23-25Then he got in the boat, his disciples with him. The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat—and he was sound asleep! They roused him, pleading, “Master, save us! We’re going down!” 26Jesus reprimanded them. “Why are you such cowards, such faint-hearts?” Then he stood up and told the wind to be silent, the sea to quiet down: “Silence!” The sea became smooth as glass. 27The men rubbed their eyes, astonished. “What’s going on here? Wind and sea come to heel at his command!” Matthew 8:23-27 MSG
Part 1 of this series focused on the disciple’s situation as they were facing adversity in the midst of a storm on the sea. They cried out to Jesus who was in the boat with them, and he answered their prayer/call, but not without reprimanding them for being faint-hearted. I think more important to understand about this situation is not that the disciples experienced doubt in the midst of a storm, or that Jesus brought peace to their situation while also scolding them, but more importantly what Jesus had promised to them and told them long before they experienced this adverse situation, and others later.
21Then Jesus said to them, “You don’t take a lamp and hide it under a bowl or a bed, do you? Of course not. You put it on a lampstand. 22Everything that is hidden will be made clear. Every secret thing will be made known. 23You people who hear me, listen! 24Think carefully about what you are hearing. God will know how much to give you by how much you understand now. But he will give you more than you deserve. 25The people who have some understanding will receive more. But those who do not have much will lose even the small amount they have.” Mark 4:21-25 ERV
We understand the four gospels are parallel accounts of the Jesus’ ministry written from 4 different viewpoints to different audiences. Some of the gospels will lack parables or stories that are included in others, and some will have additional information that aren’t found in the others. Mark 4 contains the story of Jesus calming the storm, but just before that passage, it also includes this parable about the lampstand. Jordan, “how does the lampstand parable relate to this series about Why won’t you trust him?” Great that you ask, because we are the lamps that have been lit by Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit (the oil), and set in a dark place that we may illuminate the path to heaven for those that may not be able to find it themselves, and/or those who haven’t heard/seen it….yet.
God will know how much to give you by how much you understand now.
Could it have been that Jesus intentionally led them into the storm on the sea to test their faith and see how they would respond in the midst of adversity? They had already heard Jesus speak on faith previously, as a matter of fact in Matthew 8:5-13, which is the same chapter where this story in told in Matthew, Jesus heals the centurion’s slave who is sick just by speaking a word, because as Jesus said:
The truth is, this man has more faith than anyone I have found, even in Israel. Then Jesus said to the officer, “Go home. Your servant will be healed the way you believed he would.” Right then his servant was healed.
Matthew 8: 10,13 ERV
The disciples had seen examples of faith work for others who had approached Jesus, so they should have understood that it is not a situation of whether Jesus has the ability or power to heal, but do YOU have the FAITH to speak life or victory in your situation? Maybe the storm on the sea under the veil of darkness was the disciples opportunity to let their lamp shine bright in the darkness, for them to show God what they possessed/understood, and for him to be able to give them MORE understanding which would increase their faith and strength. Maybe Jesus’ silence in your prayers, or perceived absence in your situation is actually him being there with you the whole time, and placing you on a lampstand to let your light shine bright in the darkness for others to be attracted to and connect with, follow, or actually light their own lamp with. Maybe the sea, and the storm is God’s way of presenting the lamp (you) that was once hidden under the bed or shade to the darkness so that you can shine brighter and light the way.
Reflection time
Why won’t you trust him? Have you confused Jesus’ silence with absence? Do you feel like you have or are missing the opportunity to shine bright in the darkness, or allow God to download you with more understanding and power? How have you handled your storms, raging waters, or silent moments; have your shut down, lost faith/hope, sought God more fervently, or something else? What do you need from God to increase your trust in him? What do you need to do to increase your trust in God? Are you ready to be revealed to the world, and face the adversity that comes with being a light in a dark place?
