Storms Happen!

DAILY BYTE

The community that Matthew’s Gospel was written for were brutally persecuted for their faith. Many of them had lost an eye or limb, parent or child, friend or sibling because of religious violence. That must really take it out of a community leaving disillusionment and fear in its wake.

Right in the middle of Matthew’s Gospel, (Matthew 14. 22-33), comes the story of the disciples caught in the storm and Jesus walking on water. One scholar argues that the words and images of this story actually form part of the very heart of Matthew’s Gospel because this story was Matthew’s attempt as a pastor to bring hope and encouragement to his bruised and broken people.

Perhaps this is why a story that is so vividly permeated by danger, and which reeks with human fear, resonates with us as powerfully as it does, because we ALL know this, that:

In everyone’s life, storms inevitably occur.

Matthew 14.24 reads: “by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.”

The Greek word translated as “batter” here is basanizo, which means to torture and torment. The Greek adjective to describe the wind is enantios which suggests active opposition or hostility.

Obviously knowing that Matthew’s community was suffering persecution helps us understand why he used images and words like this. In its larger context, this is the story of Matthew’s church, fearful and confused, looking for something to grasp onto in the midst of their suffering.

In its largest context, this is the story of every human being, because life seems inevitably full of storms beyond our control, and sometimes we move between doubt and faith; between focussing on storms or focussing on Jesus; between huddling down in fear in the boat or courageously risking all to walk on water.

Gordon MacDonald tells the story of a massive storm which hit his property and destroyed his driveway. MacDonald called out a builder to repair it but while he was there, the builder’s truck got stuck in some mud. So he fetched his bulldozer to pull it out, attached a chain to the truck, and then revved up the bulldozer. The chain took the strain and ... snapped! The mud won!

MacDonald makes the point that the fault didn’t lie with the bulldozer for it was more than powerful enough to do the job. No, the fault lay with the chain for as soon as the builder fetched a stronger, thicker chain he managed to pull his truck out the mud.

So here’s a question worth wrestling with: Is the faith connection that enables us to trundle merrily along on sunny, warm, happy days, is that strong enough to keep us connected to God without breaking when these inevitable stormy and muddy life moments occur?

PRAY AS YOU GO

Almighty God, in the midst of my own life storms, may you strengthen my faith so that I will never let go of you and your promises to me. Amen.

FOCUS VERSE

Matthew 14: 22-33 NRSV

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. "He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."