35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.
When Jesus told the disciples to get into the boats it was for the purpose to get to the other side. He was the God of the universe and TOLD THEM TO GET INTO THE BOATS. Even though this is what unfolds for them:
37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.
Why does Jesus tell them to get into the boat, even though He is the God of the universe and knows the storm is coming? And if He does know the storm is coming, why does He do this:
38a But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion.
It is in these moments of life, when the storms come, that we are perishing and we see Jesus asleep on the cushion. It is in these moments of life that we are lost. We are not really lost in the storm, but in our fears. Their fears would make them cry out in prayer:
38b And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
It is in these moments that we see the waves and the wind and we forget the original words of Jesus. But He said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” He didn’t tell them to simply get into the boats. He told them to go across to the other side. Jesus had a purpose for them. He had a purpose to get to the other side. The storm was, of course, in the way. But He still had the same purpose for them. A purpose of Jesus trumps the storms of life. He was with them. That is why He would say to the storm:
39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Hearing Jesus’ voice calming the sea, turned their fear of the storm into the reverential fear of Him. When we are in the storms of life, let us never forget that He has put us in the boat with a purpose to get to there others side: He will accomplish this for us. It might include a storm but it ultimately includes Him along side us saying with a loud voice to the storm, “Peace! Be still!”
I rest in this thought today!! He is in the boat, in the storm, speaking to the storm to be at peace! I will get to the other side.
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