His Last Command: Our First PrioritySample

Day 8: Let’s go to the other side

Luke 8:22 NKJV

Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.

The Sea of Galilee, also called Kinneret, is a large freshwater lake in north-eastern Israel. Jesus would have often travelled by boat with his disciples, some of whom were former fishermen now called fishers of men. It seemed like another exciting missionary journey, but this “certain day” was different from most. Jesus already knew what awaited them on the “other side” and anticipated what the crossing would be like. Difficult circumstances were ahead, so, with that in mind, he lay down to rest.

The lake, lying below sea level, is known for sudden weather changes. Soon, a “fierce gale of wind descended on the lake” (v.23). Their boat, with low sides meant for hauling in nets, quickly began to fill with water, and they were in imminent danger.

They went to Jesus and woke Him up. “Master, Master, we are perishing!” (v. 24). Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and waves, and immediately there was calm. They were perishing, and Jesus was peacefully sleeping. How could these things be true in the same circumstance?

The wind and the waves were real. We can all point to experiences that felt like a storm. But the peace and faithfulness of God are also real and accessible to the believer in every storm of life. “Where is your faith?” Jesus asked. This question resonates with us as well.

You might start with the best intentions to do something for the Kingdom of God. At our church, we make yearly faith promises to support global missions. We have high hopes and plan to follow through, but soon the wind picks up, and the waves threaten, and we begin to wonder if we can make it to the other side.

While the sun is shining, it’s fairly easy to get in the boat, but when the storm’s raging, it’s not so easy to stay in the boat. When Jesus seems near, our faith is high, but when He seems to be sleeping, and the storm is raging, our faith is not so high.

Jesus rebuked the raging storm, indicating that something more than weather was at work. They had experienced spiritual opposition from the enemy. There was more opposition ahead of them. It was the reason Jesus asked to go to the other side of the lake.

Luke 8:26-39 recounts Jesus’ encounter with the impoverished, tormented, and demon-possessed man who was a terror to himself and everyone around him. He had been shackled and tied with chains, but each time, with superhuman strength, he broke free.

Jesus asked the man, “What is your name?”, but it was the demons, not the man, who answered: “Legion”, showing that many demons had entered him.

It’s hard to imagine a more lost person with no hope for help or change whatsoever. But this is who Jesus came for. This man was known and feared throughout the region.

The region of the Gerasenes was mainly inhabited by Gentiles, which is why a large herd of pigs features in the story. Not only did Jesus associate with tax collectors and sinners, but now we see him ministering to a demon-possessed Gentile!

Jesus commanded the demons to leave, and they entered into a nearby herd of pigs. The demons caused a frenzy, drove the herd over the steep bank, and into the lake. The herd's owners were upset and frightened, and they asked Jesus and His disciples to leave their region.

The man, however, was a miracle on display.

Luke 8:35-36 NASB

The people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting in his right mind, and they became frightened. Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well.

The man (I wish we knew his real name) begged Jesus to let him go with them, but Jesus sent him back with instructions to tell everyone about the great things God had done for him. And he did just that. The once infamous demoniac became a proclaimer of God’s goodness and of Jesus the Saviour and deliverer. You can be sure everyone listened to him!

The disciples on the lake faced the dark clouds of the enemy, but as it has been through the ages and remains true for us today, there is a different and encouraging kind of cloud - a cloud of witnesses of God’s faithful ones who cheer us on today.

Hebrews 12:1 NIV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 11 lists some of those “great ones” who have something to say about a life lived with faith in God.

Abel is saying, “Don’t be afraid to offer your best offerings and sacrifices to God.”

Enoch is saying, “Walk with God, walk with God. Don’t waver or give up, but keep walking with Him, and one day, you’ll walk right into His presence.”

Noah is saying, “Obey God. Obey Him! Even when you’re not sure what’s going on. If He tells you to do something, do it! Obeying God is how you save yourself.”

Abraham is saying, “Go where He tells you to go. Remember, the earth is not your home; you’re a pilgrim looking for a city with foundations, whose maker and builder is God. Don’t get too attached to the temporal dwellings of the earth, for it is not your home!”

Moses is saying, “The purposes of Christ are of greater value than the treasures of Egypt. I forsook Egypt for the treasures of Christ, and I’m eternally grateful I did!”

What individual, what need, what desperate situation awaits on the other side of your faith? What wind and waves, setbacks and discouragements must you push through? What opposing forces do you need to stand up to and rebuke?

We are on a journey of faith, and faith calls us to keep going and gives us the strength to do so.

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Prayer

Lord, I thank You that no matter what storms or situations oppose me right now, You are always with me. I thank You for giving us Your name and Your authority to face any opposition. Lord, I want to reach the “other side”. I understand that there is more for me to do, and I will not stop pursuing God's plan and purposes.