Devotional - The Disciples and The Storm

I felt lead to share this devotional from during our time in Belize. Actually, the more I felt lead to share this the more opposition I faced, leading up to a week long headache that evolved into a full migraine yesterday. This headache only reenforced to me the need to share this. Which, by the way, the devil is an idiot, but that's neither here nor there.

I was given the opportunity to share this as one of two devotional times I had the humbling privilege of leading during our time in Belize.

Luke 8:22-25 HCSB - 22One day He and His disciples got into a boat, and He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.”  So they set out, 23and as they were sailing He fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger. 24They came and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die! ” Then He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm. 25He said to them, “Where is your faith? ” They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, “Who can this be? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey Him! ”

While reading this section of scripture I became intrigued by the disciples in this scene. Drawing upon a Bible study resource that my Grandpa shared with me years ago (found here and drawn from "An Outline History of the Twelve Apostles" in the NASB Open Bible Edition Nashville, TN 1975, 1978) I began to look at who the disciples were.

Andrew: A fisherman and brother of Peter the Apostle

Bartholomew: a missionary, thought to have been royalty, also known as Nathanael

James: fisherman, brother of John the Apostle

James, brother of Jude: may have also been brother of Matthew

John: fisherman and brother of James the Apostle

Judas: treasurer, possibly had previous experience handling money

Jude: also called Thaddeaus or Judas the Zealot, a fisherman

Matthew: tax collector

Simon Peter: fisherman and brother of Andrew the Apostle

Philip: fisherman and the first to share the gospel of Christ

Simon the Zealot: fisherman

Thomas Didymus: also known as doubting Thomas, his profession is unknown but he is thought to have been from Galilee

Only 7 of the 12 were fishermen or known to have been fishermen. This means that 5 of the 12 on the boat at this time had little to no experience on the water. In the instance of the storm it is highly probable that the first to freak out would be those who were in unfamiliar territory.

I suspect that it was those who were already uncomfortable that began the panic, and panic spreads like a contagious disease. I also believe that it was likely those that were in an unfamiliar place that were closest to Jesus and the ones waking Him up. The more experienced of the group would have been occupied with the sails and steering the ship.

This then becomes a Mary/Martha type moment on the ship. Those with experience would have been seeing to the ship. Those without were running to Jesus.

When we have experience in an area it is easy to get wrapped up in it and distracted by going through the check lists of what needs to be done. We then end up handling the problem the way we always have or have learned to do in the past. Those without experience in this moment turned from fighting the storm to Jesus. To have gone to Jesus to wake Him would have meant turning their backs on the storm.

Luke 8:26-30 follows immediately on the tail of this story of the storm. The first thing that happens when Jesus and the disciples land ashore is they are meet by the man possessed by the legion of demons.

Sometimes the storms we face are flung at us by the enemy to attempt to prevent our victory. 

When faced with storms in life there are 3 ways we can and often do attempt to fight the storms:

1- repeat what we have learned or always done

2- panic

3- turn to Jesus

Only one of these will always calm the storms, that is turning to Jesus.

Once awakened Jesus rebuked all of them. Perhaps it wasn't because they woke Him but instead because of how they handled the situation and how they treated each other?

As a team they should have helped each other. Those with experience in a situation can comfort and encourage those without experience. Those without experience can speak up and point the rest to Jesus.

Sometimes experience can keep us from seeing the need for Jesus in the moment of going through routine and checklists.

We are also each able to take our weaknesses and short comings to Jesus before the storm comes. When we bring our weaknesses to Jesus He is faithful to help us. Jesus helping us in our weaknesses actually brings glory to Him and increases our testimony.