Introduction 

Time and again, during the three years His learners walked with and learned from Jesus, they failed to act as the Master had taught them. If He didn’t point out their “little faith”, He showed them up by doing what they could have. But, what if His disciples did it right?

Calming the Storm

In his presentation of the Good News, Matthew shows that the disciples got into a boat with Him to cross the Sea of Galilee. In the middle of the water, a storm blew up, intent on killing all who were aboard. And Jesus was sleeping through it!

Suppose the disciples woke Jesus merely to get instructions what to do. Peter shook the Teacher’s shoulder. “Master, we’re sorry to wake You, but a storm has come up and is trying to kill us all. How should we handle this?”

Jesus lifted His head to look around. He said, “Rebuke the wind and waves. They will calm down.” And He returned to sleep.

Peter reported to the others, “He said we should rebuke the wind and waves. Any problems with that?”

The disciples looked at each other then their sleeping Master and shrugged. “Let’s do it!”

As one, they lifted their voices to call on the love and power of God. Peter stood, pointed into the storm, and rebuked it. The storm obeyed and calmed, leaving the boat intact. The disciples looked at each other with amazement that they had the authority for such a feat.

Feeding the Five Thousand

Jesus spent a long day bringing healing a huge crowd. The disciples came and suggested they let the people go find food for supper. Jesus told them to feed the crowd. 

Suppose they said, “Huh, what? Alright, You have taught us that the Father is ready to provide. What do we do?”

Jesus asked, “What is available?”

“A boy has offered us five loaves and two fish. “

Jesus nodded. “Distribute that.”

The disciples looked at each other and shrugged. Someone got the boy’s lunch. They spoke the usual Jewish blessing over food and Peter began to break the bread while John broke the fish. They handed the pieces to the other learners.

The disciples immediately saw that the bread and fish remained plentiful as pieces were handed to the others. They turned and broke off pieces and handed them to the men in the crowd. “Give generous portions to your families.”

The men complied and all were fed with twelve baskets of pieces collected afterward. These were sent home with known poor people.

After the Mount of Transfiguration

Jesus had a habit of going off early in the morning to pray without eating first. Suppose He took some of the disciples from time to time? They would have learned to fast and pray and break the power of the principalities and powers over that region of Israel.

The Master took Peter, James, and John with Him to the top of Mt. Hermon. While there, His appearance was changed and his clothes became as bright white as lightning.

Coming down from the mountain, they came upon the other disciples doing the work of exorcizing an evil spirit from a boy. Suppose the boy foamed at the mouth and screeched then collapsed in silence. Matthew or another disciple laid hands on the boy and declared him healed. The boy stood up, smiling.

The boy’s father turned to the approaching Jesus and thanked Him for teaching these men how to do this work. Jesus smiled and said, “They learned how to fast and pray and obtain the Father’s authority and power.”

Awaiting the Resurrection

Time and again after Peter’s proclamation at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus said He would be handed over to the religious and political rulers for crucifixion. He also said He would rise again from the dead.

When Jesus was captured, what if, following His orders, the disciples scattered to avoid arrest? Once He was nailed to a cross, they gathered with the women to sorrowfully watch His execution. They took His body from the cross to the tomb of Joseph of Arimethea. Then they went to their headquarters house to wait for the promised resurrection. In this scenario, the disciples would have reassured people who cared that Jesus had promised to rise again. They would have maybe prepared a feast to celebrate His return to life once Jesus reappeared alive.

Post-Pentecost Application

Jesus has completed His task of dying on the Cross to destroy the powers of Humanity’s enemies. He has returned to life by the power of Holy Spirit and has returned to the heavenlies to sit on His Father’s throne. Together, They have poured out Holy Spirit on all people.

We in His ecclesia have His authority and power to deal with situations we face in the world. When figurative – or real – storms threaten to destroy our lives or His work through us, we as His people – His governing assembly – can rise up in faith to rebuke the wind and waves. They will calm before us.

When we face a need to feed a bunch – or a large number – of people, we can turn to the Lord Our Provider and feed them all with what little we might have. After spending time with Jesus in prayer and fasting, we can take on and expel evil spirits, no matter how powerful they are.

These examples are how we show people the love and power of God and the reign of Jesus on the earth.

Questions 

Do you meet with other people of God to seek and pray for His will on the Earth?

Do you believe you have His authority and power to make things happen?

Seek small groups of believers to pursue the Yes to these questions.