Walking in Water, Illuminating Our Spirits. Matthew 14:22-33. Part One

After feeding the five thousand Jesus “made the disciples get into the boat and go to the other side, while He sent the crowd away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone” (Matthew 14:22-23). 

Matthew does not give us a reason for Jesus sending the disciples to the other side of the lake and hastily breaking up of the crowds. However, In John 6:15 we are told that the crowds were about to take Jesus by force and make Him a king, to avoid this Jesus immediately scattered the people and sent away the disciples, lest they should join with them. Jesus went to a solitary place to pray. 

Although the disciples were doing what Jesus had commanded them to do they were battling a storm. Like the disciples who were battling this storm there are times in our lives when we are obeying the command of the Lord we encounter storms, obstacles. We may not understand the reason for the obstacles; however, Jesus has a purpose in permitting the obstacles. In this incident, Jesus will manifest Himself in a way that will be greater than the stilling of the storm. In the miracle of the stilling of the storm, Jesus was in the boat with the disciples, but now He is not with them. 

The example set before us in the introduction of the miracle, though the wind was contrary and the boat battered by the waves the disciples did not turn around and come back to the shore but was attempting to go to the other side of the lake, as Jesus commanded them. Here is an important lesson, though we may encounter troubles and difficulties in fulfilling the mission in life Jesus has given us they must not drive us from it; but through the midst of them we must press forwards. 

Here is the good news, Jesus going to the aid of the disciples walking on the water reveals His sovereign dominion over all the creatures; they are all under his feet, and at His command. 

It is not necessary to ask how this was done, whether by hardening of the surface of the water or by suspending the gravitation of His body. Jesus walking on the water proves his divine power, for it is God's prerogative to “trend on the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8). It is the same power that made iron to swim (2 Kings 6:6). Jesus can do whatever He pleases to save His people. 

In verse 26, we are told of the reaction to the appearance of Jesus; the disciples were terrified and said, “It is a ghost.” At the time of this account of Jesus walking on water, all except the Sadducees, whose doctrine Christ had warned His disciples against, generally believed in the existence and appearance of spirits. The deliverance from troublesome and dangerous situations is sometimes the occasions of trouble and perplexity to God's people. The perplexing, disquieting fears of God’s people arise from their mistakes and misapprehensions concerning Christ, His person, and offices. The source of the disciples fear could be they believed some evil spirit raised the storm. 

In verse 27, we are told Jesus silenced their fears by making Himself known. He does not name Himself, as He did to Paul, “I am Jesus.” All that was necessary for the disciples to recognize who was approaching them was the sound of His voice.

Note the words of Jesus to the disciples, first He tells them “Take courage.” If Christ's disciples cannot be cheerful in a storm, it is their own fault. Second. Jesus told them who it is who is coming to them in their present situation. Third, ‘do not be afraid.” In other word, “Be not afraid of me, now that you know it is I; surely you will not fear, for you know I mean you no hurt." Here is the good news; Christ will not be a terror to those to whom He manifests Himself. What is Jesus telling the disciples in the boat and us in our present situations? “Do not be afraid of the situations you find yourself in, though threatening; do not fear them, while I am so near you. I am He that concerns Himself for you, and will not stand by and see you perish.” Note nothing needs be a terror to those that have Christ near them, and know He is theirs; not even death itself: To continue on part two...

Work Cited:

• Henry's Matthew Commentary to the whole Bible
• Holman Concise Bible Commentary and Dictionary
• Commentary on The Gospels - John Lightfoot
• RSV bible

Check part two in is this series above :)

THE BUCKET LIST - LET'S GAVE IT A TRAIL.

Have you watched this movie? If not I recommend that you watch it regardless of where you are in your life stage. It is about a rich man (Edward) Jack Nicholson and a poor man (Carter) Morgan Freeman, who meet in an unusual place and became best friends. They develop a plan of doing interesting things before their demise which was ultimately coming soon.

Before they developed the BUCKET LIST both men have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses, both had terminal cancer. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it Hospital) and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die according to their bucket list. In the process, both of them “heal” each other, become unlikely friends, and ultimately find “joy” in life.

Both Edward and Carter become friends as they undergo their respective treatments. Carter is a gifted amateur historian and family man who had wanted to become a history professor, but in his youth had been "broke, black, and with a baby on the way" and thus never rose above his job at the McCreath body shop. Edward is a four-times-divorced healthcare tycoon and cultured loner who “enjoys” nothing more than tormenting his personal valet/servant, Matthew, whom he calls Thomas. He makes Matthew serve Carter as well as him and orders his employee and doctor (Morrow) to familiarize himself with Carter's health.

Carter begins writing a list of things to do before he dies hence he calls it THE BUCKET LIST. After hearing he has less than a year, Carter folds the list carelessly and tosses it on the floor. Edward finds it the next morning. He urges Carter to do everything on the list, suggesting he add things like skydiving and offers to finance the trip. Which he did. Carter agrees, despite the protests of his wife, Virginia who thought that Jack is misleading Carter for his own gain. At some point Virginia is seen storming the hospital room shouting to Jack “ My husband is not for sale.”

In this moving movie both Edward and Carter are see in around-the-world vacation, embarking on race car driving, skydiving, climbing the Pyramids, and going on a lion safari in Africa. Both discuss a rare coffee and its unusual taste. Which sounds out of place based on the theme of the movie, but a keen ear and mind will understand it to mean their relationship with their families. They also confide about faith and family, revealing that Carter has long been feeling less in love with his wife and that Edward is deeply hurt by his estrangement with his only daughter, who disowned him after he sent some people to "take care of" her abusive husband hinting at physical assault, but ruling out murder. At this point the movie turns to be a pity to both of Edward and Carter.

One of the items in the list was to visit places like Hong Kong. While in Hong Kong Edward hires a prostitute for Carter, who has never had sex with any woman but his wife. Carter declines and asks to return home, and reciprocates by trying to reunite Edward with his daughter. Edward angrily storms off. Carter returns home to his wife, children, and grandchildren. The return home for Carter was short lived. Carter suffers a seizure and is rushed to the hospital where he dies during surgery. The cancer has spread to his brain. However before he dies Edward visit him in his hospital bed and they both are seen having light moment, which accomplished an item in the list, “laugh till I cry"

At Carter’s memorial service, Edward delivers a eulogy, explaining that he and Carter had been complete strangers, but the last three months of Carter's life were the best three months of his (Edward's). We see Edward crossing off "help a complete stranger for a common good" from the list. We see Edward finally attempt to reconcile with his daughter. She not only accepts him back into her life but also introduces him to the granddaughter he never knew. After greeting the little girl with a kiss on the cheek, Edward crosses "kiss the most beautiful girl in the world" off the list.

In the epilogue, we learn that Edward lived until the age of 81, and his ashes were buried in the top of the Himalayas Mountains. It turns out that Matthew, Edward’s servant is the one who places Edward's ashes alongside a can containing Carter's ashes, he crosses off the last item on the List "witness something truly majestic" and places it beside the remains of both Carter and Edward.

Both seemed to be happy with their endeavor to fulfill the list.

Critique: Both have terminal cancer with Carter having only one year to live. In the movie they don’t look sick people apart from the short time seen in the hospital. Edward is in remission, however his health improves daily. We don’t see him (Edward) going for checkups by his doctor which would be the case of cancer patients in remission. However it is only a movie.

In the opening of this summery I suggested that if you have not seen this movie, you make efforts to do so. It is an eye opener to doing all the things we would love to do in this life. Life is short, but if well lived there will be no regrets. Should one be sick to write a BUCK LIST? No.

This movie was suggested to me by a patient whom I was visiting, (Name and place withheld). He had watched the movie a few hours before I visited and he had his bucket list ready by the end of movie. I could remember one of the items in his list was to drive a truck (18 Wheeler) across the US. Unfortunately he died before he did this. However, he gave it a trial. The same with each one of us, let’s give it a trail and have our BUCK LIST.

Doing Good, Doing Better - Mission for a Miracle

What are the benefits of short-term mission trips? Who should be going on mission? What are the disadvantages of going on a Medical mission trip? It is time for me to soliloquy, these thoughts as I prepare to wide up a two weeks medical mission in Nakuru - Kenya. At the moment I am in the comfort of my Guest house thinking about what we as a group have accomplished. Based on the many needs and the problems people have, I kind of think that we have done very little. However, little here little there equals to too much.

In this group are; one doctor and six nurses all of whom have variety of qualifications and specialties. Two of the nurses are forensic nurses, three are women specialty, and one is a general practice nurse working with children. Many people who go on medical mission trips with our team are not medical doctors or nurses. One can go on a trip in a support role like I did as a chaplain and organizer.

Those going on our medical missions have to make arrangements to have someone on call, take care for patients while one is gone. During these medical missions one is giving up income while he or she is gone. There are expenses of going...time away from family. Much of this is true for anyone who goes on our medical missions to Africa.

What are the benefits? You will use the skills you were trained to use. You will have to connect with people and provide what care you can. You won't get bogged down with insurance, h.m.o's, prescription plans, etc.

You can have the opportunity to practice medicine in a different context, and the opportunity to help save many lives. Lives that could have perished if no one make this trip a reality. Skip one of the nurses in this group said; “I never have seen so many patients in such s short time.” This trip was so successful that the group managed to see over 35,000 patients in 9 days. Because of time constraints, the number of people who need health care, and a variety of issues you see, there is a sense of immediacy and urgency, in doing a follow up trip in the near future.

What are other benefits when you join a medical mission trip with us? A better understanding of what it is like in other countries. You realize that other countries and cultures are different. Having lived in the US for close to 10 years today, I have learned that many people have not been outside of the US, which makes their world view different from others who have traveled on missions. This because US is a developed country unlike third world countries. While on missions you will learn that other people have different ways of looking at life and doing things. Your thinking will expand to consider other ways of doing things which you never have before.

This will help you to have a better understanding of people and their universal needs. You will find out that people, though they may look different, are the same all over the world. They have the same feelings, hopes, and desires -- they are human just like you are. Pastor Kelvin McFelin who was on our medical mission on support role exclaimed on arriving at the Airport of exit, “Kei, ( referring to me) why didn’t you tell me there are so many black people here.” Apparently Pastor Kelvin happened to be an African America visiting Kenya for the first time on medical mission and he was thrilled that are many Black people in Kenya. Isn’t that something?

Finally when you join a medical mission you will have more empathy for missionaries and the problems they face. When you experience it, you know what it is like. You will have a greater compassion and concern and be more likely to help. A greater appreciation for what you have at home. Most people will have a more thankful attitude, and less desire to complain about their life, after a mission trip. Most of us have felt sorry for ourselves over insignificant things. We are more apt to realize this after seeing what people in other places face.

If you would like updates on these medical mission trips, please let us know so that we can help you be part of mission for a miracle, something that will charge your life and your view of the world in general.

Our Second mission for the year 2011 is under way in September.