There is something curious about our lives. Sometimes we are full of energy and life, and sometimes it seems as if someone pulled the plug, and we run on empty. We all have these times, times when we reach for our reserves. If you are a parent, you can certainly relate. When the diaper needs to be changed again you wonder if it will ever end. All those interruptions in the middle of the night make functioning during the day very hard.
Or the deadlines at work are taxing your brain creating stress that seems to pushing you to the point of exploding. You thought you could handle the promotion, but now it seems as if you have too many things on your plate at once. You are not alone. It seems as if Jesus had a moment when His physical body had run out of steam.
Notice the words in our text, “just as he was.” Something is out of the ordinary in Jesus. They took Him on board the boat, “just as he was.” We read in a few verses that He falls asleep on the boat, even in the middle of a fierce storm. He had run out of steam. But what is significant is that Jesus allowed other to minister to Him. They helped Him into the boat. They took Him.
He is allowed to sleep in the boat. They do all the work of navigating, even when the storm arises. They minister to Him by giving Him space to rest. He is tired from ministry to others and they minister to Him.
It can be hard to imagine the Creator of the Universe being tired, but Jesus was. His physical body had the same limitations that ours does. We all need to learn to take care of ourselves and recognize that we can only give so much before we must take a rest.
Notice that there are others in boats in this storm. Perhaps they are following Jesus to the next place of ministry, hoping to get in on the action. They too are caught in the storm as well. When a storm happens in your life others can be caught up in the storm with you. Just because you are having a difficult time doesn’t mean others around you aren’t experience the storm as well.
As was common during that time the geography plays a role in what happens. The winds blow off the desert plateau and down the steep hill and across the water. The winds from the top of Mount Hermon over 9000 feet above sea level fall to 682 feet below sea level. They create squalls that arise in a few short minutes. The winds create huge waves in the process. And if you weren’t expecting them and you are in a small boat, yikes!
Sometimes when we are in the journey to the other side and we get caught in a storm. It doesn’t mean we sinned or failed to listen and be obedient to the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them to go across the lake. Jesus was also in the storm. Storms come to everyone, the just and the unjust. In those moments we need each other. Our journey is a journey together.
The Arnold Journey 