"To the other side!"
- Mar 14, 2025
- 6 min read
Matthew 14:22: “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side.”
Matthew 14:34:"When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret."
What are we doing with what we’ve learnt from this story and its implications for our lives? Whatever it is, it won't make sense until the ‘other side!’
You see, nothing that has happened in this story is by accident: Jesus being alone; the disciples alone on the lake; a storm hits when they are in the middle of the sea; the disciples really struggling; Jesus not turning up for 9 hours; then that step of faith followed by the sinking down!
All of it part of God’s plan!
William Cowper’s hymn says -
God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform
He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm…
Deep in unsearchable mines, Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs, and works His sovereign will
You don't know what's on the other side of your storm. Only He does. You don't know what's on the other side of your obedience. Only He does.
Only He knows what's on the other side. You don't have to know. You just have to trust Him to get through it.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Isaiah 43:2:“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
So, when Jesus says, “go to the other side”, He is inviting His disciples to move away from the crowd, and crowd mentality.
It was not by being part of the crowd or listening to the popular voice that the disciples' lives would change, it was in obeying Jesus and then allowing Jesus to enter the reality of their world, even if a storm gets in the way!
John Stott said, “We have to decide, quite simply, whether to live for this world or the next, whether to follow the crowd or Jesus Christ; live for self or for our Saviour.”
May I suggest that Jesus is doing more than “suggesting” that you cross over to the other side. It was a command. This is His plan for you!
When you hear the words “go to the other side”, what might make it difficult to leave? Could it be that things are going so well where you are that you can’t imagine God ever asking you to leave it and go to the other side? Or maybe it’s a habit or a sin that you enjoy hanging on to, or a good paying job that you love, or some relationship that you can’t say goodbye to. What are you willing to leave behind to make the journey?
Jesus challenged the disciples with a call to go with Him to the "other side" that would break the routines, enable them to see beyond their self-made lives of fishermen, tax collector, political activists, and to move on with a new vision of who Jesus is!
We have to die to our own desires or ideas of picking which side we prefer and simply obey Jesus to go to His side. The story tells us they chose a relationship with Jesus for their identity and embraced the mission and the purpose set by Him.
John Ortberg has written, “If my mission cannot start here, where I am, it cannot start at all.”
What are you endeavouring to "cross over" that you may land in that place chosen by Jesus?
Is it your daily walk with the Lord; a deeper prayer life; your discipline in the Word of God; your approach in worship; or that battle against sin?
If Jesus has invited you to go to the other side, it must mean He has so much He has in store for you and wonderful things to reveal to you.
Even if going to the other side will mean getting through the darkness, the doubt and despair, you will have to move through them all because it will only make sense on the other side.
Charles Spurgeon says: "God works all things together for your good. If the waves roll against you, it only speeds your ship towards the port."
Jesus has requested we go to the "other side" and He keeps His word. He will remain faithful to what He has said, and faithful to you!
Remember the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness”? One line says, “There is no shadow of turning with Thee!”
He keeps His word even if storms get in the way. None of us like the storms but they are simply part of His plan to deepen our trust in Him. Storms have an interesting way of revealing to us what we actually believe and who to trust through them.
Jesus doesn’t promise smooth sailing, but He does ensure a safe passage and a fulfilment of the promise by arriving!
Today, right where we are, do we believe Jesus will do what He said He will do? Have we landed/arrived on the other side?
Just ask Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace – they knew! Or what about Daniel in the lion’s den! Paul had his share of storms and being shipwrecked, but still made it to the "other side."
A wonderful reminder of one of the greatest promises given to us is in Romans 8:38-39: “Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present or things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”
May you now know afresh His clear and precious promises and His strength to obey them as you continue your journey. May we all know His overwhelming love and His outrageous transforming grace, as we seek to go deeper in our relationship with Him .
RT Kendall's advice: "Don't settle for more mere information about God. Or more theological knowledge. Give yourself no rest until you cross over that crucial line from second-hand knowledge about God to first-hand knowledge of God. There is nothing more exciting than when you see for yourself that God is real, Jesus is real, the Holy Spirit is real, and the Bible is true!"
What does it mean to "cross to the other side" in your world? In short, it is anytime Jesus invites you to leave the familiar and go into a strange and unfamiliar land, and in the process help God usher in His kingdom.
Can I just say that each of us, as we walk with God and we pray, reflect, listen, trying to discern God’s leading, will, if we’re honest be called to “go to the other side.”
Going to the other side might mean literally the other side of the room to show love to the seemingly unlovable; perhaps the other side of the street to a neighbour to support them in their need. The "other side" of that decision that you’ve kept putting off for weeks, months perhaps even years, but you’ve heard Jesus say today "go to the other side."
Remember the story in Joshua? It's about God offering Joshua the next chapter of His story. The story moving forward would mean Joshua letting go of the past. God began to explain that after 40 years of wanderings, the people were about to enter the PROMISE!
Joshuah 1:9 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
This is so true for us today!
Go back to the hymn I mentioned a few moments ago. The last verse reads:
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with 10, 000 beside
Stop and listen
Please, don’t stop exercising faith and moving forward, breaking new ground! Because faith according to Hebrews 11 "is being sure of what you hope for, and certain of what you do not yet see!"
C Price rightly states, “It is not the capacity to create or to produce that is the mark of spiritual reality and true godliness, but the humility to receive what God alone can give, and to trust what God alone can do!”
The choice? Remain where we are, just surviving, or to cross over into our destiny?
Let’s cross over to the other side!
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