July 20

Next Door Savior by Max Lucado

"Stormy Places" Matthew 14

Jesus Walks on the Water

 ²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

The above passage follows Jesus feeding the 5K with just a few loaves and fishes.  Once again Jesus withdraws from his disciples to spend time alone with the Father.  It is interesting that before he withdraws he sends the disciples to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.  

Interesting for two reasons:

1.  Even though Jesus was God incarnate, the leader of the 12, the undisputed head of the group, the CEO of Disciples, Inc., he was the last one to depart from the event.  Jesus didn't leave his subordinates to wrap things up.  He stuck around until blankets were folded, food left overs were packed up and sandals were tied back on for the return trip to town.  What a wonderful example of servant leadership.  Knowing his disciples were tired and worn down, he let them take off while he stuck around to the end.  

2.  However, it is just as interesting to note that by sending the 12 on ahead, he caused them to get caught up in a storm.  How much omniscience did Jesus have during his time on earth?  Did he know the disciples' boat would be "buffeted by waves"?  Did he say, "Uh-oh." or "Just what I had planned."?  Personally I think he knew the storm was on its way, but also knew God would be glorified and an important lesson taught to the disciples (and untold generations in the future) through the event.  

God does allow storms into our lives to test, strengthen and, perhaps, redirect us.    Does God just allow, or does He create, personal storms for His children?  Are our storms just a natural occurrence when He removes His protective hand, or are some them created by Him?  Thoughts?  

I guess that doesn't really matter.  What does matter is how we choose to handle our storms.  We will take a look in the next couple of days at how the disciples handled their storm.