I have always loved the story of Jesus walking on the water. Personally, the pictures of Jesus Christ walking on water are some of my favorites. Dark and stormy clouds, and crashing winds against the boat, I can only imagine how the disciples were overwhelmed by the storm and caused doubts in their hearts.
This reminds me that just as Jesus walked on stormy seas, Christ can walk through the metaphorical storms in my life.
Do you struggle with fear and unbelief? If so, you’re not alone. Perhaps that is the storm of marital difficulty, a storm of interpersonal conflict, a storm of family circle, a storm of church politics, a storm of political tension. The list goes on! The storm of a job loss, a storm of terminal illness, a storm of friends going cold, or the storm of growing old.
But there is one who can help. In the storms of life, whether in us or around us, Jesus is over the storm.
For those of you who feel like you’re in the middle of a storm right now, whatever storm you’re facing in your life, whether you sense the wind and the waves threatening to drown you, you’re not alone. Don’t believe the lie that it’s all over, for as long as God gives you a pulse, he has a purpose for you right here and right now.
Jesus’ walking on water is a powerful reminder to have faith that Jesus is over the storm of life.
1. To Be in the Word
Jesus undoubtedly performed miracles. Power of his word not only in teaching but also in the realm of the miraculous. He speaks to the wind, he speaks to the demons, he reverses sickness and death.
Even amid the one who is full of authority and power, Jesus prioritizes the priorities of life by seeing, “And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.” (Mark 6:46).
I am convinced, that what we need most in times of weariness and worry is to have personal quiet time with Jesus. What does that mean? To be in the Word of God through His Word. Not a few minutes in the Word.
Having the right view of God encourages people to give God all glory. To get the right view of God, you need to read the Bible.
At times, I wonder why the church has so little influence on the world. What has happened to the church? God then convicted my heart and showed me that it is because the world has so much influence on the church. Study after study reveals that professing Christians look no different than the world.
2. To Remember Who Jesus Is.
Jesus walking on water is a theophany; Jesus’ words of self-revelation echo Exodus, “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.’” (Eco 3:14) which later we witness the great “I am” statement, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)
Jesus describes himself with just terms to put forth his deity. A statement that a lunatic will say, or the Lord himself
- (1) Bread of life (John 8:12).
- (2) Light of the world (John 9:5).
- (3) Door (John 10:7).
- (4) Shepherd (John 10:11).
- (5) Resurrection and life (John 11:25).
- (6) The way, truth, and life (John 14:6).
- (7) The true vine (John 15:1).
You and I need to be reminded that the great “I AM” is in the midst of the storm with you and me! For Jesus, he is more than you ask, think or even imagine. That’s the reason, he is such good news.
Jesus is not good because he gives us answers. After all, he gives himself to us. Don’t come to Jesus to get health, wealth, and comfort. Come to Jesus simply to get Jesus! He is the good news.
What you must do at that moment, is to trust the one who is the master over even storms of life. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Prov 3:5-6). Do not let the storm distract, but glance towards Jesus over the storm.
Keep your eyes on Jesus. His eyes have always been on you! Trust in Him. Focus on Jesus, not the storm.
3. To Turn to the Rescuer Savior
“When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. When they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.” (Mark 6:53-56).
I love this section as it is a wonderful little passage that could easily be bypassed so easily as there are only 4 verses here, but there’s a huge implication for the pastoral care of Jesus.
When I was in the city people asked, “You’re the preacher?” I said, “Yes” and soon I heard, “So you’re the guy with all the answers.” my immediate answer was, “No, I’m the guy who points to that guy.” It is Christ who is the hope of the world as he is the Messiah, Savior, Rescuer, and joy of all mankind.
We need more than love and encouragement, information and insight. We need rescue. Anything less will not address what is wrong with us. We cannot step out of our sinfulness. That is all that we can offer for people seeking pastoral care and help.
In the year 2025, churches struggle to put the 1st-century principle into the 21st-century context. This question perhaps is the most controversial question in the context of pastoral care & counseling. Most believe that theology is to a minister what psychology is to counselors and the two do not really have much to do with each other. The doctrine of Scripture is the foundation often for our Christian doctrine.
For many, they think the Bible is necessary for people for salvation and doctrine, but not in their everyday troubles such as counseling. In a sense, they are saying that the purpose of the Bible is how to get saved and walk with Jesus but is not focused on offering insights into the most serious counseling topics that people deal with.
We live in a broken and sinful world, but it is hard to face the truth. The question we as Christians must ask is this; “What should be the response of the church?”
Offer the Counsel of Sufficiency of Christ
In the early 21st century, the church was increasingly in turbulent, chaotic, complicated, and unpredictable times. The culture surrounding the church is outdated. The church must respond in some way or another to the various complexities of the current climate.
What is the church’s proper response to this reality? “Well, what can I do?” Being a pastor for the past 15 years, I have sensed and seen a lot of this tension and conflict, but not necessarily resolutions. This grieves my soul and makes me weep.
If Christ had the urgency not only to preach and teach the gospel, but to counsel and care those in need, then we ought to follow his example as well, with the care and Christ.
If we are sick, we need a doctor and not a medical book. If we are being sued, we need a lawyer and not a law book. Likewise, when we face our last enemy – death – we need not the not a doctrine written in a book, but the Savior of the world Jesus Christ.
You may be thinking, “Jonathan, God has left me and I’m all alone” You are never out of God’s sight. The good shepherd who is with you even in the valley of the shadow of death says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb 13:5).
Take heart. It is Christ himself! Do not be afraid. “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Ps 34:18). He sees your pain, he sees those tears and he is with you in the midst of the soul-crushing reality of the situation you’re in.
We become like Jonah. We are running away from the people as it makes us feel uncomfortable. Many times, we’ve configured in our minds whom God should and shouldn’t save based on how comfortable we are engaging them. Let us embrace the care of Christ as we learn from the pastoral care of Jesus.