Jesus in the storm

The disciples were terrified! The Sea of Tiberias had been calm as a millpond when they set out for Capernaum, but now it was like a millrace. A storm had brewed up suddenly as it often did. From a calm sail from one side of the lake to the other they were now in the middle of a terrifying life threatening, tempest.

The other time this had happened, they had Jesus with them asleep in the keel. All they had to do was wake him up and he sorted it. This time he was off somewhere praying. They were on their own. The boat they were in, no longer felt as safe.

Life can be like that! We can be going along peacefully with our lives, counting our blessings. Then something happens that disturbs our equilibrium. It could be an accident, an illness, or some news item. Suddenly it seems like a storm has come into your life. Many people appear to live in a permanent storm. They may be living with war, disaster, and poverty. This is also true of people who live in the community our churches serve. It could be the storm of isolation, bereavement, illness, family problems, or just a lack of purpose in life.

Our church can be seen as a refuge from the storms of life. It is where we feel safe and comfortable. The Gospel offers us so much, forgiveness, strengthening, community, and hope. We are willing to share it with those who need this refuge. We do this by inviting people to join us.

You know how this Bible story ends. Jesus appears, taking a shortcut over the lake, and walking on the water. Once he is in the boat then the storm calms. Three of the Gospels retell this story, but only Matthew adds this detail.

“But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?’ “ Matthew 27: 27-31

Peter in this Gospel does not ask Jesus to come on board the boat rather he asks to join Jesus on the water. Where is Jesus in the world today? He is in the Church, but he is also out there amongst those facing violence, in the rubble with the children of Gaza, in the streets of Kyiv listening to the missiles dropping, and sitting in a doorway talking to a homeless man. And he is with the pensioner waiting for his visits from a carer, the young boy listening to his parents argue or the teenager trying to discover the meaning of life.

Unlike Jesus, we cannot be everywhere. When Peter got onto the waves he panicked. However scary the storm was in the boat; it was a thousand times scarier in the water. The problem was that he took his eyes off Jesus and noticed the storms. We know the problems of the world and our community. If we try to tackle all the world’s ills we will fail. We need to focus on Jesus, in order to seek to discover where he wants us to be.

As we, in Rural Missions, speak to people who go to churches in rural areas there is a feeling they should be more missional. There are also many voices that will tell them what they should be doing. This can lead to weariness and a sense of powerlessness. God has a unique missional task for us as individuals and churches. You can discover what this is, by the people your church attracts, and the needs you come across in your community, by looking at the talents, opportunities, and people who are in your fellowship. This is a process we at Rural Missions can help you with. Our tailored mission days help churches prayerfully and carefully discover how they can realistically share the love of God with those in our communities who need it.

It is easier to sit in our churches and wait for someone else to do it, like the disciples listening to the storm and hoping their boat is strong enough. However, when we are willing to act on Jesus’ call for us to “Come”. Then he will give us the courage to get out of the boat and walk with Jesus in the storm.