems like God is asleep and does not care for me. The truth is that Jesus is in the boat and has not left me.

Jesus is not a mere man. He is God in the flesh. He came from the heavens to the earth with powers to command them at will. He calls me to follow him. He calls me to trust him. Is Jesus in my boat? I don't want to "miss the boat." Lord, enable me to follow you and trust you in the midst of the storms of my life.