Storms and Rocks!
Jesus mission was not to do His own thing. He didn’t come to show us what it looks like to be an individual doing his own thing. In the world we live today the emphasis is on doing your own thing. Doing your own thing can be very lucrative and can bring great success. Sponsorships are looking for the individuals that stand out in their sport. Jesus was not a sport star. His sole purpose was to please the Father. His purpose was to do His Fathers will. Jesus was always looking to participate in what His Father was doing.
John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what things soever he does, these also does the Son likewise.
John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Jesus loved to participate in what His Father was doing. So many times we decide to do something and then ask God to bless what we are doing. What God is doing is already blessed. When we participate with what He is doing it will always be blessed without us having to ask God to bless it.
The story of Peter and the disciples in the boat is a great lesson in participation. They were all in the same circumstances. A storm was threatening their lives and they had to fight the circumstances around them. I am sure they were in doubt of their lives. They were cold and wet and tired. Then Jesus appeared to them walking on the water. He was above their circumstances. The sea that was a threat to the disciples was not a threat to Him. Then Peter does something that was unheard of. He asked Jesus if he could come to Him. In the story it sounds as if Peter doubted that it was Jesus. “If it is you call me to come to you,” he asked. What we are missing is that this doubtful disciple was doing something the others didn’t do. The difference between Peter and the other eleven disciples on the boat was that in spite of him doubting, he wanted to participate with what Jesus was doing: walking on the water.
Peter did something different than any one of the others. He had an experience none of the others had. He moved from being controlled by the storm to being under the control of Jesus. When he saw the waves and doubted again he sank. Him participating was not without failure but Jesus was close enough to help him. When we step out and participate with God failure is not taken away but when it happens He is there to save the day. When they returned to the boat the storm calmed. What Peter experienced outside of the boat now was experienced inside the boat. Do you need to bring some peace back to your family, job or friends? Step out and participate with Him.
Lazarus died and Jesus got there four days late. As soon as his sisters saw Jesus they confronted Him with the fact that He was late. “If you had been here he would not have died.” Their response was understandable because they loved their brother. Jesus responded to them by not explaining His delay but with the solution. “If you believe you will see the glory of God.” When Jesus got to the grave where they buried Lazarus he wept. He also loved Lazarus. What was behind the stone in front of the grave had great value to both Jesus and Lazarus sisters. How many things of great value have we buried behind a stone because we thought it died when God didn’t show up on time. When the disciples confronted Jesus about Lazarus He declared that Lazarus is asleep. To the natural eye it looks dead but God declares it to be asleep. “Lets go and wake him up,” Jesus declared over Lazarus. What you think is dead and gone, God can wake up and use again.
When they got to the place that they buried Lazarus Jesus requested they remove the stone. “He stinks,” his sister declared. So many times we ascribe a condition to the things we thought were dead when in actual fact it still carries the potential of life! I am so glad that Jesus ignored their conclusions. “Take the stone away” He said. What I want you to see is that He was inviting them to participate. He wants to do something supernatural and give life back to the precious things in your life. The things you buried and stuck a rock to hide it, He wants to restore back to life! He does not remove the stone because He didn’t put it there. You remove the stone and in doing that you are participating with the supernatural thing He is about to do in your life!
Then Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb. He has the power to give life to the dead things in your life. As Lazarus came out of the grave he was still bound with the grave cloths. When life returns there might still be things that needs to be loosed. Jesus again invites them to participate. “You let him loose and let him go.” Their participation with Him caused Lazarus to be totally free and alive. What do you think is dead in your life? The invitation stands for you to set it free by participating with what He is doing.
Just like Jesus participated with the Father so we can participate with Him. Are you ready to deal with some storms and rocks? He is there to change your circumstances!
