The Forgotten Miracle.

I went for a walk a few weeks ago. My neighbour and I would drive down to a little coastal park and go for a walk along the water’s edge until we came to a seat and then we’d sit for a while and talk. I was a bit hesitant at going as the weather forecast was a bit mixed and I didn’t want us to get caught out in the rain. But off we went, anyway.

We sat and chatted about some of the mundane things in life and sometimes we’d just sit and look across the bay to the shore on the far side. Or we’d allow our gaze to travel around and see the landmarks of the city five miles away to the south.

On this particular day I could see the rain clouds over the city and wondered how long it would be before we had to run back to the car for shelter. We sat and watched as the clouds and rainfall travelled their way along the far side of the bay while we sat looking up at blue skies and sunshine. It was very surreal to think the while we sat in the sunshine the far side of the bay was getting drenched in rain. My friend made some comment along the lines of “that’s what you get when you don’t pay your taxes”.

The event made me think of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilea. I was trying to think of what size the Sea of Galilea was in comparison to this bay which I sat it. I could see the beach on the far eastern shore which is three miles away. And I could see the city landmarks which were five miles to the south.

When I came home I opened up my computer Bible study program. (I use an excellent program called ESword). I also opened up the maps on my computer and started to do some comparisons. And although The sea of Galilea about twice as large as this bay it is not inconcievable that the centre of the sea can be seen from most of its coastlines.

While I was reading through all these passages relating to Jesus calming the storm, it never occurred to me that the incident is mentioned six times in four gospels. I started to read deeper before the obvious occurred to me….

This is two different events!!!

In one event we have it recorded in Matthew ch8 were Jesus is in the boat...

 ⁽²³⁾Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. ⁽²⁴⁾And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. ⁽²⁵⁾Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" ⁽²⁶⁾But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. ⁽²⁷⁾So the men marvelled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"

This passage is essentially repeated in Mark 4:35-41 and Luke 8:22-25

However in Matthew 14:22-27 we read that Jesus had gone a short distance up into the mountains and looked back and saw the boat in difficulties. That’s when He came down and walked out onto the water.

⁽²²⁾Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. ⁽²³⁾And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. ⁽²⁴⁾But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. ⁽²⁵⁾Now in the fourth watch of the night (between 3am and 6am) Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. ⁽²⁶⁾And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. ⁽²⁷⁾But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 

This particular incident is repeated in Mark 6:45-51 and John 6:16-21.

Both of the Gospels of Matthew and Mark record the two events separately.

 I was stumped. “What’s going on here”?

Now, I know that the Bible doesn’t contradict itself. Especially when all the passages are read in an intelligent and objective way the correct version of the accounts can be found. So I left these thoughts to spin round my mind while I got on with other things. Preachers and lecturers have preached for decades and centuries about Jesus calming the storm and Peter walking on the water. But I’ve never heard of anyone speaking about this apparent contradiction.

But a thought eventually occurred to me – Who said all these verses relate to one event? Is it not possible that Jesus calmed a storm on two occasions?

Well, why couldn’t he have done it. Storms are very common around the Sea of Galilea. And afterall, Jesus did several of His miracles more than once….

There are two accounts where He fed the multitude. First the 5000 then the 4000. There are several accounts where Jesus raised someone from the dead. Lazarus. Jairus’s daughter. The Centurion’s servant. Why wouldn’t He have calmed a storm on more than one occasion?

But these readings make me realise something else very important. How many other times has Jesus been working in the background of my life and I didn’t even know it? How many times has He brought me to a scenario and I found that other people already there knew that I needed something, or wanted some help with something.

I remember one time when I had a few thoughts and ideas about some childrens bible lessons. I went and spoke to a group leader about sharing them with the kids groups and asked the leader if they would maybe think about allowing me to share some thoughts and bible teaching exercises. The leader replied, “Oh. Didn’t you know? We’ve organised a Bible weekend and you’re the speaker”.

So many times I have found that Jesus has prepared the scenario for us in our daily lives. So many times when I have stopped and wondered at something that has happened in my life and thought to myself, “This could only have been of God”.

So, don’t forget my friend. Jesus is always with us. He is caring for us behind the scenes. Even when we can’t see Him - He is there.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!

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