Tales of the Sea
To my daughter,
One
of the primary songs that you have probably sung says this in the first verse:
Things I would ask him to
tell me if he were here.
Scenes by the wayside,
tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
Today I want to tell you two of my favorite stories of Jesus, indeed “tales of the sea” that show His great power and love for each of us. He spent much of His ministry around the Sea of Galilee, a beautiful lake in northern Israel that I once visited many years ago. One time He and some of His disciples were crossing the lake in a boat when there was a big storm. Mark recorded, “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?” The disciples were scared because of the storm and they thought they might die in the water as the boat was about to capsize. The account continues, “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” He miraculously calmed the storm through His matchless power and then said to those on the boat with Him, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:37-40) This story should inspire us to have more faith and not be fearful, even when we have difficulties and challenges in this life. We can know always know that Jesus will help us too to calm the storms and see us through.
Another
time the disciples were crossing the sea on a boat without Jesus. Again there
was a storm and “the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves:
for the wind was contrary.” They were scared again because of the storm, and
Jesus was not with them this time. But then something incredible happened: “Jesus
went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on
the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for
fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I;
be not afraid.” Wouldn’t that be incredible? They were on a boat and saw Jesus
walking on the water towards them! Here is what happened next: “And Peter
answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.”
Peter wanted to walk on the water as well, and the Savior invited him to do
just that: “And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he
walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” Peter started to walk on the water, but
he became scared when he saw the wind and doubted his ability to really do this
miraculous thing: “He cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus
stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little
faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” When Peter was afraid the Savior helped
him, but this time the Savior didn’t immediately calm the storm. Instead he let
Peter learn to walk on the water and only after they had walked back to the
ship did the winds cease (Matthew 14:24-32). This story shows us that sometimes
the Lord doesn’t take away the challenges we face—our figurative storms—but instead
helps us to do miracles when we are passing through them. And if we are
sometimes fearful or fall, He is always there to pick us back up and encourage
us to keep going. I know that the Savior loves you and that He will be
there to strengthen and comfort you as you come unto Him. Always remember Him,
and He will help calm all the storms you experience in your life!
Love,
Dad
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