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DAY 21

Today has been Global Ocean Day. On their website,www.worldoceansday.org, they say, "This year, we encourage you to reach out to young people in your community and help inspire them for the 2012 theme Youth: the Next Wave for Change."

My reflections today are on reaching out and waves. After one of the times Jesus fed a large crowd, he sent his disciples off in a boat while he dismissed the crowd. That alone seems strange, but then He went up in the mountainside to pray. ((Matthew 14:22-34)).

Evening time, or sunset, in that part of the word is about 6:15pm (between 4:30-7:45pm). At that time Jesus was on the mountainside, praying. He could see in the evening light the boat the disciples were in. On a clear evening He could have seen right across the lake, it is only 13km wide at its widest point, and 21 km long.

That evening Jesus might not have been able to see across the lake. There was a storm tossing the boat on the waves. They were a long way from shore, and it was evening time, starting to get dark.

Jesus knew these men, some fishermen, were in a storm, but He left them. For Jesus, prayer was more important. It wasn't until between 3-6am, the fourth watch, that Jesus went out onto the water and walked out towards the bobbing boat. Imagine being in a storm on a lake, with a number of experienced sailors, you have been battling the waves for about ten hours, and you notice someone walking towards you on the water, like they are out for a country walk. No wonder some thought they were seeing a ghost!

Peter, always ready to launch himself into a situation, asks this "presence", "If you are Jesus call me onto the water." Jesus obliges. So, bold as brass, Peter jumps out of the boat, and walks on the water towards Jesus. OK, this is the weird bit. Walking on water. First Jesus, then Peter. If Jesus made physics, if He made the elements, why can't He control them too?

Having battled in the boat for hours on end, Peter, now walking on the water, suddenly remembers the raging sea. Waves lifting him up and down, but he was still conquering surface tension. Peter then realised this is not normal. Peter panicked. He should not be able to do this. He starts sinking, and again calls out to Jesus. First Peter asks for an invitation to come, now he asks to be saved.

Jesus reaches out and catches Peter. They get in the boat, and the wind stops.

Why didn't Jesus stop the wind when He was up on the mountainside? It would have made for an easier life for the disciples. Instead Jesus waited for the desire to come close to Him, and the realisation that Jesus is needed for salvation.

I'm thinking about my own struggles, my own storms. Jesus doesn't stop them happening. But He may calm the storm after I remember to come to him and seek His saving grace. I hope this reaches you with inspiration.

When Jesus calms your storm, what is more important, the calm, or Jesus?

-Pr Nathan Stickland

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