Storm at Sea
After Jesus had fed 5,000 on the loaves of bread and fish, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away. Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray.
! Jesus took care of the crowds who came to hear him preach. He made sure they were fed. He stayed to make sure they headed home ok. He took care of his disciples, sending them on toward their next destination. Then Jesus took care of himself. He took time away fromthe crowds and the disciples to be alone with God.
? Many of us spend a lot of time caring for others. Some of us caring for larger groups of people, perhaps where we work or where we volunteer. We spend a lot of time taking care of our families and/or our closest friends. But do we remember to take care of ourselves and to take time out to be with God? Jesus knew he couldn't do either the mundane work of his ministry or the miraculous works of faith without the encouragement and energy restoration time spent in deeper uninterrupted prayer with God. When do you take time for that?
Later that evening, he was still there. By this time the boat was a long way from the shore. It was going against the wind and was being tossed around by the waves. A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples. When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and started screaming.
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! It seems so matter of fact. Jesus needed to get to the boat. he just walked across the water as if it were solid ground and there he was. It wasn't so simple to the disciples! He totally startled them.
? Can you imagine how the disciples felt? Like when someone sneaks up behind you? Or not intending to scare you, someone walks in or starts talking when you are concentrating so hard you failed to notice they were there? But with Jesus friends it was more than that. They just understand how he could get there without a boat. They had just witnessed him feed thousands of people with one little boys lunch, but they still didn't get it. Do you? Do you believe in Jesus' miracles? It doesn't mean the big ones will be there everyday, not in the spectacular sense, but that faith in Jesus' power, do you believe?
At once, Jesus said to them, "Don't worry! I am Jesus. Don't be afraid."
Peter replied, "Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come on!" Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him.
But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted.
! Oh, Peter, so brave one minute and full of doubt the next. Every time he takes a faith step forward he seems to slip another step back.
Aren't we like Peter? When have you taken that leap of faith in the circumstances of your life, trusting Jesus completely as you step out in faith? When have you begun to sink, because you stopped to look at the logic of your situation and stopped believing that things could be different?
Right away, Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up and said, "You surely don't have much faith. Why do you doubt?" When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down. The men in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, "You really are the Son of God!"
! When we put our lives in God's hands, he get's us through even the storms of life. Just this week He has seen me through several.
? When has Jesus brought you safely through into the peace of his "boat"? Take a moment to give him thanks and praise or post a blessing moment on our message board, coded as needed.
Here are two songs that mean a lot to me when I think about this Bible story or the storms of life I go through.
Sometimes He Calms the Storm by Scott Krippayne
which you can look up at Christian Lyrics
and a new one on the airwaves
Praise You in the Storm sung by Casting Crowns
which you can find at K-Love Radio Top Songs
For another telling of the story check outWorldwide Church of God's telling of "Peter's Story"
For another storm at sea story and puzzle page Bible Wise - Kid's Korner