Original Entry:
January 30, 2009
Sunriver, OR
MK 4: 37 A furious
squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly
swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.
The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we
drown?"
MK 4:39 He
got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!"
Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
MK 4:40 He
said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
One of the things I
will always remember about my years in Morro Bay were those hours spent with my
dad during duck and Dad owned a duck
boat that our friends made and affectionately dubbed the “Pot Holer.” The Pot Holer was a low profile duck boat
that had the ability to float in less than a foot of water. Its foot high sides
also made an excellent low-profile floating blind.
During rough water,
dad learned first hand, the boat would swamp easily. He sunk the boat in the
middle of the Bay when he allowed it to take in water over the stern. Luckily
is sunk on a sand bar only three feet deep.
Can you imagine the disaster if he were in the main channel!
In verse 35 we hear Jesus telling his
disciples, “let us go over to the other
side.” As they crossed over the
storm rose, the disciples feared for their lives. Jesus calmed the storm but
something interesting happened.
Their fear
turned. It crossed over. What had been a fear of sinking became a fear
of the savior. Verse 41 affirms, “And
they became very much afraid.” Afraid,
not of what he was capable of doing. This may have been the moment they finally
figured it all out.
This is God in the
boat, “Who is this that even the wind
and seas obey him?”
Jesus calls us to
cross over to the other side. When God
calls a man to other side he may not know anything about it except in his
dreams and fears. He knows that great obstacles, storms and pain await him, but
there is one other thing waiting.
Jesus.
Jesus is on the other
side. Jesus waits to step into the storms of the wild unknown with those who
ruthlessly trust him. He alone has the power to overcome the largest of
obstacles and the deepest fears.
What is on the other
side for you?
Is it a huge career
risk? Is it an unknown ministry opportunity?
Maybe it is a call to surrender a personal ambition in order to love
your family better. Either way you can
be assured that huge obstacles are waiting but, who is that asleep in the front
of the boat with you?
Is that Jesus?
Yes he is in the
stern waiting for you to call out to him. Cross over with Jesus to the wild
side.
