TWO: Master of the natural universe
I remember watching the news in 2004 after a 9.1 magnitude earthquake rocked the earth resulting in a massive tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in fourteen different countries. The videos that gradually emerged of this tsunami were utterly horrifying, the speed and ferocity of the wave brought with it utter devastation of lives, property and land.
These types of natural disasters are common, giant waves, wind storms, hail, floods or gigantic snow drifts. We live on a planet that is hostile and moves and works without invite, warning and with fierce power.
I have always felt this when I have been out on the sea or near it during a storm. I remember a mate of mine with a fishing boat had invited me to go play one week, and we got everything sorted and ready. On the day of the big fishing trip a storm came in from nowhere and rudely ended our plans, there was nothing we could do, the sea had decided that today I wasn’t going fishing.
“Who is this man that the wind and waves should obey him? He must be the master of the universe!
Have a read of the whole story in your bible as I am only quoting a bit here:
Matthew 8: 23-27
‘Then he (Jesus) got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
These disciples were not afraid of being at sea, they were seasoned fisherman and had spent their lives on that lake. First time they had seen a storm? Nah. But this one was serious, so much so that they actually thought this was the end and death was coming.
Jesus get up, calmly and the bible tells us he rebukes the storm and it immediately dies down. The men, visibly in shock exclaim ‘who is this man that the wind and waves should obey him!’
BOOM!
So, who do you know that can do that? Have you ever shouted at the rain for it to stop or stood in a storm and told it off and then it stopped? Who has this power? Who can do this stuff? This is amazing and another way in which Jesus shows that he really does have all authority on earth and in heaven. Even the winds and waves obey him! Wow.
Photo Credit: Chris Lawton
