Monday, November 3, 2008
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A Postcard or a Storm
In the spring of 1982, my wife, Mary Jane, and I had the privilege of making a trip to the Holy Land. After 24 hours of airplanes and airports, we had arrived late at night in Amman, Jordan and the next day, traveled by bus across the Jordan River and up north to the Sea of Galilee. We had a wonderful meal of St. Peter's fish and went to sleep in our hotel on the western shore of that famous Biblical place exhausted from travel and time change. We fell asleep immediately but woke up at 3:00 a.m. and could not get back to sleep. After fighting our awakeness for a while, we simply got up and went outside and wandered along the shore in the darkness. We heard the fishermen getting ready and setting out in their boats and we had the privilege of seeing what is to this day one of the most glorious sunrises I have ever seen. It couldn't have been more like a postcard if we had tried! And then later in the day, we had a wonderful trip across the lake to the town of Capernaum. We were on a vacation in one of the greatest places on earth and it was wonderful!
Many years prior to this event, but on the very same lake, in the dark, Jesus' disciples went down to the lake and got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum (John 6:16). There are a few stories like this in scripture, so as not to confuse them, on this occasion, it was dark and Jesus was not with them. They had just witnessed the feeding of the 5000, and Jesus had gone off to a mountain by himself to get away from the crowd (John 6:15). When we crossed the lake, we did so in a power-boat, but they were rowing and as they rowed, by now about five or six kilometers, a strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough (John 6:18-19). We are not told that they were overly concerned on this occasion as at another time when Jesus had been in the boat (see Mark 4:35-41 and the October 8/08 Challenge). That changed, however, when they saw Jesus, walking toward them on the water, although they obviously didn't know that it was him. There was a man, walking toward them on the water and they were terrified (John 6:19). Jesus spoke:
"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 6:20-21).
I feel with the disciples. Maybe you have felt similar things. And there are all kinds of lessons and identification points that we can take from this story. Let's highlight just a few of them. First, there is often the feeling of coming off of a wonderful experience with Jesus, a great time with him in our lives, only to have him seemingly disappear. Maybe that is because we, like the multitude, want to make him king by force and have him repeat a particular experience in our lives. I know that I want to do that. He will not allow us to make him that. I wonder too, whether God does not "disappear" at times just to see if we will come looking for him. Does he want to know more for our benefit than for his, how badly we want him? and for what reason we want him? Is it just about the miracles, the wonders, or is it him?
How many times did this kind of story happen in the New Testament and how often do we find ourselves like the disciples in darkness and storms? Whether we know it or feel it, Jesus is never far away. He comes to us always in those times, but we have to look for him and recognize him or we may miss him. Sometimes he is already in the boat. At other times, he is outside of the boat but walking towards us. Then, there will be the times when he invites us to abandon the boat like he did with Peter. In any and all circumstances, there is one thing that is always the same: "It is I; don't be afraid." He wants us and calls us to be where he is.
The moment that they recognized that it was Jesus, they welcomed him into the boat and, it says, "immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading" (John 6:21). How wonderful it would be for us to always get where we were going as soon as we say yes to Jesus. Sometimes that happens. Sometimes we are simply still out on the water but the storm has passed. At other times, we may have to go through the storm. Paul was even shipwrecked on occasion. The important thing is that Jesus is welcomed into our lives and allowed to take care of the circumstances as he sees fit.
Our Sea of Galilee, our experience at this present moment, may resemble a postcard or it may be stormy. It may make sense or it may not. It may be dark as night or as bright as the noonday sun. It may feel like Jesus is right there with us or we may be wondering where he disappeared to and why it feels like we are out there on our own. Little matter. He is never far away. He knows what it is that he is doing and hopes to accomplish in my life and yours. The only question is, does he have permission at all times to come aboard?
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