Let Him Onto the Boat!

Yes, it is a childish part of me but for some reason, I will choose to stand behind a corner and yell “Boo” at an approaching friend or come quietly behind a person and say “Hi” just a little too loudly. Inevitably, they are startled and I laugh. It’s all fairly harmless except for the aggravation it causes for some of my victims. 

Much less fun are those moments when life takes a turn for the uncontrolled, when situations go badly.  We feel tension rising, perhaps fearful of what is next. I make no claim to understand it all nor do  I choose to retreat into simple platitudes in a useless attempt to feel better. It is best, Christian friend, in such moments to invite Jesus into the boat.  What do I mean?

Take a look at this story from John’s Gospel.  "When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading." (John 6:16-21, NIV)

The key lesson for me in that account is the one of faith, the importance of welcoming Jesus when life goes sideways, when the storms arise. There are a couple of facts we must not miss if we want to ‘get’ the full impact of the story.

First, Jesus chose not to go with them.

It was time to go home, a trip across the lake. They waited around ‘til dark and Jesus did not show up so they finally decided to just go home. I have to wonder if they were a little put off about that. Did they wonder where He was? Were they irritated that they had to make the trip in the dark?  Then, they found themselves rowing into a strong wind on choppy water.  Again, my imagination has them complaining about the delay in departure while they are rowing, feeling growing concern about the weather.  I believe it was a ‘set up.’ He choose not to go because He wanted to reveal Himself to them in a new, deeper way!

Second, when Jesus did show up, His Presence was not, at first, comforting!

Jesus showed up in the middle of the lake, without a boat!  God’s Presence is often comforting, but not this time.  Before you accuse them of cowardice, think about. A man is walking through the darkness, on stormy waves of a lake, some distance from the shoreline! They were frightened half to death. John implies that they initially resisted His approach. It’s not a long stretch to imagine that their terror caused them to scream at this “thing” to go away. Until, He spoke and His voice, familiar to them, assured them that this was no ghost. This was their Friend, joining them, so they then welcomed Him into their boat. 

 

John offers scant details about what happened next, but it appears He miraculously moved their boat from the storm to the home port. The experience was a moment of revelation. Jesus was truly “Immanuel” – God With Us. When they responded to Him in faith, they found His Presence enough for their need. 

 

Could it be that God is allowing the stormy season in your life so that He can reveal Himself in a deeper way, so that He can grow your faith and your understanding of Himself? 

Our “Sunday School” ideas about Jesus often tame Him, make Him into a nice, comforting Presence fitting neatly into our lives without disturbance. That is not the Jesus of the Gospels. He does not ‘fit into’ my life, or yours, neatly. Often, when He shows up, it is surprising, terrifying, disturbing, disorienting.  He is the Lord of Life and it is His right as our King and God to appear in our lives as He wishes.  When He does, in the middle of our fear over the unexpected, let us listen for His voice.

There is another story found in Luke’s Gospel that reveals a similar kind of fear. After His crucifixion, while they were still grappling with the Resurrection, Jesus showed up among them. The Gospel says " While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (Luke 24:36-39, NIV)

Do feel like you’re rowing through the storm alone? What has come over you? Sickness, a change in employment, or a broken relationship, or even perhaps death has made life dark and difficult. Pause, pray, wait. When Jesus shows up to meet you welcome Him INTO the situation. He may calm the storm, He may take you out of the storm, or He may go through the storm with you. Exercise faith to welcome His Lordship, trusting not for a specific outcome, but to love and keep you no matter what happens. Open your heart and your mind to His Presence, listening for the voice of the Spirit.  Don’t be afraid. Be full of faith.

The word from the Word is an invitation. "Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ." (Colossians 2:7-8, NLT)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Peace In The Midst Of The Storm

When the world

That I've been living in

Collapses at my feet

When my life

Is shattered and torn

Tho' I'm windswept and battered

I can cling to His cross

And find peace

In the midst of my storm

 

There is peace in the midst

Of my storm-tossed life

Oh there's an Anchor

There's a Rock

To cast my faith upon

Jesus rides in my vessel

So I'll fear no alarm

He gives me peace

In the midst of my storm

When in twenty-four short hours

Years of living

Are brought to moments

And when life's final picture

Is taking form

In the dark-room

Of my suff'ring

There's a Light

Comes shining through

He gives me peace

In the midst of my storm

 

When my body has been broken

'Til it's wracked in misery

When all the doctors

Shake their heads

And look forlorn

Jesus comes to make my bedside

A cathedral of hope and love

He sends His peace

Right in the midst of my storm

 

Stephen R. Adams

1978, 1981, 1998 Pilot Point Music

CCLI License # 810055