Jesus Asleep In The Boat
Have you ever had an experience that defined you? In all your life, that one experience seemed to be what you were born to do, and then after it was over, that one experience was the mirror by which everyone viewed you. You may have done other things in your life, but you are only really every known for one? That is what I want to talk to you about. The moment that revealed to me my purpose for being. The moment that I will forever be remembered for. I call this three year period a moment because I was born in the beginning when God created the heaven and the earth. I am not eternal, but I have been alive so long that time no longer matters to me. One day, year, season, flows into the next and it is pointless for me to discern one from the next. However, those days and years, that season of my existence, I remember very well. Three years defined me. Who am I, you might ask? Mankind has known me by many different names: The Sea of Galilee, Lake Kinneret, Lake of Gennesaret and Lake Tiberias. From my beginning, however, the Creator has called me Proskephalaion (pros-kef-al'-ahee-on); Al-ahee for short.
During that 3-year period, my moment in history, much of the ministry of the Creator as man (humans call Him Jesus) occurred on my shores. Four of His most famous disciples were recruited from my shores: Simon, Andrew, James and John. Jesus most famous teaching called The Sermon on the Mount, was given on a hill overlooking me. Many miracles occurred near or on me: Jesus walking on me, Peter trying and succeeding for a time to do the same, the disciples and their boatload of fish, feeding 5000 men on my shores with some bread and a small amount of my fish, and of course the day Jesus calmed my waters. Shall I tell you about that day in particular?
I have known of the Creator's existence since the dawn of my own. What a glorious experience to be born fully conscious of the One that made you and to know from the beginning that you were loved, that you would always be loved, and that you had purpose. Before that day, I had always felt the Creator’s presence and the leading of His Spirit, but I had never heard His voice. That day, He spoke to me audibly. How can I describe it? I am Al-ahee, a lake, a sea. Words are for humans. I speak in ripples and waves and currents, and when I join my friends Rain and Katabatic Wind, I speak in tsunami's, hurricanes and typoons. To hear His voice is to experience a hundred tsunami's crashing into me one after the other, only there is no destruction left in its wake, only life, love and more love. And, when the waves have ceased, complete understanding of one's assignment is left in its wake. That day, I was on assignment; me and Katabatic Wind; I call him Kata. He has also been around since the beginning. He is the wind that hails from the high ground and has the ability to rush down elevated slopes at hurricane speeds.
That day was particularly beautiful before Jesus spoke to me. The sun felt wonderful as it heated my surface. I looked great too; at least according to Kata. He says when the sun hits my surface, I sparkle with every color of the rainbow. He's such a sweet talker. I wish we could see one another more often, but when we are together, peace and calm go out the window. The humans like me better when Kata is not around. I can't see them, but I can feel them as I surround them like a blanket and I hear their laughter as my gentle waves bring them pleasure. The humans also like me when Kata is not around because I become a safe haven for them to ride their ships through and take from my fresh water storehouse of fish. It doesn't bother me that they take from me, because Creator always replenishes. The humans also know the Creator. When I am calm, I hear them praise Him, and when Kata and I come together, I hear their panicked please for His mercy. Destruction is never our intent when we come together, but sometimes, it is our purpose from the Creator.
That day, our assignment was simple: "Al-Ahee and Kata, hear Me. Today the three of us will give My disciples a test. They will fail. They will think Me unaware, even cruel at first, but after the test, they will learn that I am the opposite of those things. They will learn to trust Me. This lesson in trust will be a memorial stone for them during the trials they will face when I am back with My Father. When life seems out of control, they will remember what we three will do today, and confidence in My ability to deliver them will arise in their hearts, minds and spirits."
"What would you have us do Lord?" Those were the only words we could say; the only words we wanted to say. We knew instinctively that when He spoke in this manner, few words were needed or required in return. This was the plan:
Kata would be on the look out for Jesus getting into the boat with His pillow. Once He got to the rear of the boat and closed His eyes, Kata would take action.
All I had to do was listen for Kata as he rushed toward me from the mountains
Once he crashed into me, I would take care of the rest. Maneuvering my waves to attack, but not destroy, the Creator's vessel until He told me to stop.
Such a simple assignment, but so fun, and what an honor to be “in" on the test He had for His disciples. Everything went according to plan, of course. My waves were quit beautiful in their fury if I do say so myself. The disciples were so scared and a few were angry. I heard comments like, "how can He be asleep at a time like this?" I also heard the one who held the money bag say, "is that really a pillow under His head?" The one called John was so hurt: "doesn't He care that we are about to die?"
Then, they woke Him up. " Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind stopped, and it became completely calm. Jesus said to his followers, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
As impossible as this sounds, while the disciples heard gentle rebuke, we heard gentle praise: "You have both done well." That's all He said. That was enough. The One who created me and has the power to calm me is pleased with me. I am eternally content. Nothing else matters.
Life has been pretty calm since those three years passed. I have not heard the voice of the Creator since that time, but He is too good to abandon what He has made. He is with me still, like He was in the beginning. I am content and full of joy, always, because of His presence. Most lakes eventually dry up, but I know I never will. Did I forget to mention that in the tsunami of His voice, I saw a vision of my future. It is also your future. The time when a new heaven and a new earth come together. Yes, Proskephalaion, Al-Ahee, will be there. The lake called Al-Ahee, eternally present to join with her friend Kata and tell the story of mankind's sleeping Savior who was never unaware, always seeing, ever knowing, and continually loving His creation.