Seasoned mariners and fishermen in both Testaments of the Bible are often at odds with great bodies of water, yet God calms the chaos and the chaos in the interior life.
This weekend is Palm Sunday, followed by Easter, and then Orthodox Easter the Sunday afterwards, depending on how, where, and with whom you observe the events. I have always believed Easter should be celebrated on a grand scale, at least like the Christmas season, and have admired those who make such commitments.
We’re going to be in The Tabernacle with the hopes of doubling our attendance the next two weekends. As a member of the Praise Team, and with my secondary primary responsibilities as a minister so to speak, it is my duty to inform everyone that it will be cold.
The temps will probably be no more than the low 50’s from Friday nite through Sunday morning at afternoon at least. Everyone should dress warm per se long johns, sweatshirts with hoods of course, ampærsand any kinds of gloves, et cet.
As the praise team was chatting at Super Service last night, we didn’t want anyone to be anxious about the weekend weather, or let it be a deterrent. Just a decent ray of hope and a cuppa joe can make a big difference.
Even when a blast of bitter cold wind hits you, or rather you run into it like you’re hitting a wall, remember we’re all here so don’t fear. Some have struggled with far worse, and have had some degree of victory or success.
the realm of chaos
In the ancient world (especially the ancient Near East), the elements of the high heavens are considered the throne room/s of the gods (lower case g-).
The elements of water pointed to a different pantheon: storms, rain, snow, freezing rain, ocean deeps, seas, large lakes, etc. Although it is difficult to define anything with one English word transliteration, we could say this is the realm of chaos.
Seasoned mariners and fishermen in both Testaments of the Bible are often at odds with great bodies of water, yet God calms the chaos and the chaos in the interior life.
It’s easy to think about the parting of the Red Sea, an event that is recounted for teaching purposes generation after generation, countless times in the Hebrew Bible. What about the crossing of the Jordan River? There’s the mighty swell from the everlasting river, flowing forth from Ezekiel’s Third Temple. Don’t forget Jonah. There are others.
In the New Testament, who can be entirely sure whether or not Jesus walks on the water once or twice?
Do we know how many times He quells a storm?
Perhaps before trying to answer these questions, we should consider some of the Apostle John’s parting thoughts from his Gospel account (John xx.30-31; xxi.24-25).
facing storms
For seasoned fishermen, as some of the Apostles are, storms of the magnitude they face with Jesus are unsettling, almost unnatural.
Is it the same for us today?
Have our storms increased or decreased since we met Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
limiting the storm
In the midst of the chaos Christ still speaks and even walks on water, as if He really is similar to the Spirit of God hovering over the face of the deep (Genesis i.2).
Do we recognize the limits our Lord has placed on the created order, even if the enemy may attempt to use it against God’s immediate purposes in our lives?
victory beyond human understanding
When Jesus walks on the water, or sleeps in a storm on the way to an evangelistic engagement, He has an uncanny confidence.
Does Jesus have freedom in knowing the victory is ultimately beyond human understanding?
Are we the ones who need to be stretched to think in ways to make us more fully human, as God intended us to be?
will cold or chaos from storms keep us from church this weekend?
It may be cold this weekend, perhaps even next weekend.
However, to celebrate at the the gateway to the city of Jerusalem [so to speak] on Palm Sunday, may be worth our time.
Jesus is our Messiah, the anointed one, more than able to rule and reign in every situation.
He is Hosanna meaning He has the ability to save our souls right now.
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