Christian Studies

Final essay by Draco (Rev. Stephen Larrance)

Subject ” Disciples on the boat crossing the sea.”

I have read this story over and over many times and I have always found the story very interesting. I have many different views of the story that I will not indulge everyone with, but the one I will may or may not open eyes to the true meaning of the story. So now I will begin my final essay.

When we read the New Testament, Jesus had twelve disciples that were following him on a daily basis, as we should during our lives. If we aren’t maybe we should look at our priorities in our life. To live by faith, we must listen, do what God tells us to do, if not we aren’t then we are just fooling not only our selves but God also, but that is impossible for God know all things. All through Jesus’ ministry, the disciples questioned a lot of what He did, often saying,” Who can this be?” For example we will turn to the story of the storm on the sea in Matthew 14:22-33. This story tells now the disciples reacted on the adventure across the sea , and how we do when things get tough in our daily lives. First off Jesus dismisses the disciples to the boat and to leave without Him, while He goes up the mountain to pray. So off go the disciples on the boat across the sea, just as we do on a daily basis going off to our jobs, marriages, and what ever else we do during a time.

As they were crossing the Sea of Galilee a great tempest (storm) arose, and frightened the disciples, they were perplexed, full of fear, and at a loss. And in the middle of all this, they looked up and saw Jesus walking towards them on the water. This frightened them even more because they thought they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus sensing this spoke to them to be not afraid for it I, Jesus. But Peter not believing any of this spoke back to Jesus saying “If it is I, command me to come to you.. Jesus answered Peter by saying “Come”, it is now time for Peter to show not only Jesus but also the disciples, and to us the amount of faith the Peter had. Peter then stepped out of the boat and started walking on the water just as Jesus had previously done.

Then Peter sensing the storm that was surrounding them he decided to look away from Jesus and at the storm. And at that time Peter sank into the water crying out to Jesus to save him, Jesus then stretched out his hand and grabbed Peter and brought him back up out of the water saying, “ O ye of little faith, why did you doubt? Then Jesus steps into the boat and the whole storm ceased.

This is how we as people continue to live our lives, instead of focusing on our spirituality; we allow the things of this world to take over our thoughts and how we conduct our lives. I as well as all of us have done this, we all can walk on the water of life, heal ourselves and others if we don’t allow the things of this world to take over our thoughts of spirituality. Jesus said “Do not be afraid, for it is I. So the next time perplexity, fear, or any other thought that comes to mind that attempts to make you lose focus, just remember that Jesus lives within us, not outside us.

But that is a whole other topic.

End of essay.

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