Some years ago, I made a trip to Israel. It had been a dream of mine for many years. I had taught and have continued to teach lessons from the life of Christ, but I teach those lessons very differently than before I made the trip. I saw the places I had taught about, and the stories are more real to me. I try very hard to make them real to my students.
Several stories in Jesus’ ministry on earth center around the Sea of Galilee. When you see it, you understand why. When the wind is calm, it is a peaceful place; but when the wind begins to pick up, it is a different story.
The Sea of Galilee is about 13 ½ miles long, 7 ½ miles wide, and 160 feet deep in some places. You can easily see from one side to the other.
I can close my eyes and visualize this beautiful body of water, see boats in the middle of the sea, with nets hanging from the sides of the boats. Three stories immediately come to my mind when I do this. Because I have been on a boat in the middle of this body of water, the stories are very clear in my imagination. I can see Jesus walking on the water. Because of the turbulence we experienced while on a boat in the middle of the sea, I can imagine the wind rising and the boat the disciples and Jesus were on being tossed about in a storm. I can also imagine Jesus on the shore, the disciples in a boat, distraught because they had fished all night and caught no fish. I can almost hear Jesus calling to them from the shore, telling them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. I can almost see the fishermen struggling to pull in the great catch of fish.
No matter how clear these events seem in my mind, it is not the story itself that is so compelling to remember. It is not just that Jesus allowed a man, a human being to walk on top of water, it is not just that Jesus awoke from a well-deserved sleep to save the disciples from a terrible storm. It is not just that Jesus filled the nets of the fishermen. It is what each of these stories represents to us today, in our lifetime.
The lessons we learn from these three stories give Christians all the assurance they need to live faithfully on this earth. They fit every situation, every struggle, every temptation, every need for reassurance.
When Peter stepped out of the boat to walk on the water with Jesus, he could have walked all around the boat, walked to shore, or walked across the sea. He didn’t do any of these, because he took his eyes off of Jesus. He looked at the waves and the way the wind was blowing, and he began to sink (Matthew 14:30). The lesson here is simple. Don’t take your eyes off of Jesus. Stay focused on Him and His sacrifice for man. Put Him first in your life; and when the winds blow, He will protect you.
When Jesus reached the point of exhaustion, He just wanted a quiet place to rest. Sometimes He wanted to commune with God; but in this case, He needed physical rest. While He lay sleeping in the boat, a storm raged around the fishing vessel; and it was tossed around on the sea. Matthew says the boat was covered with waves, so this was no little storm. The disciples woke Jesus, and begged Him to save them. With three words, Jesus brought everything under control. Simply put, the disciples’ faith wavered. When the storms of life engulf us, we need unwavering faith. The Lord will not fail us, if we keep the faith.
Seven of the disciples, trying to put things back together after the crucifixion and resurrection, decided to go fishing. It was an unproductive night, and they must have been tired and disappointed. Looking toward the shore, they saw someone but didn’t recognize that it was Jesus. A voice called to them and asked them if they had anything to eat. To their negative answer, the voice told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. They obeyed and brought in more fish than their nets would hold.
Once on shore, the disciples were fed by Jesus. Peter received more than physical food; He received a chance to be forgiven. Three times the Lord asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Peter affirmed that he did. Then the Lord predicted what would happen to Peter, letting him know he would die for Him.
Though Peter had proclaimed his love for Jesus three times, he had the nerve to question what plans there were for the disciple Jesus loved—John. Jesus told Peter that what happened to John was none of his concern. In other words, “it is none of your business what is going to happen to John. I’m telling you what is going to happen to you.”
Our lesson from this story is two-fold. First, we can be forgiven for anything, even denying Christ, if we will only repent. Peter had denied Jesus three times before the crucifixion, and he was given three chances to make up for those denials. The Lord loved this man with all his failures, and He had great things planned for him.
Second, we can’t be concerned with what is ahead for everyone else. Our concern must be about our own life, how we live it, what we do with our opportunities, and how we can best serve God.
God has a plan for each of us. No matter how weak and sinful we are, God loves us.
Sandra Oliver