“One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they put out, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:22-25)

“With Christ in the vessel I smile at the storm…” (John Newton)

“Who is this?” the disciples ask. They have observed Jesus for some time now, and have witnessed many wonderful events, and listened to his teaching. Yet in the midst of another obstacle, something they would have encountered many times, Jesus’ mastery over even the wind and the water still leave doubts in their minds about who Jesus really is. It leaves us wondering, right? I mean a legion of demons is about to name him as the “Son of the Most High G-d.” Why is it that sometimes we cannot see the forest for the trees? 

Why is it that we cannot see clearly what is right in front of us? I remember the words of the song by Jimmy Cliff, I Can See Clearly Now:

I can see clearly now the rain is gone.
I can see all obstacles in my way.
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day.

Is it because the disciples’ have a limited ability to see through their own clouds of doubt that they cannot see the incredible events happening right in front of them? Or, simply put, is it our humanness that clouds out acceptance of the divine at work in our lives?

“Who is this Jesus?” Many people ask the question – it is our task to help them see.

Pastor Dave