Jesus has control over nature – to us this is obvious as we know Jesus is part of the Trinity and is all powerful. However, the apostles had not read the new testament, oh, yes, that is because it was not written yet. LOL
Look at
Mark 6:45-52 and
Luke 8:22-25. First, please read Mark 6 (click on the link) and you will see that Jesus sent the apostles in a boat headed to Bethsaida and he would dismiss the people that had gathered. Jesus took time to pray before setting out to meet them.
They were struggling against the waves due to the wind. They oared hard, yet making very little progress. Then about 3 in the morning Jesus saw they were in serious trouble. Jesus came out walking toward them, on the water, yes HE was walking on water. When the apostles saw HIM they were terrified and thought HE was a ghost. Jesus spoke to them telling them to not be afraid.
Now here are some men who was with Jesus when he just fed 5,000 men and their families, yet they still did not realize who HE really is. Were their hearts hardened? Did they lack the faith? Maybe they did not realize who Jesus really was. Is this us as well?
What about you and me? Do we see miracles, hear of miracles, but yet our hearts are not open enough for us to really believe? Did the apostles really not understand who Jesus really is? Do we understand who JESUS really is?
Now look at
Luke 8:22-25 . Here, once again, the apostles are in a “boat of trouble”. The apostles and Jesus are crossing the Sea of Galilee where many times storms rise quickly without warning with waves sometimes as high as 20 feet.
Well, the winds cames up, the boat was taking on water, the apostles were very afraid and what was Jesus doing? Jesus was sleeping. I would think, as humans do, the apostles probably thought why is HE asleep and not helping us row and bail water out of the boat.
In fear the apostles woke Jesus saying hurry, get up, we are going to drown. Then (Jesus)
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters;
the storm subsided, and all was calm.
25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
This is something we often need to as ourselves – WHERE IS MY FAITH?
The apostles were terrified and amazing, still not knowing who Jesus really is. They spoke to one another asking: “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Sometimes when we hit the storms in our life it is easy to think God is not in control. We feel we are at the mercy of the winds of fate and where is God. Jesus controls history and our personal history. HE can calm the storms in our lives if we just let Him.
We have read the Bible and know who Jesus is; these men who traveled and followed Jesus had not read the New Testament as have you and I. We may think how could they doubt? But, if we were in that place, and not knowing what we do, we may have been as Paul and one of the chief sinners of our time.
May you realize in all this scripture that JESUS is alive, well, and in control. Miracles are not dead; life’s storms can be overcome by turning it all over to JESUS!! Do you have the faith? Love you all. Tomorrow in Mark 5, Jesus heals many.
