Skyscraper Ministries/Lectures/2005 Baptisms/The Other Seventy Training Academy
In Jeopardy, In Christ
Lesson
Text: Luke 8:22-25
Now
it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples:
and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they
launched forth. 23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a
storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in
jeopardy. 24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we
perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and
they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 And he said unto them, Where is your
faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of
man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
The disciples of Christ found themselves in great fear during their boat travels. As Christ allowed the serenity of the sea and motion of the waves to put Him into a deep sleep, a storm struck and water began to enter the ship. The men were in fear for their lives and ran to Jesus. However than ran to Jesus not because they knew He could calm the sea, but to alert Him of the danger. In essence they declared, “Jesus we are all about to die.” The question of Jesus concerning their faith is evidence of the fact that the disciples were preparing to die amidst the ship. They were keenly aware they were in jeopardy, but they failed to make the connection that they were with Christ.
Christians strive to personally grow in Christ, reaching a destination in Him where a disposition of confidence, security, and faith are maintained. The disciples of Christ had more than enough experience with Jesus to know they were to approach Him for protection and not that of fatal warning. The proper response would have been “Jesus only you can save us.” Up to the point of this sea voyage the men of Christ had enough of a track record of watching His power to know He could save them. Notice the six previous experiences they shared with Christ:
James, John, Simon, and Simon Peter witnessed the power of Christ. It was His power that persuaded them to forsake all and follow. They knew about the abilities of Christ. “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:4-8)
The same men most probably witnessed Jesus miraculously heal
a man with leprosy. The same men who ran to Jesus in the ship had prior
knowledge and experience with His saving power. “And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full
of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord,
if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 13 And he put forth his hand, and
touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy
departed from him.” (Luke 5:12-13)
These disciples walked with Christ and witnessed an
occurrence where the great faith and tenacity of a few friends made sure they
found a way to Jesus. These men did not run to Jesus to alarm Him of the
paralyzed man, they brought him the one that could incontestably heal him.
There faith was so great they lowered him through the rough while affixed to
his bed.” And when they could not find by
what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the
housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst
before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins
are forgiven thee.” (Luke 5:19-20)
They witnessed a man with a diseased hand be made whole. “And looking round about upon them all, he
said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was
restored whole as the other.” (Luke 6:10)
They witnessed Christ heal a man ready to die from his illness. “For I also am a man set under authority,
having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another,
Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9 When Jesus
heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto
the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith,
no, not in Israel. 10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found
the servant whole that had been sick.” (Luke 7:8-10)
Lastly, before there episode in the ship, they witnessed
Jesus bring a man back life who was dead in his coffin. “And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called
Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he
came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city
was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said
unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him
stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was
dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother” (Luke
7:11-15). If Jesus can help a fisherman catch more fish than he can imagine
in one night, cleanse a diseased leper, make a paralyzed man walk, make well
shrunken hand, heal a man ready to die, and bring back a man already dead,
truly He can speak to the wind or your situation.
God’s children must remember when in jeopardy, it is
jeopardy in Christ. When it is crisis, it is crisis in Christ. When going
through a storm, it is a storm in Christ. When the day seems dark, it is a dark
day, but in Christ. When dealing with death, it is dealing with death in Christ.
When working through grief, it is working through grief, yet in Christ. When it
is a struggle with sin, it is a struggle with sin in Christ. When it is dealing
with sickness, it is sickness in Christ. When wrestling with disobedient
children, it is a hassle, but a hassle in Christ. When dealing with a difficult
spouse it is a process, but a process in Christ. When grappling with
depression, it is grappling with depression in Christ. When struggling
financially, it is a struggle, but in Christ. You might feel alone, but you are
alone in and with Christ. It may even seem like nobody understands what you are
dealing with, but it is in Christ. The Bible says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). When it feels like your are the only one
praising God, remember, it is a praise in Christ. The Bible proclaims, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say,
Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).
As we grow in Christ we gain the
assurance, that no matter what the situation, condition, trial or tribulation,
in Christ, Jesus is aboard the ship. I am not running to the Master to announce
my eminent death, I am pleading to the giver of life, for life eternal. The
disciples of Christ forgot momentarily who Jesus was. However, they were
swiftly reminded and responded, “What
manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they
obey him.” The God that we serve is aboard our lives through obedience. “…If a man love me, he will keep my words:
and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with
him” (John 14:23).
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:44-45). All that you have from honest and healthy perspectives, you possess because of the goodness of God.
In Jeopardy, In Christ: You survived that car crash because of God’s power. You maintained your job while everyone else was fired because of His providence. You did not commit suicide due to depression because of His grace. You survived prison because of His regeneration. God brought you through after you lost your spouse because of His love. Your children came back to Christ because of His protection. You thought you blew it and now you have a second chance because of His redemption. You past the test because of His mercy. You got the degree because of His blessings. You can walk again because of His balm in Gilead. You survived the heart attack because of His restoration. You survived the stroke, you survived the surgery, you beat the cancer because of His compassion. You were able to finally ask for forgiveness because of His reconciliation. You can now rejoice and sing songs of Zion because of His sacrifice. Your past sins were forgiven because of His blood. The perfect Word of God can now be preached by imperfect men because of His righteousness.
When traveling through the terrain of struggle, as a
Christian, find confidence and security in knowing that Jesus is aboard the
ship. If you are not a Christian it is imperative that you get in the ship of
Christ through Hearing His Word (Romans 10:17), Believing it (Hebrews 11:6),
Repenting (Luke 13:3-5), Confessing Christ (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32-33),
and being Baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38).