The story of Jesus sleeping in the boat filling with water has always been a challenging one for me. It is found in Luke 8:
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.
The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. The storm stopped and all was calm! Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”
The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!” – Luke 8:22-25
Picture it. Really picture it. Jesus settles down for a nap right before a fierce storm comes up. The danger was real as the boat was filling up with water. The disciple’s fear was real as they shouted to wake up their Master.
There are so many unanswered questions about this story. Why did Jesus ask them to cross the other side of the lake? Why did He chose that particular time to take a nap? Was He really sleeping so soundly that the storm and the sinking ship did not wake Him. Did He know the storm was coming? Did He know the ship was sinking?
Here is my big question about this story: What would have happened if the disciples had NOT woke Jesus up?
Jesus dying in a sunken boat was certainly not an option…but of course the disciples didn’t know that! Notice Jesus’ only recorded reply to the situation, "Where is your faith?" When I combine the two facts, I’m left with the conclusion that He was using this situation as the ultimate teachable moment.
He wanted to lead them to the very question they ended up asking: "Who is this man?" He wanted them to be forced to ask the question and to let the answer to the question transform their lives, It is the same thing He does today. He allows circumstances into our lives that will force us to ask and answer the question "Who is this man?" If we really "listen" to the circumstances in our lives and cry out to God in the midst of them, God will use those circumstances to transform our lives (James 1:2-4).
I pray I wouldn’t miss the chance to wonder about Jesus in fresh ways every day! I pray that I would cry out to Him in the storms of life, but even more that I would come to the place where I don’t even feel the need to cry out because my belief in Him!
