Month: December 2019

I once was told,  you only need to worry if the flight attendants are afraid. I’ve been on some harrowing flights, at least ones I thought were harrowing, but I have never been on a flight when the attendant was afraid. That was always the clue that we were going to be okay. I might throw up, but we will be okay.

That’s part of the message Jesus provides in this practical lesson. Don’t watch the storm, keep your eyes on me. When we keep Jesus in view, we find him unflinchingly steadfast, like an anchor. No worry or fear crosses his face; you would only need to worry if it does.

Which is never. He’s the Prince of Peace.

Merry Christmas!

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 8:23-27 (day five) “The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?””  The disciples were constantly learning about the nature and character of Jesus. It must have been difficult for them in one moment to see the humanity (ordinariness of Jesus- asleep in the boat) and in the next to witness the true Divinity of Jesus. They, like us, were settled in a perception and perspective of who Jesus was. He shatters those in a powerful display with His words to the storm. I imagine the text of familiar words in Psalm 89 came quickly to mind. “O LORD God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them.”

They were learning (crash course) who Jesus was. Each day, moment by moment, we have that same opportunity to learn and discover more about the nature and character of our Lord and Savior- storms, victories, tragedies, and struggles.  Will you look in His Word and look around so that you may learn and discover more about Him than you knew and understood yesterday?

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 8:23-27 (day four)

What are the waves that are crashing around you?  As the disciples looked around them, all they could see was the wind and the waves of the Sea of Galilee.  Their circumstances overwhelmed them…they believed that they were going to die.

Jesus’ question to them when they awoke Him was ‘where is your faith?’  The disciples had not seen Jesus’ command of the natural elements yet.  They had seen Him heal the sick and cast out the demons, but this was different.  Their practical knowledge of the sea dictated to them that they were going to drown.

We can be overwhelmed with our circumstances and fears too.  Maybe our waves are financial needs or relationships in our family or failing health…whatever they are, we are overwhelmed.  Where is our faith?  Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light…” (John 14:6)  Ask Jesus, “What is the Truth of my circumstances?”  Don’t doubt, trust in Him in faith!

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 8:23-27 ((day three)

“Jesus himself was asleep.”

What had to have been true for Jesus to have slept soundly in the ship’s hold while a violent storm roiled the waters of the lake? At the very least, Jesus knew that the universe had not decided his fate. That was neither its prerogative nor its power. Did that mean drowning was out of the question? Not at all. “Natural disasters” occurred then, as now. Yet Jesus slept deeply. His sleep was not an object lesson – he really did sleep – but it was instructive. The act of sleeping said to his disciples, “I am at home in God’s good creation.” It’s what we might call a “grounding exercise” these days, but Jesus wrote the book on it. You are where you are on God’s earth, breathing God’s air, whatever else is true. Start there, and peace rises within.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 8:23-27 (day two)

And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. vs. 24

Jesus was with his disciples…and the storm came anyway. Many of his disciples were well acquainted with the water, and many made their living from fishing…and the storm scared them. We should not think that we are any different than the disciples. Storms will come, and often in the areas where we should be most prepared. Don’t think that a life lived following Jesus will mean one that is free from conflict, pain, or suffering. Is that where you find yourself right now? Take comfort from the disciples next actions. They ran to Jesus. He had a word of rebuke for allowing the storms to shake their faith, but he cared for them. He quieted them, and the storm. Let him be your peace in the storm today.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 8:14-17 (day seven)

As we work our way through these miracles, we see that Jesus is healing these people organically. I don’t mean this like He is feeding them healthy organic food, rather that this process is coming very natural to Him. It is in His normal pattern of life. Jesus is not going out of His way to find these individuals. Many of them are coming to Him, but the reason they are even coming to Him is because the rumor of His authentic and organic works are beginning to trickle out into the public. Jesus isn’t putting on a show. It is simple. It is the touch of a hand, the utterance of a word, in His friend’s house, on His road home. Simple, yet profound. The way Jesus approaches this situation begs us to ask a question of ourselves: who are the people in our normal pattern of life that are hurting and in need? Lord Jesus give us Your vision to see those around us who need You!

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 8:14-17 (day six)

“…, and she rose and began to serve him.” Matthew 8:15b

Many would read this verse and come to the conclusion we should serve Jesus. While that is certainly true, I’m not sure that’s the main message in this story. Peter’s mother-in-law served Jesus, and anyone other guest in her home, because she was well enough (after Jesus healed her) to be a good host. I mean, what would you do if you had guests in your home? You would get up, if you could, and make sure they had every thing they needed. Something to drink, or a meal perhaps.

Her behavior has more to do with Jesus’ presence than Jesus’ healing. Now let me ask, would anything change in your home if Jesus were there? If He were present, what affect would that have? Would you be a good host?

I really think, what was true for Peter’s mother-in-law is true for us, lasting change (or serving Jesus) happens when we realize Jesus is present in us, and around us. He has entered our home, healed us, and is sticking around.

Do you see Him?

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 8:14-17 (day five)

“They brought to him many”. Don’t overlook this part of the narrative. Don’t miss the action and activity of Jesus’ followers. “They” were leveraging their friendships and relationships to bring others to Jesus. There was a certainty that if only their friends and family could be in His presence, Jesus could/would meet their needs.

What about now?  Where would we bring people to encounter the powerful presence of Jesus?  Let me suggest three for starters:  First, invite and bring them into sincere and authentic friendship.  Allowing them to be close to you (as you live out and proclaim the gospel) will bring them into Jesus’ presence. Second, bring them into your home. Each home should be an incubator for gospel power- a place where God’s Word is both “taught and caught”. The home is a place where God’s presence should be  clearly evident. Third, bring them to church. Having others join us as we study and discuss God’s Word as well as gather for authentic worship will place them in God’s promised presence. Will you leverage your friendships and relationships to “bring others to Him”?

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 8:14-17 (day four)

This passage marks the third miracle identified in chapter 8.  Matthew includes the miracle in order to point out that Jesus is fulfilling prophecy.  He quotes the prophet Isaiah from chapter 53, the Suffering Servant passage.  Jesus is not just making sick people well, Matthew is equating their physical illnesses with their spiritual sins.

Jesus came to bring spiritual healing to the world.  His fulfillment of prophecy about the coming messiah was a proclamation of His divine identity.  Isaiah foretold the death of the Christ and His redeeming work of bearing our sins on His own, so that we might live.

If asked, can you tell someone who Jesus is?  The three questions every believer should be able to answer are:  1) Who is Jesus?  2) Why did He come?  3) What does it mean to us?  If you are struggling with any of these questions yourself, check out Christianity Explored at www.fbcsa.org.