24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.
Anyone out there besides the disciples and me ever thought Jesus was taking a nap while our boats were furiously filling with water? “Anytime you want to act, Lord, would be none too soon!” “I mean, really Lord, fifteen minutes ago wouldn’t have been too early to jump on this!” These are the kind of thoughts that run through my mind when the water is up to my neck – how about you? When we find ourselves at this juncture, as the disciples did in our verse for today, we are prime candidates for a faith lesson. Hell-oooo, trials often make us forget the glorious promises of Scripture which state over and over again God’s Divine Protection Plan. Consider, for instance, this passage from the pen of Isaiah:1 But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:1-2 (NIV) Augustine states: “Jesus came treading the waves; and so He puts all the swelling tumults of life under His feet. Christian – why afraid?” I can hear all you cynics out there thinking – “Yeah, look where that got Isaiah. Tradition has it that he was sawed in half!” If God’s call on a life is martyrdom, His grace and strength are always their equipping that saint. Remember Stephen, the first martyr for Christ? Before the first rock was thrown he states: 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." Acts 7:54-56 (NIV)
Do not think for one minute that we are here on this earth one nano second longer than what He has ordained over our lives. Just because we do not know the time of our departure doesn’t mean He doesn’t! When His purposes for our lives here are over, believers in Christ get to go home to be with Him - forever. He who loves us enough to save us from sin (and from ourselves) is now preparing a place for us so that we may be with Him always. Remember, earth is not our home but our passage. Paul tells us in Philippians: 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Phil 3:19-21 (NIV)
As children of the King, there is not one thing that happens to us that has not sifted through His loving hands. This is why Jesus tells us: 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 (NIV)
The Bible Knowledge Commentary expounds on the above verse: “14:27. In New Testament times the normal way to say good-bye was Peace (¬¹lôm in Heb.). In His death Jesus provided a legacy for His disciples: My peace I give you. They would have “peace with God” (Rom. 5:1) because their sins were forgiven and the “peace of God” (Phil. 4:7) would guard their lives. The world is unable to give this kind of peace. Fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15) and fear of the future are removed as Jesus’ followers trust in Him. Thus they need not be troubled (cf. John 11:33; 13:21; 14:1).” Nothing takes God by surprise – NOTHING. God desires for His children to live worry-free. I love a quote from Hannah Whitall Smith: “A child lives by faith, and his chief characteristic is freedom from care.” That sounds good to me! The only fear Jesus puts forth for believers is this:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt 10:28 (NIV)
As God states of Himself in Jeremiah: 20 "Announce this to the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah: 21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: 22 Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence? Jer 5:20-22 (NIV) “Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God.” Alexander Maclaren