19 July 2021 - Jesus in the boat

We have focused on Jesus who walked on the water, calming a storm. Now, we are going to focus on another story, Jesus also calmed a storm, but this time Jesus was on the boat with His disciples.

Mark 4:35-41 (AMP) 35 On that day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side .” 36 So leaving the crowd, they took Him with them, just as He was, in the boat. And other boats were with Him. 37 And a fierce windstorm began to blow, and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already being swamped. 38 But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion.

In this passage the evening had come, indicating that the night was coming. Night represents sadness, depression, problems, end of the day and unhappiness. Maybe you feel like night is coming, you are not sure whether you are going to see the morning. You are in a fierce storm; the wind is blowing, and the waves are breaking against your boat of life. You may feel like Job, in Job 7:4 (VOICE) “When I lie down at the end of day, I wonder, “How soon till morning so I can arise? But the night stretches on, and I toss and turn until sunrise.”

Psalm 30:5 (AMP) declares “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

Like Peter, you have tried everything, but it just seems like you are not making any progress. It is dark, it is night, and your tired. No matter how long or dark your night, a new dawn will break. Peter has been out the whole night but caught nothing. They return to the shore with nothing, but what a surprise, they thought all hope was lost, but as the day was breaking Jesus was waiting for them. Jesus instructed them to cast the net out on the right side of the boat, from catching no fish at night, the net was not able to haul it because of the quantity of fish. Their joy came in the morning.

John 21:3 (ESV) “Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.

Remember, God is not only God of the day, but also of the night.

Psalm 74:16 (NKJV) “The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun.”

Psalm 139:12 (ESV) “even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”

2 Samuel 22:29 (ESV) 29 For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.

Today, God lightens your darkness.