For most of the country, April has started out as one of the wettest months that we have had in a long time. Andrew is out in Oklahoma and he has posted numerous pictures and videos of storms that have rolled across the plains of Texas and Western Oklahoma where our daughter, Jill, and her family live. And here in central Indiana we have also had severe weather. The last several days have been brutal and storms are scheduled to continue to be a problem for the next several days.
The storm sewers are emptying ground water into the pond behind our home and it is quickly rising. The ground is very soft and last week-end Andrew was walking along the edge of water when he suddenly found himself almost up to his knees in mud as the ground gave way and he slid into the muck. However you want to look at it, the weather has been pretty unpredictable and we have all had enough water for a while.
There are two stories in the Bible that tell us about Jesus and the disciples when storms came up. In the first instance, the story occurs in Matthew and the disciples find themselves in a storm while Jesus is sleeping. They are scared and wake Jesus, who rebukes the storm and the winds. Of course, Jesus questions their concern and the story ends as the disciples ask who this person is who can rebuke the wind and also control nature.
Later in the ministry of Jesus, we read the story of Jesus sending the disciples onto the lake and as the night progressed, Jesus came walking on the water toward the boat. This story contains the famous incident of Peter walking on the water to go out and meet Jesus. As we know, Peter began to sink and Jesus helped him back into the boat. The disciples were all amazed and as the storm subsided and the winds died down, the disciples proclaimed that Jesus was the Son of God. Notice how far they had come since the first time they were in the boat when the storm came up. Instead of questioning who this Jesus was, they now know that He is the Son of God. They learned their lessons from Jesus, and I am sure, revelations from God the Father.
The verse for this evening highlights the fact that the apostles knew who Jesus was. We are told, in Matthew 14:32-33, “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
My encouragement this evening is that Jesus also wants each of us to know who He is. Rather than wonder, Jesus invites each of us into relationship with Him. My prayer this evening is that you will take Him up on His offer and get into a deeper relationship with the God of the Universe. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…