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Power Point:
I love
this story about faith. I love the fact that the disciples were ambushed by God on that boat ride across the
Galilee. If you look closely, you will see a pattern for our own faith
walk. Jesus tells them from the
beginning what is going to happen, and what direction He wants to take them in.
That’s all well and good and of course; they’re eager to go anywhere He takes
them. They wouldn’t think of staying behind. Jesus decides to take a nap. He’d had a long, hard day. The rocking of the boat gently lulled him to
sleep, with His head on a pillow. I love that part. I love that it was
important enough for Mark to add in his story. But THEN, a great wind arose. I think that’s a definite understatement. The force of
that wind has been likened to a hurricane. The disciples are hanging on for dear
life and wondering what to do next. Jesus is still asleep. The gentle rocking
has become much more forceful, but He sleeps on. Either He was really tired, or
He wasn’t worried.
The
disciples awaken Him and ask Him if He doesn’t care. They are perishing and they think that the Savior of the
world doesn’t care? Jesus gets up
from His soft place, and speaks to the wind and
the sea (both are out of control), and says, “Peace, be still!” And they were. The wind stopped blowing, the sea
stopped crashing about, and there was a
great calm. It was as though the storm had never happened.
THEN He turns
to the wide-eyed disciples. This is a teaching moment. If you think about it,
this story follows right on the heels of His explanation of the parable of the
Sower. I’m sure you remember it.
The Sower sows the word of God and depending on the way in which you receive
the word, it will bear fruit in your life, or not. Jesus had sown this seed in
their hearts, but the troubles of their circumstances had choked it out. They
forgot to remember what He had said.
He turns
to them and asks them that important question, ‘Where is YOUR faith?” He wasn’t
angry. He wasn’t condemning them.
He was simply following through with this teaching moment. He’s just
explained at great length that faith is something that has to grow. The storm
was giving their faith a chance to grow. His question allows them to see
themselves in reality. Yes it was a good thing that they “called on Jesus”, but
in reality, they could have caused peace to come just as easily as He did. He'd already told them they could move mountains. At
the very least, they did not need to be afraid because after all God was with them.
This
story is a pattern. Can you see it in your life?
God will
always give you a promise. “Let’s go to the other side of this problem.”
A test
will arise, because of the promise.
Everything will look as though you
will not make it to the other side.
You will
have a choice to choose to believe the Word or not. You will meet your
situation with confidence or fear.
Jesus
will ask you, “Where is your faith?”
so that you can see clearly what needs to be done.
You will
cross over to the other side, and as the disciples were amazed at the Son of God with them, you will be amazed at the
power of the Son of God in you.
Power Thought:
God's promises are all meant to be kept. It's our job to keep them close until He keeps them.
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