“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27
One of my favorite movie scenes is when Indiana Jones is chasing after the Holy Grail and the only way to save his father's life is to traverse the three traps or tasks. Indiana is standing on a precipice looking into a bottomless gorge and he has reached the final trap or task called “The Path of God.” He has one clue that states, “Only in the leap from the lion’s head will he prove his worth.” Indiana takes a moment to dwell on the words, does some introspect thinking and praying and clutches his chest. This is the moment where he takes one step forward, the leap, from the edge of the precipice.
This is a picture of faith.
He took this step into the gorge trusting in something he could not see. Little did Indiana Jones know, there was a bridge of the same color and texture below his foot when he placed it down. He releases a gasp of air and pushes forward on his task. He passed.
Notice the first part of the passage, “Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.”
We we start following Jesus, it is going to require faith. Hebrews 11:1 defines it as, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Many times I hear, if I only knew what God had planned for my life. Where’s the faith in that?
Now that we are following Jesus, can you imagine being on a boat in the middle of the storm? That’s where Jesus lead his disciples. Don’t you think Jesus knew bad weather was in the near future.
Maybe you have been through your own storms on dry ground, metaphorically speaking. We face trials, tribulations, or situations either due to our own choices or others choices around us. Why do we face them? Ephesians 6:12 tells you and me, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” We live in a fallen world. It is not the world God intended you and me to live in, but sin entered the world and its what we live in today.
Storms are going to come, but how are we going to respond to them? Is our faith big enough to trust Jesus with our life? These grown men cried out to Jesus. His response, he scolded them. He slapped their hand. He put them in timeout. Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” turned out and calmed the storm. WOW!
Four major things in want to point out:
Jesus calls you and me to have BIG faith, even in the storms.
Jesus hears our prayers and He answers them.
Jesus is the overcomer of all things, including death.
When Jesus delivers, people are in awe and amazed at what He has done.
Are you following Jesus with all that you are? How’s your faith today? Are you completely trusting Jesus in all that you are doing even in the storms? When He answers your prayers, what is your response? Are you telling others about how Jesus delivered you?
May we have the faith Christ has called us to have. May we continue to go wherever Christ calls us. May we trust completely in Him today and forever.
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