Our paragraph topic is: (The storm on the lake) Part 3.
Christ arose from his sleep and rebuked the disciples for having such little faith. They have been with him for some time. They have seen the miracles that he has performed. They know that he is a great prophet with great powers but they have yet to believe. Christ demonstrates who he is when he performs yet another miracle. Then he arose and rebuked the wind and the sea, and there came a great calm.
This miracle was unmistakable. Christ spoke to the wind. Christ spoke to the sea. He spoke as though he was speaking to children playing, making too much noise. He told them to be quiet. He told them to be calm. He restored peace. The disciples were awed. They did not know what to make of this miracle. They did not know how to accept what they saw. They did not know how to understand what had just happened. And the men marvelled, saying, "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
The disciples marvelled. They did not understand. They did not know, yet, who Christ really was. The demonstration of his power was not for his benefit. This demonstration of power was for the benefit of his disciples. They needed to know. They needed to believe. They needed to understand the person of Christ. The same is true today. We need to know. We need to believe. We need to understand the real person of Christ.
Christ was preparing his disciples for their leadership role in his absence. He is preparing us today for our leadership role in the world. Those who read these passages are being prepared for their future in Christ. In the whole of Chapter 8, Christ has taken us on a journey of faith. He has demonstrated to us and to the disciples the power of faith. He calls upon them to have faith. He calls upon us to have faith. He teaches them the importance of faith in their lives. He teaches us the importance of faith in our lives today.
What is faith? The dictionary defines faith as belief in something that is not based on proof. The disciples were being asked to believe that Christ was the Messiah. They were being challenged to believe that Christ was from God. They were being asked to believe that Christ was God made man. And they were being provided the proof through his works, just as we are provided the proof through the wonders of his creations.
How do you provide proof that God is God. If he stood before you and performed all kinds of miracles, would you believe? If he cured the sick, healed the lame, caused arms to grow, caused legs to straighten, caused diseases to disappear instantly, would you believe? If he walked on water, caused hurricanes to cease, made volcanoes stop erupting, would you believe? Even with all this evidence one could still think that there is another being that might be greater. The simple fact is, there is nothing that can provide proof that God is God except our own desire to believe. We have to want to believe. Our desire to believe that there is a God opens our hearts to him. Our desire to believe opens our minds to his wonders. Our desire to believe opens our eyes and allows us to see the things that he does. Our desire to believe opens our belief and allows it to become faith.
Christ wants you to have faith. He wants you to know that you are. Have faith and believe in him.
Christ arose from his sleep and rebuked the disciples for having such little faith. They have been with him for some time. They have seen the miracles that he has performed. They know that he is a great prophet with great powers but they have yet to believe. Christ demonstrates who he is when he performs yet another miracle. Then he arose and rebuked the wind and the sea, and there came a great calm.
This miracle was unmistakable. Christ spoke to the wind. Christ spoke to the sea. He spoke as though he was speaking to children playing, making too much noise. He told them to be quiet. He told them to be calm. He restored peace. The disciples were awed. They did not know what to make of this miracle. They did not know how to accept what they saw. They did not know how to understand what had just happened. And the men marvelled, saying, "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
The disciples marvelled. They did not understand. They did not know, yet, who Christ really was. The demonstration of his power was not for his benefit. This demonstration of power was for the benefit of his disciples. They needed to know. They needed to believe. They needed to understand the person of Christ. The same is true today. We need to know. We need to believe. We need to understand the real person of Christ.
Christ was preparing his disciples for their leadership role in his absence. He is preparing us today for our leadership role in the world. Those who read these passages are being prepared for their future in Christ. In the whole of Chapter 8, Christ has taken us on a journey of faith. He has demonstrated to us and to the disciples the power of faith. He calls upon them to have faith. He calls upon us to have faith. He teaches them the importance of faith in their lives. He teaches us the importance of faith in our lives today.
What is faith? The dictionary defines faith as belief in something that is not based on proof. The disciples were being asked to believe that Christ was the Messiah. They were being challenged to believe that Christ was from God. They were being asked to believe that Christ was God made man. And they were being provided the proof through his works, just as we are provided the proof through the wonders of his creations.
How do you provide proof that God is God. If he stood before you and performed all kinds of miracles, would you believe? If he cured the sick, healed the lame, caused arms to grow, caused legs to straighten, caused diseases to disappear instantly, would you believe? If he walked on water, caused hurricanes to cease, made volcanoes stop erupting, would you believe? Even with all this evidence one could still think that there is another being that might be greater. The simple fact is, there is nothing that can provide proof that God is God except our own desire to believe. We have to want to believe. Our desire to believe that there is a God opens our hearts to him. Our desire to believe opens our minds to his wonders. Our desire to believe opens our eyes and allows us to see the things that he does. Our desire to believe opens our belief and allows it to become faith.
Christ wants you to have faith. He wants you to know that you are. Have faith and believe in him.
