A seagoing captain commanded a passenger ship that
was sailing from Liverpool, England, to New York. His family was on board with
him. One night when everyone was asleep, a squall unexpectedly swept over the
waters and tossed the ship violently, awakening the passengers. They were all
terribly afraid because of the storm. The captain's little 8-year-old girl was
also awakened. 'What's the matter?" cried the frightened child. Her mother
told her that a sudden storm had struck the ship. 'Is Father on deck?" she
asked. 'Yes, Father's on deck," came the encouraging answer. Hearing this,
the little girl snuggled back into her bed and in a few moments was sound
asleep. The winds still blew and the waves still rolled, but her fears were
calmed because her father was in charge, and she knew that her father could get
her home safely.
We too face storms in life of all kinds and they
rock our life’s boat to an extent we think it is going to crash how would we
respond? Unlike the little girl in the story there were some mighty fishermen
who grew up in the region of Galilee who were used to the rugged conditions on
the sea yet when they faced a storm how did they respond? In order to find out
their response and who is in charge let us turn to (Luke 8:22-25)
Vs 22 Now on one of those days Jesus and His
disciples got into a boat, and He said to them “Let us go over to the other side
of the lake.” So they launched
out.
Vs 23 But as they were sailing along He fell asleep;
and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped
and to be in danger. V24 They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, Master,
Master, we are perishing! And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves,
and they stopped and it became calm. Vs 25 And he said to them, Where is your
faith? They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, who then is this,
that He commands even the winds and the water and they obey Him?
A brief background from Luke 7th & 8th
chapters: After completing his discourse Jesus went to Capernaum. There Jesus
healed the servant of a centurion, and raised the widow’s son from the dead. He
began to travel from one city and village on a preaching mission. The twelve
disciples, the women who were healed of evil spirits and sicknesses and many
others were following Jesus. He was becoming popular in the entire region of Galilee . In other words the gospel began to spread into
the Gentile territory. On one of those days Jesus tells his disciples to get
into the boat and he said to them: “let’s
go over to the other side of the lake”
I. TRAVELING WITH JESUS
Jesus told his disciples “Let us go over to the other side of the Lake” this indicates that. He was not sending the disciples alone,
but he was going with them as well. In other words Jesus was their traveling
companion. How would you like to have Jesus as your traveling companion? Several scriptures in the gospels show us
that Jesus took his disciples with him on a number of occasions:
For a dinner at Matthews’s house (Matt 9:16; 26:20),
on his many mission trips :( Mk 10:40)
When he performed miracles (raising the widow’s son,
wedding at Cana , feeding the five thousand)
When he prayed in private: (Matt 26:36; Lk 9:18;
John 6:3). He was going to prepare place for the disciples and will come back
to them so that they can be with him. (John 14:3). Jesus promised to be with
his disciples always even to the very end of the age (Matt 28:20)
Even today Jesus wants to be our traveling
companion in this life’s Journey. He wants to be our guide and the leader at
the same time. He wants to walk with us and talk with us. It doesn't mean that
we will never face any troubles but it means that he will help us in our
troubles.
II. THE UNEXPECTED
STORMS:
Before they embarked the journey Jesus did not
click on to the weather forecast of Seven News for that day. The sky must have
been clear and there were no threatening signs around. He got his group together and said “Let’s Go”
So Jesus along with his disciples sailed off to the other side of the Lake . It was towards the evening, the sun is setting, the
sea breeze was refreshing, the waves were gently dancing to the continuous
rhythm of the oars, and the boat was rocking like a cradle. It was a perfect
situation for any one to doze off a bit.
After a hectic ministry schedule Jesus must have been quite tired so
fell off to a deep sleep.
The boat was cruising along and the disciples too
must have been relaxed. Finally they could get away from all those bustling
crowds and get a breather. I wonder what may have been going through in the
minds of the disciples, they may have been reflecting on their busy ministry
itinerary with Jesus for the past so many days: Let’s step into the boat to
hear what was going on, Peter, John and James were discussing about the
prominent delegation of Jewish elders who came and requested Jesus to heal the
servant of the centurion.
Soon after that, they had a heart wrenching
experience of actually seeing a dead man coming alive at the gate of the city
called Nain. The team treasurer Judas was upset with the act of this woman who
wasted the expensive perfume just to wash Jesus’ feet!! He thought what a waste.
And the other disciples may have gotten into a theological argument on what
actually meant by the “Sower and the Seed parable.” As the boat kept sailing “All of a sudden without any warning, (Matt
8:24) “a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake and they began to be swamped
and they were in danger.
When it comes to think of it these disciples were
no ordinary men, they lived all their lives on the rugged sea catching fish, now
they left everything and followed this man called Jesus. They were caught off
guard. It must have dawned on them it was a life and death situation. They knew
far too well that it was going to be a disaster so they rushed to Jesus and
woke him up saying Master! Master! We
are perishing. Matt 8:24 “Lord save us we are going to drown” Mark records in
Mk 4: 38 “Teacher don’t you care if we drown?”
When you think that everything is going smoothly, you
have nothing to worry, you are beginning to enjoy life and relax then all of a
sudden a storm (northeaster) hits your life. Suddenly you may get a notice from
your company saying your are contract is terminated, or diagnosed with cancer;
your spouse gives up on you, or lose a loved one back home in India, In such
moments we feel like our life is falling apart, no one cares about us, feel
like God is silent and doesn't care for us any more just like the disciples
did. Let’s look at who is in charge?
III. WHO IS
IN CHARGE?
As the frantic disciples came and woke up Jesus what did he do? He got up from the sleep and rebuked the wind and the surging waves and they stopped, and it became calm. The word rebuke carries certain power here in the passage. Jesus employed the same word when he set the man free in the synagogue who was possessed by an unclean spirit, (Luke 4:35), when he healed Peter’s mother-in law and when he cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits.
Interestingly the OT sometimes portrays the powers of nature as demonic; what is of equal interest is that it also depicts Yahweh as Lord of the sea and his power over the sea as mastery of a monstrous, evil power. Hence as Jesus rebukes the storm he is acting as God acts, manifesting his authority over the powers of evil. Several scriptures in Psalms talk about God’s protection of his people in times of trouble :( Psalm 65:7; 69:2-3; 15-16; 74:13-14; 107:23-30)
Psalm 107:28-31 “Then you called out to God in your desperate condition; he got you out in the nick of time. He quieted the wind down to a whisper, put a muzzle on all the big waves. And you were so glad when the storm died down, and he led you safely back to harbor.” (The Message)
With one rebuke Jesus brought order in disorder. He restored peace in panic. He made calm in chaos. He challenged disciple’s unbelief. Jesus established His absolute authority over nature and over human lives. He wanted the disciples to know that when He is with them no storm will overtake them. He wanted them to look at Him rather than looking at the wind and the waves. He wanted them to be at rest knowing that He is indeed the commander in chief and He is in charge.
How do we respond to the storms in our lives that come unexpected and seem to drown us? Are we like the disciples who even though had seen several miracles yet hardened their minds and doubt in the absolute power and authority of God? What is the storm you are facing today? God has a purpose in leading you into that storm. When you think your life boat is going to be crashed, that is the time you need to know Who!! is on the Deck, or who is having the commanding controls or who is in charge, then like that little girl in the story. If we only you keep your eyes on the one who has the power over the wind and the waves He will guide you safely through your storm. Anchor yourself to Jesus who is in charge of your life. Amen.
