Title: God Who Sleeps
One myth about believing in Jesus is that if you believe in Jesus, you will be blessed, if you believe in Jesus, everything will be fine. It is a false belief that people who groaned in sorrow and pain will become happy if they believe in Jesus, and that people who have only experienced failure and setbacks will be able to succeed by believing in Jesus. What about your case? If you're not sure, it might be helpful to see what Jesus' disciples were like.
A young man named Jesus was truly a comet in the dark sky. His excellent teachings and the ability to cure any ailment quickly earned him the popularity of many people. Those who received his call and became disciples may have thought they were very lucky. Thanks to Jesus, they were able to give strength to their necks, and it seemed that success and success would be guaranteed if they did well.
Then the disciples must have been shocked by Jesus' strange actions and words. When he saw the crowd surrounding him, he said he would leave. Power comes from the crowd. But wouldn't it be a bit disappointing to say that you're going to escape the crowd? In addition, Jesus' remarks were even shocking. Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but they have nowhere to lay their heads. I thought that being with Jesus would guarantee the respect of people and the comfort of a place like a palace, but the fear that it might not be so wells up in my heart.
Anyway, as Jesus intended, the group left the land where they had achieved the first great success and got on the boat. By this time, the sun had already set and darkness was falling over the water. Jesus was so tired that he fell asleep in the boat. Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.
It is a false myth that if you believe in Jesus, you will avoid trials and go back to suffering. Rather, the Bible tells us that we should be prepared for more suffering and damage because of Jesus. It happened to Jesus himself. After such a busy and tiring day, it would be nice to take a hot bath and sleep in a soft bed, but Jesus hastily boarded a boat and crossed the lake. Then I laid myself down on the hard wooden floor of the boat and fell asleep. It would have been nice if the tired body could rest a bit, but even that was not allowed. Because immediately a ferocious wave came crashing down on the ship as if it were swallowing it.
If we were with Jesus, the storms that were there should be gone, but on the contrary, a terrifying storm we had never seen before came. Some of the disciples have spent their lives on this very Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is a fairly large lake. With an area of 170 square kilometers, it is about twice the size of Lake Rotorua. However, those who have made a living based on this lake will know every nook and cranny of the lake. But they are astonished in front of these waves. They scream that they are all dead. In other words, these waves are not always waves. Why on earth are there even waves that did not exist, blocking the way to follow Jesus?
Therefore, those who believe in Jesus and expect to get richer and more successful have been looking for the wrong number. It is said that one function of religion is to give you peace of mind. Of course, you can have peace of mind by believing in Jesus, but that is not the ultimate purpose of believing in Jesus. Sometimes, believing in Jesus can lead to more conflicts and worries.
Anyway, on the way to follow Jesus, an unprecedented storm arose and tormented the disciples, but Jesus was sleeping in the chaos. I remember seeing such a picture somewhere, but when a storm rages and the waves shake the boat, Jesus is sleeping on one side, not paying attention. Perhaps this painting is a symbolic representation of one aspect of our lives.
We face many difficulties and sufferings in our lives, so whenever we do, we cry out to God, but God is silent. Why doesn't God appear right away and solve this suffering I am experiencing? So David exclaims in Psalm 44: “Lord, wake up! How do you sleep? Rise up and do not forsake us forever!” Stop sleeping and get up and save me from this pain and sorrow that I am experiencing.
Don't you have time for that too? When that happens, shout it out like that. “Lord, wake up! How do you sleep?” Of course, this is not a cry that can be uttered by anyone. It's not something that comes out of nowhere. It is a cry from an imminent crisis like a dead end in life. It is a cry that comes out of despair that can no longer be helped. We, as human beings, should be in awe of those who are in such suffering. He who has no sense of the suffering of others deserves no peace.
But Jesus rebukes the disciples, who cry out that they are all dead, for not having faith. Oh, isn't that what Jesus is doing too much? How can you not be afraid in those waves? It looks like it's going to topple over right now, so how can you be okay? Does faith exist only when there is no agitation in pain or danger?
It is not wrong here that the disciples were afraid in the waves. Their fault is that they forgot that Jesus was with them in the boat. They knew that Jesus was with them, but they were afraid. As long as Jesus is with them, they will be safe.
How is the ship of your life? Are you swaying in storms and waves? Is your life at stake? The question is whether or not Jesus is in the boat. Even the boat that Jesus is in meets with a storm. The boat may sway as if it is overturned. Just because Jesus is on board doesn't mean you're sailing in the wind. Even if you believe in Jesus and go to church, your life can fail. Even if you believe in Jesus, your business can go bankrupt, your husband is upset, and your children are rebellious. But with Jesus, we are going through the waves and enduring the pain. Then you will get the ultimate ultimate victory.
This incident was the first trial the disciples faced. Through this ordeal, they knew roughly what the disciples' path would be like. I realized that believing in Jesus didn't mean everything went well and everything went well. But through this ordeal, they came to know the Lord more. And I was able to depend on the Lord more.
Brothers and sisters, are there many sufferings and sorrows along the path of your life? There will be a lot of irritating and upsetting times. People who don't believe in Jesus do things well, but you may be wondering why I can't even believe in Jesus. But it's not in the slightest odd. Because the boat Jesus was riding on was also shaken as if it was overturned by the waves. The question is whether Jesus walks with you in your life. If Jesus is with you in your life, don't be afraid. Don't be surprised if you're going to go bankrupt right away. It's okay to be ruined. It is rather a blessing to perish with Jesus.
When I see people who have achieved great success and praise and thank God for a job well done, they do not say that they have good faith. If you succeed, of course you should be thankful even if you don't have faith. Gratitude for success is not faith, but loyalty. It's also a polite thing to do. Great faith is praise in the midst of suffering and thanksgiving when we perish.
In today's world that aims for success and pursues abundance as a value, the gospel of Jesus Christ is being spread very distortedly. We are forced to believe as if God exists to bless us. But God also gives us sorrow and causes us to suffer hardships from time to time. It's not because he doesn't love us, but because he teaches and matures us through those pains and trials.
Are the boats of your life shaking and being dragged into waves of uncertainty? Are you afraid? Are you in pain? Do fear and pain make you forget the Lord who is with you? Or does it make you look to the Lord more? If you do not have faith, you will forget the Lord in fear, and if you have faith, you will seek the Lord more. May you not forget the Lord in your fears and sorrows when trials come your way. I hope that through those trials, you will become more confident and depend on the power and presence of the Lord. I pray that God's comfort and help will be with those who came out with the heavy burdens of life today.