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In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"
Matthew 8:23-27
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
How do you respond when times of trouble arise?
That is the question at the heart of today’s scripture passage.
Jesus and His disciples got into their boat and set sail once again on the Sea of Galilee. They had traveled the sea before, successfully navigating to their destination. But this particular trip would be different.
For we read where “a furious storm came up on the lake” without warning. So strong was the storm that “the waves swept over the boat” but none of this woke Jesus who was sleeping.
The disciples became frightened and feared for their lives so much that they woke Jesus saying, “Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" Upset at their actions, Jesus criticized the disciples replying, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" And then we read that He got up and “rebuked the winds and the waves”, making conditions “completely calm”.
Well the disciples could barely grasp what they had just witnessed for they asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"
What kind of man is this?
This man is Jesus…the Lord of Lords…the King of Kings…the Almighty Christ.
Friends, how many times are we like the disciples? Our faith stays firm when conditions are good but let a storm blow in suddenly and we end up in a panic…afraid…crying out to be saved as if Jesus is asleep while we are in need.
You see, the disciples lost sight of the fact that Jesus was with them. Yes, He was asleep. So what? He was there in the boat with the disciples. Did they really think that Jesus would allow them to die while He was catching a nap? Would Jesus have called them all to follow Him only to kill them on the Sea of Galilee?
It’s little wonder why Jesus was upset at them for waking them. He wasn’t so angry that they had disturbed His sleep. No…He was disappointed that they didn’t show more faith.
I wonder how many times He feels the same way about us?
Friends, the disciples had only knew Jesus for a short time and yet they had seen the miraculous power He possessed. We on the other hand have the entire account of Jesus’ life and ministry to include the greatest miraculous act of all as he conquered death and the grave to ascend into heaven and sit on the right hand of God the Father.
We know this and yet we doubt even though Jesus is in the business of controlling and subsiding any furious storm that might blow up suddenly in our lives. We think He has somehow left us when we know He would never leave us nor forsake us. And didn’t He promise His disciples and us as well that He would be with us until the end of the age as He gave His Great Commission? (Matthew 28)
It’s time for us to stop wavering and look to the only One who is capable and willing to calm the storms of life and restore order.
It’s time to trust Jesus.
Do you know He is with you today?
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
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