One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples, and said to them: "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." As they sail he fell asleep. (Luke 8: 22-25)
Then a storm of wind came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in danger. The disciples went and woke Jesus saying: "Master, master, we are perishing."
Does Jesus know that a storm is coming when he asked them to set off?
In Luke 12:54-56 Jesus said to the multitudes, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A shower is coming'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, "There will be scorching heat'; and it happens.
Yes Jesus knows how to read the weather. He knew that a storm is coming.
Why then did Jesus take the trip? Why did he not brief his disciples? He could have said to them. "Men we will have to sail through the storm. Do not worry, everything will be fine. I am going to take a nap.
In fact, after Jesus calmed the storm, the only statement he made to them was: "Where is your faith?"
Yes Jesus knew the crisis that will come into our lives. Yet he knew that as long as we are aware that he is in the boat with us everything would be all right. All we need to remember:
- Do not be anxious about your life. You are more important than the birds in the air or the lilies in the field (Luke 12: 22-31).
- Jesus is our friend (John 15:15).
- Stay calm and listen. He will tell us what to do (John 14: 26-27).
In my normal life I like to believe that I have strong faith. Actually it is only in a storm that we can find out how much faith we have in Jesus. I can still hear the sadness in Jesus voice: "Where is your faith?"
