你正在經歷風暴嗎?
約翰福音六章15至21節
15耶穌既知道眾人要來強逼他作王,就獨自又退到山上去了。
16到了晚上,他的門徒下海邊去,
17上了船,要過海往迦百農去。天已經黑了,耶穌還沒有來到他們那裡。
18忽然狂風大作,海就翻騰起來。
19門徒搖櫓,約行了十里多路,看見耶穌在海面上走,漸漸近了船,他們就害怕。
20耶穌對他們說:是我,不要怕!
21門徒就喜歡接他上船,船立時到了他們所要去的地方。
信息分享
讓我們先想想這批遇上風暴的門徒。他們在不久之前,還在廣大的群眾面前,得到主的奇妙使用(給五千人吃飽)。但後來,群眾想擁立基督作王,基督卻不肯滿足他們的願望;所以,我們不難想像,門徒現在也許跟群眾一樣感到相當的失望。好了,他們如今在漆黑的湖上,剛巧遇上風暴,基督卻不在他們身邊,你想,門徒的心情會是怎麼樣呢?你曾否試過,經過蒙受祝福的美好一天,翌日卻「淌在污水之中」?
為甚麼會出現風暴呢?這當然可以從大自然的角度來解釋:因為湖上經常刮起大風(18節)。但從屬靈的角度而言,可能是撒但在背後興風作浪。但我們要記住,當基督吩咐門徒上船出海的時候,祂已經知道風暴將至。這對我們來說是一大教訓!我們遇上試煉的時候,必須記住基督是知道的--當風暴未曾臨到之前,祂其實早已知道,但祂仍然讓我們進入風暴,那是為甚麼呢?就是為了要顯出祂的大能,並加增我們的信心。
接著,掌管風暴的主,便以一種完全超乎人想像的方式出現--祂竟然在風高浪急的水面上行走,直來到門徒的船上。風暴對祂好像全無影響。然後,祂便開口對門徒說:「是我。」這話聽進門徒耳中,實在是太美妙了!你曾否試過在黑暗中迷路,徬徨之際,卻聽見有人呼喊你的名字?
其他福音書告訴我們,當耶穌一來到船上,風暴就立即離開了。祂的同在,豈不一樣帶給我們奇妙的改變?這位萬有之主,今天正與你同在。
請讀:
哥林多前書十章13節,並確信它的應許。
Going Through A Storm?
John 6:15-21
15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,
17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.
19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.
20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
Message
Think first of the men in the storm. They had been wonderfully used by the Lord in front of a big crowd (the 50,000 fed). The crowd wanted to make Christ king, but he wouldn't let them. Imagine the disappointment of his disciples. Now they were in darkness out on the lake in a storm and Christ wasn't with them. Have you ever been 'down in the dumps' after a wonderful day of blessing? Was that how the disciples felt?
What was the meaning of the storm? There were natural reasons for it. Winds often came up suddenly on the lake (v.18). Perhaps Satan was behind this storm, too. But remember this, Christ knew the storm was coming when he sent them out on to the water in their boat. What a lesson for us! When we are being tested, let us remember Christ knows about the test. He knows about the storm, before it comes to us yet he still allows us to go into it. Why? To show his power and to increase our faith.
Then came the Master of the storm. He came in a most unexpected way, walking on the waves which were troubling them. The storm makes no difference to him. Then he spoke. How wonderful it must have been to hear him say, 'It is I'. Have you ever been lost in the dark and suddenly heard someone calling your name?
The other gospels tell us the wind went away as soon as Jesus came. Doesn't his presence make a marvelous difference? He is Master of everything and he is with you today.
Read:
1 Corinthians 10:13 and believe every word it says.

