This Was Jesus

"Then again, here's the thing we can't overlook, THIS WAS JESUS."

JESUS WAS ASLEEP IN THE BOAT though a storm was raging, and water, water was everywhere. Despite violent wind and a raging sea, He was undisturbed. The disciples, on the other hand, went into a panic. These were fishermen, familiar with the lake. They knew boats and had, I'm sure, seen storms on it, yet this one took the cake.

So they did what anyone else would do in this situation. Well, except for Jesus.

MASTER? CAN'T YOU SEE WE'RE ABOUT TO DIE?

Many people have preached on this story and made valid points. Yes, they were with the Messiah. But they weren't aware of the size of that yet. Yes, they'd seen miracles while following Him. But their faith in what He had come to do wasn't complete. Fact is, any person in that size of storm would see the situation with fear. It was a huge storm if professional fishermen were worried. Cut them some slack.

Then again, here's the thing we can't overlook. THIS WAS JESUS. This was Jesus, who had actually done great miracles, the man they believed to be the Messiah. Jesus had peace IN the storm. While the winds and the waves claimed the landscape, while imminent death swirled around them, He was completely at rest.

People speculate here, too. Well, He was tired. He'd been a long time on His feet. This may be true. Physical exhaustion will cause the body to react in extreme weariness. But Jesus was filled without measure with the Holy Spirit. Jesus had come to earth to die on the cross, not on the lake. Something He'd known before being born in Bethlehem. Something He'd preached in the synagogue when He'd quoted Isaiah.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19)

The Spirit was upon Him to preach the Good News that the time of fulfillment of God's promise had come, and the kingdom of God was at hand (Mark 1:15). He'd been baptized in the Jordan. The Spirit had descended upon Him, and the Father had spoken, "This is my beloved Son." He'd faced off with the devil in the wilderness and told that thief to worship the Lord thy God. Jesus knew who He was at age 12. “Don't you know I must be about my Father's business?”

Jesus had peace IN the storm because He was Master of it. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, without Him was not anything made that was made. So awakened by His frightened disciples, Jesus did what the Master of it would do. He rebuked the wind and gave peace TO the storm. BE QUIET! And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

We need Him for both miracles. There are times when peace IN the storm will carry us through, but we rest IN Him knowing He will calm the storm itself. Knowing the storm has no power over the name of Jesus Christ. There are times we are like the disciples, riddled with anxiety and fear, and we're unable to take a stand for ourselves. God's mercy is great. He's done things for me in times of wind and rain that I could not have survived by myself.

But He came to destroy the works of the devil and having triumphed over him and all his works, Jesus gave the authority He had to the church. As CHRIST-ians, as ANOINTED ONES filled with the same Holy Spirit, we must determine to grow and mature in the things of faith, we must set our hearts upon Him and know His character, His nature in us. Then, because of our relationship with Him, having done all to stand, we keep standing and speak to the storm for ourselves. We speak the name of Jesus and expect the storm to bow TO the power of Jesus.

There lies the difference. It is His power that conquers the waves, that gives peace TO the sky, and it is His Presence IN us that fills us with His peace to sustain us. He came TO earth to live IN us and be all we will ever need. He is our focus in times of stress and doubt. He is all the wisdom and strength we will ever need. He is our Saviour. For this reason He walked among us. And for this reason He died. But for this reason, He rose again, with the storm firmly beneath His feet.

We must see ourselves at His side, on His boat. Not focused on the weather or the amount of water, nor the distance to land and the size of the waves. But that it is Jesus with us. And just as He laid down that day and fell asleep, so can we. Storm? What storm? Or haven’t you noticed who is with me?

“Peace is my bequest to you, and the peace which I will give you is mine to give; I do not give peace as the world gives it. Do not let your heart be distressed, or play the coward." (John 14:27 Knox)

“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.” (Acts 2:32)

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com