We have been getting a lot of rain and some nasty thunderstorms this spring and as I was reading about the disciples at sea in the storm, I saw it from a different perspective. I have always tended to view the event as Jesus being their Saviour in the storm. But there is something more here that I never really thought about before that tells us something about the storms that come into our life.
John 6:18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. ESV
John tells us the facts but Mark adds something …
Mark 6:45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side … ESV
The KJV uses the word “constrained” (anagkazo – He compelled them; pressured them) to get into the boat knowing they were going to face heavy seas and He would need to save them. That’s where I spent some time the other morning thinking about the fact that Jesus was the One who “sent” them into the storm alone and He was the only One who could “save” them from perishing in the storm. And as I look at my life, I see many times when He sent me into a storm and I didn’t realize it was part of His plan.
That got me reflecting on some notes I had written down in my Bible a long time about why Jesus sends us into the “storm.”
- Jesus sends us into the storm to get our attention and give us direction – Ps 107:25-29 25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. 26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; 27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. ESV
- Jesus sends us into the storm to give us necessary correction – Jonah 2:2-4“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. 3 For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. 4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’ ESV
- Jesus sends us into the storm to give us needed protection – Matt 14:29-31 Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ESV
- Jesus sends us into the storm to nurture perfection – Acts 4:1-4 And as they [Peter and John] were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. ESV
I especially thought about how, being delivered out of the storm at sea, had prepared Peter and John for the storm of being thrown into the prison. They knew that the key to salvation is to ask the One who sent the storm to get into the boat with you; to come into the belly of the fish and deliver you; to lift you out of the sea before you drown; or come to you in the situation that confines you.
Yes, Jesus is not only our Saviour in the storm, He is the Sender of the storm for a purpose …
Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ESV
We just have to recognize Him in the midst of the storm and ask Him to come into the boat …
John 6:21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. ESV
PS – Did you ever think about the fact that there were only two ways for Peter to get back into the boat … He again walked on the water or Jesus carried Him … I think I know which one.