Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 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. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27
So far, we’ve uncovered some truths over the last few days. We saw Jesus, the disciples, and the people come down from the mountain where Jesus gave the beatitudes. Immediately he’s confronted with a leper, and we learn that “Jesus heals the ethnically outcast and cares for the marginalized.” After that, we meet two men. We learn first, “Jesus is worthy of unconditional trust, and He’s worthy of undivided affection.” Now we see Jesus and his disciples getting into a boat, and some trouble comes as they cross the sea.
Do you have trouble? Did you ever believe that once you gave your life to Jesus to do as He wished, all things in your life would become easy peasy? I did. I believed that there would be no more trouble or strife and that I would be blessed in every situation. I would get the best parking spot at Walmart, my enemies would bow before me, and my health would never deteriorate. I had this belief that all was going to be well, but then trouble after trouble came. Hardships in life, in marriage, with friends, with family, and with kids came, and many times they came with crushing news or defeat. I remember using this scripture many times to remind me of how there are promises in the Bible and about how Jesus will calm all the storms in my life. I read this story, and I go, What storms am I facing in my life—my marriage, my home, my work, my health? Whatever it may be, Jesus will calm all of those storms. I’ve come to realize that this isn’t the point of this story. It goes deeper than that, and we find the clue to how deep it goes in the last verse, where the disciples say, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
In their upbringing, these Jewish men would have said that phrase because they would have known the God of the O.T. Only the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob could command nature. Psalm 89:8. “O LORD, God of hosts, you rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.” Psalm 107:29. “He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” These disciples are surprised because they realize this man in this boat isn’t just some ordinary man. They are realizing that the Lord, God in the flesh, is in the boat with them. And so, instead of the point of the story being that whatever storms I face in life, Jesus will calm all of those storms, we see the deepness taking us into this truth that Jesus is God! I cannot promise you today that by reading this, your financial issues will go away. I cannot promise you in this life that you or a loved one will be cancer-free. To be honest, Jesus does say that in this life you will face trouble. If we do not face trouble, that makes Jesus a liar, and I know he’s nothing but truth. But your storm may last for just a moment or a lifetime. The overarching truth is that I do not know when the storm will end for you, but I do know you’ll never have to be in it alone. Amidst the storms in your life, you’ll never be alone. Whether it’s Jesus in your boat or others who are following Jesus with you, You’re not meant to walk or be in the storm alone. Faith is not confidence that difficult things won’t come your way. Faith is not confidence that trials won’t occur. Faith is confidence that no matter what winds and waves come your way in this world, the God of the universe will be right there in the middle of the boat with you, and His power and His presence will always see you through. You are not alone. And ultimately, you are safe in the presence of the One Who has ultimate authority over all disasters.
So today, be reminded that presence matters.
Prayer:
Jesus, fill me so much with your presence that even int he darkest night I can see the light of your face.