Snapshot
Cross ✝️, Crossing🚶🏿…
Jesus' disciples had a crossing to do. Bearing the cross might likely have lessons conveyed through their very acts. This, we shall consider below. Please note that this is by no means an exhaustive attempt at description. Rather, the views here are limited to the author’s spiritual exposure and experiences.
Drawing near: “Jesus… coming near the boat (vs. 19).”
What a grace that the wind curator motions along! How fears fade and hope hikes! There is the hope that wells from the knowledge of the Master drawing near. When the master draws near, guess what He does first? He does not upbraid at first. Even as “forgive us our trespasses” is not the first line in Our Lord’s prayer. His words were “…fear not, I am He.” I thought it would have been “Men of little faith, don’t you remember how I calmed the storm at Capernaum and my other numerous miracles?” You may not know how the Master pampers His own until you take up the cross by subjecting yourself to denial-associated ridicule, troubles, jeers, and even rejection.
You would wonder why many sacred hymns focus on the theme of nearness to God. One of my founded says: “I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless; ills have no weight and tears no bitterness…” That is, although the crossing from my sin-stricken self into Christlikeness is a difficult journey with which foes, ills and tears may assail. Yet all of these have no bearing as long as the Master is at hand. Another reads: “Not for ease or worldly pleasure, not for fame my prayer shall be, gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with thee.” The writer values a walk with God over fame, convenience and popular pleasures! Why? There is a joy shared in this that none other except the receiver can know. “Even though it be a cross (an inconvenience, say) that raiseth me, Still all my song shall be: nearer my God to thee, nearer to thee.”
Some even say, do not undertake any endeavour, O child of sorrow and of woe, without taking the name of Jesus with you. Why? For I suppose if He is called upon, He will respond to those who call Him with sincere, mind you, not pure hearts as yet. The name, that is, what Christ answers to, gives joy and comfort. So take it wherever you go. Further, when the temptation to despair of hope gather, forming a thick cloud around you, Just breathe that holy name. Oh, He will show up.
Drowning: “…immediately the boat was at the land… (vs. 21)”
Oh, Jesus will draw near! And not draw near alone. But also give one an experience of Him those who cowardly avoid the cross or crossing cannot access.
How when all the waves of darkness billow around you for the truths you hold, Jesus comes around and says to you, “Fear not, I am HE.” “I am He who…?!” one may muse. And you will hear the Master respond with consolations such as: “I am He that sent the storm to strengthen you. And maintained the storm mature you. If not by now, it would have overwhelmed you.” So in ordinary events of life that cause men despair, you find yourself blazing through in sublime compelling grime (grin).
Under the umbrella of this disguised blessing, the Christian life thrives as in the darkness of soil that seeds germinate. It is wise for the supreme God to hide us away jealously from his competitors. I wonder how immorality or any form of sexual sin would have found itself in the heart of these young rugged fishermen, laden with rowing their boats to safety.
Jesus tailors cross-associated storms, doctors them only that we might become the exclusive patients of His great Physician in the hospital of Perfection. We are all on admission bed. And no matter the pain, rather than opting out, hold on. A little more tear and He will show up. And when He shows up, His presence will drown all pains.
See the extent to and the speed with which the Master drowns our deep fears and the distances between what we must crossover to become what He intends us to be. Mark the word “immediately” in “Immediately the ship was at the land where they went.” It is a sign that makes us wonder. The sin we wish to overcome, the unchristlike habits we want to break, are hidden behind that lonely isle of calvary and the despised act of taking up the cross. Yet, if dared or attempted, the speed with which the cleansing powers of Jesus drown them out is with the speed of light.
Take-home
Where are you, my friend? Do you despise the cross? If yes, I will compare you to the Sadducees who Jesus said lacked, in part, the knowledge of the power of God. You also have not seen the radiation of the glory of God; other miracles you have witnessed, regardless. Crossing from selfishness to selflessness (Christlikeness) factors in a distance (eternal mileage between Christlikeness and us), darkness because our knowledge of Christ is poor and porous. It may also entail delay as our ways and plan are sky-earth at variance with His. It may bring difficulties and disruptions as no one wishes to stay longer than necessary on a dangerous voyage. Yet, Christ is watching out for our disposition. Would it be of distress, uninspired, or will it be like Peter who was full of hope in expectation for the Master’s appearance? However our disposition may be, it is encouraging to know that when Jesus comes along punctual or presumably delayed, He comes not in terror as the King of kings, but kind and good with healing in His wings. He comes with tears for all our woes and a compassionate heart for our pleas. And by thus abiding, He drowns all fears and distances and rows us to the land of safety. The land where overcomers dwell, that higher ground whose songs of saints has caught our faith. The sense of having Jesus appear and our joy victory drowns all our knowledge of troubles passed through to get to this haven of rest. And with this particular habit, if we keep up our calling, we may sail the wide sea no more!
