Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 8 verses 23 through 27:
23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. 27 They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
If you are anything like me, you may feel that a giant storm has arisen upon your lives which threatens to undo us all. Frustrated, tired, and overwhelmed, we wonder how we'll get through -- if we'll get through.
But pay attention to the miracle -- not so much Jesus' stilling of the storm, but his sound sleep beforehand. Pay attention to his calm and his collectivity.
The storm was a symbol of chaos in ancient literature. It represents all that would wish to overwhelm and undo us. It was the first act of creation's ordering that the spirit went out upon the chaotic waters to bring stillness and calm.
In the spirit of Jesus there is calm, not only after but even in the storm. There is peace. There is tranquility. There is even sleep.
Be not overwhelmed, beloved. Be not afraid. Be of good courage. And be at peace -- even amidst this storm. For come what may, our Christ shall rescue the perishing, and we shall be saved.
"Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion peace, peace,
O hear us when we cry to thee,
For those in peril on the sea!"
NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow we will read Matthew 12; Mark 3; and Luke 6.
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