One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.”
So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep.
A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 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. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Luke 8:22-25
In this story Jesus was trying to teach His disciples a lesson and they missed it. It's a very popular story and I have heard many sermons on it, but I, personally, believe that most of us miss the main point of the story as well. We tend to think in the same pattern as the disciples; "Wow! Look at how powerful Jesus is! Even the elements of nature obey His command!" But I don't believe this was the main point Jesus wanted to make.
Jesus rebuked them by saying: "Where is your faith?". What did Jesus expect them to have faith for? Did He expect them to have faith to stop the wind and the waves? That's not what I understand. I think He simply wanted them to have faith in the Words that He spoke.
At the beginning of the passage Jesus said: “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” The disciples were afraid of the storm because they did not think they would make it to the other side, even though Jesus already said that they would. Jesus wanted them to have faith, not that the storm would be immediately silenced, but that they would make it through the storm and arrive exactly where He said they would arrive.
There is a measure of faith required to believe that God can calm the storm in our lives, but I think it takes an even greater faith to endure the storm and to understand and believe that the storm cannot hold you back. It takes more mature faith to say "No matter what storm may come my way, I will make it to what God has for me! I will make it to the other side!"
This is the attitude God wants us to have. God wants us to have enough faith to make it through the storm. Then we can help others through the storm. With this method we learn endurance, teamwork, and faithfulness.
So, “let us go over to the other side"!
agreed ,today we use short cuts grab timely success which turns in huge failure or has harmful side effects latter,and it only because of not having faith in our loving creator which is base of our self confidence.
ReplyDeleteWow, this is good stuff!
ReplyDelete"I think He simply wanted them to have faith in the Words that He spoke." --I totally agree with this. Jesus' words gave life, but they had to accept and believe them.
Storms are tough, but we are called to persevere. Thanks for the reminder, and the great post.
Thank you both for your comments! I'm glad you were encouraged!
ReplyDeleteI love your interpretation of this text. Having that kind of persevering attitude toward the hardships and obstacles one encounters in life is what "faith" really means.
ReplyDeletefaith makes miracles in many lives...and i believe that if your faith is intertwined with good works, that makes it more credible.
ReplyDeleteThank you NP and earlie. It's true that faith is much more credible with works. It's like James said "I'll show you my faith by my works."
ReplyDeleteVery well said.
ReplyDeleteOur faith is not solely in the power of faith but rather in its object, Jesus Christ. He said they were going to the other side and He was the One to see them through. It was a lack of faith in Him, how could He rise from the dead and save from sin if He was not the God of Creation?
God bless and keep the faith
Amen Luther!
ReplyDelete