Jesus in the Storm

 In the Gospel accounts we read of the miracle of our Lord Jesus, who we see, in the midst of a raging storm, walking on the water. But this is not just for the Disciples who were there 2000 years ago, but for all believers throughout the ages.

Just after the feeding of the 5000, we read; "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd." Matt: 14:22.

Jesus sent his Disciples out on to the Sea of Galilee.  the Sea of Galilee sits in a creator like depression which was subject to sudden and rather violent storms. The Disciples were undoubtedly familiar with these sudden storms having spent their life in and around the sea.

The Disciples set out late in the evening as the darkness deepen as they rowed their way toward the far shore. In the dark night a storm blew up on the lake. The group was already too far along to turn back, their only choice was to go forward and face the raging sea as the winds that blew hard against them.

"but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it." Matt: 14:24

Jesus Sent Them

Yet, even as the Disciples strained as they rowed Jesus' eyes was on them. There in the darkness as they were buffeted by the waves and turbulent waters they were never beyond Jesus' view.

"When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them" Mk:6:47-48

The Disciples try as they might could make no progress in moving forward, even late into the night the rowed on. It is here, after a long time of struggling, there in the darkness that Jesus comes out to them in the midst of the dark storm.

Comes to Them

"At the fourth watch Jesus came out to them walking on the water" -Matt: 14:25

But even as Jesus came into the midst of the Disciples collective situation, they do not recognize that it is Jesus. At first, they interpret his presence in their situation as something evil-

"when the disciples saw Him walking on the water they were terrified "Its a ghost they said" and cried out in fear" Matt: 14:26

The account in Mk: 6:48- we find this interesting statement " He was about to pass them by"

Do Not Be Afraid

There in the midst of their storm Jesus came to them and speaks the most often repeated admonishment in all the Scriptures, "do not be afraid".

"Do not be afraid it is I" Matt: 14:27

Verses (28) tells us that St. Peter wants to believe that his Lord is with them, here in this dark storm, and begs that Jesus bid him to walk upon the turbulent sea.

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." (28)

Jesus' simple answer is for St. Peter to (29)-"Come" St. Peter takes these fledgling steps of faith and as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, St. Peter could do the impossible, he walks on stormy sea.

But when the waves roar and the wind blow, St. Peter’s focus is drawn away from Jesus and he begins to sink into the dark and turbulent waters.

(29-30) "Lord, save me!"as St. Peter begins to sink, he cries out to Jesus who immediately reaches out to save St. Peter. "You of little faith why did you doubt?" is Jesus' gentle rebuke.

When Jesus and St. Peter get back into the boat a calm ensues, and they worshiped Jesus, saying "truly you are the Son of God" Matt:14:32-33

This was the whole point as to why Jesus sent his Disciples on the lake, so that they might see this truth that Jesus is the Son of the living God.

For Us in Our Storms

This is not just an account of what happened to the Disciples two thousand years ago, this is for all us for, all of us are in that boat with them   in midst the wind and waves and darkness.

There are times when our Lord Jesus may send us sailing into the darkness, facing storms which buffet against us to the point where we think that the small boat of our lives might be swamped, yet just as Jesus' watched them His loving eyes are upon each of us, even as we strain at the oars hoping to make head way in the face of raging waves. 

But then, after we have struggled Jesus comes to us, we may, like the apostles at first misinterpret Jesus' presence in the situation and may even feel that he has forgotten us that we are forsaken, especially when the voices of critics arise and attempt to fuel this assertion that we are being punished or have brought on our God's punishment.

We may feel that Jesus is about to pass us by and leave us to struggle helplessly in the midst of the stormy darkness, but it is here, that Jesus comes to us and calls to do the impossible and walk upon stormy seas. And if we will but just step out of the boat and keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus, we can do just that. And if by chance, we become distracted by the conditions around us and find ourselves distracted and begin to sink beneath the waves, our Lord will reach out and save us.

When He Gets in Our Boat

Jesus himself, may at times, send us into darkness and stormy weather, that we might learn to keep our attention fixed upon him, and when we see him as the object of our attention, we can do the impossible, and walk on water.

Jesus himself will bear us up and enter the boat of our lives bringing calm and the revelation that Jesus is the Son of the living God.

Another Miracle, Our Destination

We see however another miracle here, often overlooked, in St. John's account it says that when they were willing to take Jesus into the boat then they immediately reached their destination, Jhn:6:21.

That is, when we are willing to take Jesus into the boat of our lives and see that he is the Son of the Living God, we then reach the detestation of all human life.

Jesus is that destination of us all. When we come to believe in Jesus then our lives have accomplished everything a life was intended to accomplish, we are at our destination in Jesus.

Jesus Himself sent the disciple into that storm so that they, and we, might learn that he is the Son of the living God.

Benediction: May we each and all keep our Lord ever in our minds and hearts even in the midst of the storms of life, until we all reach our destination in Jesus, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

Rev.Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma

                   "If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"