Not without Storms and Trials

Rev. C. Vogelaar, Zwolle, the Netherlands

Mediatorial power

The disciples have obeyed the voice of their Master and have gone to Galilee. He had promised, “There shall they see Me.” He had appointed a mountain as the meeting place. As a surprising Lord, He appeared unto those waiting disciples. When they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some doubted. The risen Prince of Life appeared in His glory, and some were not sure whether He was their risen Savior or not; therefore, the Lord Jesus came near unto them. It was His coming alone that could answer their questions, calm their fears, and solve their riddles. Has this also been your longing that He might come and speak to your soul to make all things plain?

He spoke with authority, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). This is not the power He possessed as the Son of God, but it is His mediatorial power or authority. The reins of the government of the world are laid in the pierced hands of Jesus, who reigns as the glorious King of heaven and earth. He reigns and conquers His enemies, extends His Kingdom, and protects His defenseless, weak people. He subdues the storms and is a safe refuge to them in time of need. Stephen saw Him “standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). His power He had already manifested previously in the life of His disciples, although now, when He was going to ascend unto His Father, He would no longer manifest it in the state of His humiliation but as the victorious Ruler of heaven and earth, directing all the events of this world to the welfare of His Church and to His own glory. When this dispensation is ended, He will give the reins back to the Father, having finished His work in the perfection of His kingdom and the gathering in of His chosen people.

His power He had so clearly shown when His disciples were on board the ship and when a great tempest arose in the sea. His terrified disciples crept unto Him, awoke Him, and cried, “Lord, save us: we perish” (Matthew 8:25). After He had reprimanded them for their fearfulness, He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea; there was a great calm. The majesty of His speaking caused the tempest to cease and a great calm to come which made the disciples marvel, saying, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!” (Matthew 8:27).

He rebuked the storm

The journey of the true pilgrims will not be without storms and trials. So often they are assaulted by the enemy, and sometimes they fear that they will perish. They have no might against that great company that cometh against them. What a blessing it is if they may take refuge unto Him, the blessed exalted King at the right hand of the Father, and when their eyes may be upon Him. However, not only later on their pilgrim’s journey, but also when the Lord begins His work in the soul, there can be fierce assaults of the devil to hinder or, if possible, even to destroy this work.

Something of this we witnessed recently while we visited an old friend of our family; we have known her for many years, actually, from our childhood. She had become old, having reached an age of more than ninety years. Much weakness afflicted her body, so that she was bound to her sickbed, and a visit to her had to be very short. This winter season has been very busy for us, so that almost all evenings were occupied with catechizing, visiting, midweek services, and other labours. Nevertheless, I could still find some time to visit her every month. This involved some travelling since she did not belong to my own flock, but I felt I had to try to find opportunities to visit her.

Those visits were not always easy since she appeared to be in much distress. She knew that her time must be very short because her physical strength had gradually decreased, and this made her extremely fearful. Often we heard her crying in great soul distress. She had to die, and she could not die and meet her Maker. She experienced that she could not even cry rightly and that all her prayers were worthless and could not even be called a prayer to God. The strife, the anguish of her soul was often so great, that I left with a heavy heart and a cry to God that it might please Him to deliver her. What a wonder it would be if He would show that He still hears the cry of the needy. Reasons in her or in anyone there are none, but could He not do it for His own Name’s sake?

The weeks and months passed by, and there was no answer. The storms grew heavier, and often with a feeling of helplessness I left her house. Yet it was the longing of my soul that God would show His gracious power so that the enemy would be put to shame and God’s Name would be honored. He is so worthy that the mockers would have to be silent, God’s people would rejoice, and He would be glorified. Then, unexpectedly, I was called by an elder of her church who had visited her often and very faithfully. It was a surprising message which he gave me. The Lord had visited the woman in her distress and broken her bonds. The storm had ceased, and a great calm had come in her life, he said, and he himself was humbled under it.

An encouraging visit

As you can understand, I did not wait long before I went to see her. There she was, very weak, but also very different from previous visits. What she told me was very simple and short but no strange language and, in all its simplicity, very scriptural. She had been lying there as one for whom there was no longer hope and one who had no rights but deserved to be cast away. Then the Lord had come very near to her, not in anger, but in condescending mercy. He had spoken, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” It had come with such sweet power that she knew the Lord was speaking to her.

For a moment, she told me, the enemy had tried to take it away from her, saying, “This is not enough; it has to be more.” Immediately, however, the Lord spoke again, “I will never alter what once I have spoken.” It was in the Dutch rhymed Psalm, but it was the voice of the Shepherd which was heard so clearly by this tender lamb. The Shepherd, the precious Savior, has merited this grace. A door of hope was opened to her. A way of salvation by grace only for a hopeless and lost sinner was shown. God’s nearness was experienced. Then the enemy had to flee, and great joy came in her heart. So childlike and so humbly she told me that the Lord had been very near to her since that visit, and all her fears were gone. It was visible, for there was a great calm after all those terrible storms. As you will understand, I left with great gladness in my heart, for the Lord had proved again to be a prayer-giving and prayer-answering God.

Why do I share this experience with you? It is certainly not to elevate this woman. She is at the end of her journey and will soon be out of reach of the sharp arrows of the enemy when she may reach the safe harbor. The Lord will finish perfectly what He for her has undertaken. The prayers for her were also given prayers, so there is no merit in them. However, I wanted to share this in order that a discouraged beggar who does not seem to get an answer may take courage and have hope that the Lord will come at His time and open the prison for him or her also. He hears the needy when they cry. The Canaanitish woman seemed to be rejected; yet she could not let Him go—He, the Son of David, who received publicans and sinners and would not send the poor and needy away. He crowned His own work, and this He still does.

Yesterday I spoke about the seven disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. They toiled all night but caught nothing. It was very painful and humbling that they had to admit this. Yet a necessary confession was made by them. At this place, we have to come. We are not able to show or give anything that can please the Lord. However, there is room for such bankrupt sinners. From His side, the side of His will, His good pleasure, and His riches, there will be a surprise, and soon, on the shore, they may thank, adore, and glorify Him for all that He has so graciously given. Then everything of us will forever be taken away, and He alone will receive the honor.

They will see Him and cast the crown at His blessed feet. There the redeemed Church will worship a Triune God. They will sing songs of praise to glorify Him for His faithfulness and all the gracious benefits that He has given them.

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