The water
gently beats against the boat slowly counting to the rhythm of each heartbeat
of his sorrow. His chest feels heavy as he breathes deeply to steady his
loss. His pain is unbearable. His sorrow unquenched. He sees the future has now started its cycle
of indescribable loss and redemption.
He glances to the side of the vessel and sees his marbled reflection in
the water. He is reminded that each of
us are but a reflection of God’s glory.
This earth is only a temporary place for a few short years.
Tears
unwillingly fall down his cheeks as the pain of his loss overwhelms him. The solace is just what he needs right now to
regain his strength to face what the future must hold for him. The wounds of his heart feel like they may
never heal. He has lost his friend, his
cousin, his family -- someone that truly understood him and fully knew the
mission that God had given to him.
The water
taps against the sides of the boat. It
has been such a long day. He wipes his tired
worn brow sighing long and slowly yet once again. He questioningly peers up
towards the heavens searching for an answer that will make sense to him, but he
knows ultimately what has been designed by God for a higher purpose means more than
the natural desire of his own heart.
He scoops
one hand of water to refresh his face from the tears that have stained his
cheeks. He swallows hard and clears his throat, hoping that some material force
will change and soothe the pain he is feeling inside. His kindred spirit, his loving cousin is no
longer on this earth, but is with his Father now.
In the
distance, he can hear someone calling his name.
As the shattering noise evades his solace, he closes his eyes just for a
moment and prays for strength to answer one more need. Understanding that his
purpose is more than just that moment, he humbly glances over to the shore
seeking the one who is calling his name.
“Hey
Jesus! Is that you? We’ve been waiting for you! Where have you been? Come to the shore so we can talk! Hurry
up! Have you heard the news? There is so
much we need to talk about!” yells a faded shadow prancing with enthusiasm at
the recognition of a good friend.
A smile
gently glides across his face, his eyes tenderly respond as he raises his hand
to acknowledge his long time friend and companion. He shuffles in the wooden seat and finds the
sculptured paddle placed methodically in the boat while he has been restfully
floating in the silence of the still calm waters.
As he rows
to shore excelling from the push and pull of the paddle against the waves that
are shifting on each side of the boat, he moves purposefully through the
waters. In the distance on the horizon
he can see that many of his friends and acquaintances are expectantly gathering
for his arrival.
As the
effort of his strength moves him to the shore, he can see that many people have
come to visit with him. People from all
walks of life: all in need, all seeking
his mercy, all wanting his tender touch to heal their souls.
His heart
aches and warms to their suffering. He
empathetically understands their grief and pain. He looks to those who are wounded and broken
from the trials of their journey that have left them in need of healing and
comfort not only for their bodies but their spirits as well.
He takes a
hand into his own. In the power of that moment, a person is made whole again
and their life is restored to more than it once was: many are healed, many are changed, many are
renewed by the consuming experience of his love and concern for them.
As the sun
begins to set on the tumultuous day, gentle and infusing hues of amber, rose,
and sanguine span across the twilight sky. The people have stayed much longer
than would be wise to travel home at that late an hour. They have brought no food with them because
they did not expect to have the desire to stay in the company of their beloved
Messiah and teacher for so long.
One of his
twelve very best friends anxiously runs up to him as a leader appointed by the
rest of the group wanting a practical resolution to his concern, “Jesus, you
got to tell these people to go home.
They’re hungry and we’ve got nothing for them. They’ve stayed too long and I just don’t know
what we’re going to do. Tell them to
leave. We can’t take care of all of
them. The rest of us are hungry too and as you know we can’t leave until
they’re on their way home. Tell them to
go to the nearest town, there has got to be something there for them to eat for
dinner.”
Pausing for
a moment, Jesus wisely narrows his discerning eye intently focusing on his
dearest friend, “Don’t make them leave” and then gently commands “You give them
something to eat.”
Astonished
and feeling that Jesus might have spent too much time in the sun out on his
boat floating in the waters, shaking his head in disbelief responds “Are you
kidding? Do you realize how many people
are here today? Between all of us, we only have 5 loaves of bread and ONLY two
fish”.
Knowingly
Jesus holds his hands out to them with his palms wide open in the reflection of
the heavens above, requires them to “Bring them to me”.
His faithful
disciples willingly obey his one request. A few of them give direction and ask
the other visitors to find a comfortable place to rest underneath the shade of
the trees while they patiently wait for a response from their Messiah.
With a
humble heart of hope, Jesus lifts his head in worship. He prays. He blesses.
He breaks. And he gives. Everyone
is fully satisfied with the gifts of his blessing.
As soon as
the meal is completed, Jesus insists that his twelve best friends go ahead into
the boat ahead of him so he can take longer to comfort and speak with each one
who has come to meet him before they return to their home.
After
everyone has left him on the shore, he climbs to the side of the mountain again
to be alone to quietly pray by himself.
His burdened heart is still heavy with the loss of his cousin, John,
even though many thankful miracles and overflowing happiness has been expressed
today before him. But He is still
grieving.
In the
darkness of the early hours of the morning, he lays his heart bare before his
Father. In honesty, he expresses how
much sorrow and pain he is feeling but also strongly affirms that his Father’s
ultimate purpose is greater than his own.
The boat of
friends has drifted out into the Sea of Galilee. The darkened rock formed clouds huddle and
swell as a terrible storm is rising. The
sweet smell of rain fills their senses as the humidity brings its heavy
clogging presence to the atmosphere. The
waves rise and fall with angry vengeance rocking the unmanageable boat in
resistance, refusing to sink into the depths of the caverns below the surface.
The
experienced professional fishermen of the sea are afraid. Each
uncharacteristically trembles in their uncommon fear. The disturbance is unlike
one that they have seen before. It is a
cruel, dangerous, and unmerciful tyrant.
The tempest tosses the wooden vessel side to side panicked against the
ominous and foreboding waves.
In the
shadows of the magnificent bursts of perilous thunder and lighting, they see a lone
figure walking towards them on the high glades of the waves as if they are only
stairs moving him directly towards the tossing boat collapsing in the midst of
the tragic storm.
Brutal fear
enters every pore of their bodies. They
are scarred beyond reason. Peter screams in terror “It’s a ghost coming to get
us! We are all going to die!” The others
scream in the immediate chaos and pandemonium of the violent winds.
In the midst
of the terror, the voice of their dearest friend and companion speaks
“Courage. It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
Instantly
Peter recognizes his friend and Savior, he stands up in the boat as his friends
cling to the sides of the vessel for their precious lives. Peter filled with boldness as his intently
focuses his eyes on his well-known teacher, inspired by an idea from the vision
of his Savior confidently states “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come
to you on the water”.
Calmly Jesus
answers his request. “Come ahead”.
Without a
second to spare, confident in the protection of his Savior, Peter jumps out of
the boat and walks towards his loving friend.
As his eyes stay fixed on Jesus, Peter moves with ease among the waves
of the storm.
His doubt
traps him though, he looks down. He takes
his eyes off the One who can save him.
He looks down at his own feet for support. He eyes have been removed from than the one
who can support him eternally even on water shuffled by the winds and waves in
a storm.
As a result,
Peter begins to sink. The waters begin
to overwhelm him. He is reminded of the
storm that he has no power whatsoever to control. He cannot change the elements of nature as
they whip against his body and soul. Emphatically, he looks up again to his
Lord, and pleads “Master! Save me!”
Jesus
doesn’t hesitate. He doesn’t pause. He
doesn’t wait. He answers the
wholehearted plea of one who is drowning and unable to save his self. He calmly reaches down with his healing
hands. He grasps Peter’s hand into his
own as Peter clings to him.
Jesus smiles and shakes his head at his dear
once bold friend teasing him states “Faint heart, what got into you?”
Peter looks
once again into the eyes of his teacher and knows that he is safe within His
care. Both Jesus and Peter climb back into the common shelter of the boat. The winds find their peace. The thunder becomes silent. The lightning hides again in the clouds that
soon dissipate into the clear blue of the skies.
In response
to their rescue, the disciples bow in worship right where they are. They have seen the acts of their Savior and
know that he will save and protect them even in the midst of the worst of
circumstances. In unison, they
acknowledge with full agreement that he is the Son of God.
