Jump Start # 466

Matthew 14:26 “When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.”

  This evening is Halloween—how appropriate to consider a verse about “ghosts!” Superstitions, paranormal and the unusual occupy the minds of many people. There are ghost walks, and all kinds of shows about people having encounters with “spirits.” Many of those things may be entertaining and thrilling, they need to be considered spiritually.

  Our passage is taken from the time that Jesus told the disciples to cross over the sea of Galilee. He was not going to be with them. He went to the mountain to pray. As He was praying, a storm came up, and He saw the disciples struggling in their boat. Jesus walked on the water where they were. Seeing Jesus, in the midst of this storm, walking on the water, the disciples were at a lost as to what it could be. They were afraid—possibly more afraid of what they saw walking on water than the storm itself. People do not do that. They were at a lost as to what it could be. They cried in fear…not in faith…not in logic…but in fear, they said, “It is a ghost!”

  Because the disciples said that, does that mean ghosts exists? People claim to have seen aliens. Some claim Elvis is still alive. Some believe in zombies. The mere fact that someone believes something, or sees something that they cannot explain does not prove the existence of ghosts and such things.

  Ghosts are generally thought to be the spirits of people. I’m not into ghostology, if such a field of study exists, but we can stand confident with what the Bible teaches. God’s word is always right, no exceptions. God’s word can settle frightened hearts.

• Death occurs when there is a separation of the body and spirit or soul (James 2:26).

• At death the soul returns to God (Ecc 12:7). There are examples in our Bibles of this, such as: Jesus; the thief on the cross; the rich man and Lazarus.

• The idea of the soul or spirit of someone hovering around after death doesn’t find proof in the Bible. The Jews were very superstitious. It was commonly thought among them that the soul hovered around the grave for a few days. There was no proof of this. Some suggest that this may have been one reason why Jesus purposely delayed raising Lazarus from the grave until the fourth day—long after their ideas would permit a soul to linger.

  What about those who claim things have moved in their house and no one was there? Or, what about those who sensed someone was in the room and turned quickly and saw the glimpse of a shadowy figure? Don’t know. The mind may take us places if we allow it and when we can’t explain things, as the disciples couldn’t, they reached for an explanation.

  If there were such things as ghosts, what are they supposed to be doing? Some say, warning us. Others, sending messages. Others, claim to be haunted by them. Those thoughts are troubling Biblically to us. God speaks to us through Jesus (Heb 1:1-2). He’s not sending messengers, especially in a ghost form, to warn or teach us. That is the purpose of the word of God.

  I fear that we put more stock into the wild stories of the paranormal than the plain teaching of the Bible. If you’re bothered by the thought of ghosts, I would suggest quit watching those shows and pick up your Bible and believe in what is substantial and proven.

  The disciples in the boat had many fears—first, the storm. Then the image walking toward them. Then, they were frightened that Jesus could calm the storm. He changed the weather instantly. No one can do that. They were beginning to see that Jesus was not like them. Their eyes were opening to see that Jesus is God on earth.

  Our fears can make us believe and think things that are just not so. Fear will do that. We look for some explanation. We search for the “why.” When we can’t find one, we settle for anything—even fables, myths and superstitions. Paul told the young preacher Timothy, not to get involved with such things. His words were, “avoid” them. We do well—because they simply aren’t true.

  Walking by faith does not mean that I have an answer for everything nor that I understand everything, but I trust the one I follow, and that is Jesus. He’ll never disappoint.

  Halloween is a good time for kids to dress up, eat candy, watch scary movies, but don’t take it any farther than that. The disciples thought it was a ghost…it was Jesus!

Roger