That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Jesus is on the move. He has spoken all day, telling stories, parables of how the kingdom of God works.
I wonder what people were thinking. Yes, it's great that Jesus had healed people, and cast demons out. He was obviously a powerful speaker. But what about who Jesus really is?
In life, most of our time is spent on the surface level, the physical level. We do not often think of the spiritual world. Yet it is a mistake to think we live alternatively between two different worlds. The material and the spiritual are both parts of one world.
In our western mindset, we don't make much room for miracles. We want explanations for why things happen. Today's passage is Jesus speaking a few words, and a storm calming. But I think there is something deeper going on. It's about faith.
What causes us to believe, to have faith, in Jesus? What is the “it” that will be enough for you, and for me, to believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the World?
There is much that people say leads to faith, but ultimately, it is only Jesus' death and risen life that is the firm foundation we need for the demands of discipleship. His death, resurrection, and ascension are key.
Jesus does not tell most people directly that he is God come to earth. He does ask us to believe in Him.
When Jesus followers, whether on a boat 2,000 years ago, or today, connect faith in Jesus to a life of continual success, excitement, and growth, we go off course.
We need to learn from the disciples and guard ourselves from this falsely promised life. If we don't, we will be frustrated, and maybe even despairing. We will be heading in the wrong direction.
Jesus' disciples wanted to live. That's the right direction.
We want to prosper; that's not necessarily the wrong direction.
However, when we say the life of following Jesus is about having health, and wealth, and success, we are heading in the wrong direction.
Jesus is quite blunt in this passage.
He asks, is it enough that we go with him on our journey?
When the storms appear, do we, like those early disciples, cry out to Jesus whose earthly sleep we confuse for absence?
The heart of discipleship is found in this account. Is Jesus, crucified, risen, and ascended, enough?
Where do you find Jesus' presence?
Comments