Did You Know? (The middle-of-the-night water walk.)

Darkness fell upon the land. 

He was up in the hills, alone, praying.

He had sent his friends on ahead, back into the boat, a while before the night claimed its territory. 

There were no streetlights, no cars driving by, headlights blaring. There were no cellphone flashlights, no front porch lights marking the location of a welcoming home. 

Darkness. 

There may have been the light of the moon and the stars. Or maybe it was a cloudy night. 

No matter. 

He was faithful. Even in the dark.

And his friends were in trouble.

They had made their way into the waters, sailing into the deep. 

And then it happened.

A terrible wind hijacked the nighttime air, causing overpowering waves to wage war on the men in the boat.

Time passed and the wee hours of the morning came with a rude awakening.

He left the hills and made His way down to the shoreline. 
The white froth of the water crashing onto the sand lapped at His toes. 
And He stepped out. 

One step, two steps ... 

"Mary, did you know your boy would one day walk on water?" 

The night was dark, and it was hard enough to see, what with the wind whipping hair into their eyes. Hearts were racing. They fought to maintain control. They were soaked, weary, and weakening. 

The storm was winning. 

And then they saw it. Something was coming towards them on the water. Not another boat, but a  singular form.
A ghost? Could it be? 

Wiping faces sprayed with sea-water as if to clear vision, their eyes widened. 

Hearts beat with a terrified pace. Faces paled. Limbs that had quivered with exertion now shook with fear.  

They screamed. Their hearts filled with dread. 

It surely was a ghost. 
What would happen now? 

"Mary, did you know your boy would one day walk on water?"

And then He spoke.

Words they were not expecting from a ghost.

Words that offered comfort. 

Words that soothed racing hearts.

"It's all right. I am here! Don't be afraid!" 

"Mary, did you know your boy would one day walk on water?"

Did Mary know?

Did she have any idea of the power of the son she would birth? 

Did she feel the power of God in her womb as her body carried and protected her wee boy? 

Did she feel Him leap within with a knowing of who He truly was?
Did she sense that her son would have the ability to do great and miraculous things?
Did she know He would be able walk on water in a powerful windstorm?

"Mary, did you know your boy would one day walk on water?"

If she didn't, she would after this night. 

She, along with many others, would discover that her boy would indeed walk on water one day. 

He would indeed bring peace to stormy nights. 

He would indeed calm with reassuring words.

"It's all right. I am here! Don't be afraid!"

Did you know?
Did you know that He came to save?
Did you know that He came to conquer storms?
Did you know that He is your rescue?
Did you know that it all boils down to the fact that He loves you?

And that's why, in the darkest night, in the windiest storm, in the wildest times, He says, 

"It's all right. I am here! Don't be afraid!"

Did you know?

On that night a long time ago when a babe was born in a manger; when the sheep slept in the fields; when the shepherds saw the angel; when a young mother pondered a miracle ... the future story of some men on a boat in stormy waters was already written. 

And their Saviour, that baby boy who would one day walk on water in the middle of a crazy storm just to reach them and to save them, would do the same for you.

(Jesus walking on water is found in Matthew 14:22-32.)
("Mary, did you know?" ~ a Christmas song written by Mark Lowry.)