The Tsunami Wave of COVID19

Only a month ago the headlines read, 'NHS Nightingale is rapidly being built. The 4000-bed facility is being readied for the ‘tsunami’ of patients expected to contract Covid-19 in the coming weeks. "

The current crisis has been likened to a tsunami wave, both in the surge of patients and the destruction caused, with over 208,000 deaths confirmed worldwide to date. The Covid19 pandemic is being compared to the havoc wreaked by such a natural flooding disaster.

I've got a friend Trevor* who has been thinking about how we deal with waves, and what we can glean from waves in the life of Jesus.

I think what he said is worth repeating, albeit with a few of my own examples.

Trevor* challenges Jesus followers, Christians everywhere, to consider becoming three things: 

                   1.Calming Waves,
                   2.Creating Waves and
                   3.Converting Waves

1. Jesus Calms Waves

Jesus calmed the waves of the storm in Matthew 8:23-27

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and wants his followers to be peace makers (Matthew 5:9). It is because the peace of God garrisons our hearts and minds (Phil 4:7) that we can assail waves of turmoil and trouble and be a calming influence in society (John 14:27).

ACTION: Think of someone who is experiencing trouble or upset of some kind. Send them a text to encourage them or just do something that will make their day.


2. Jesus Created Waves

Jesus created waves, overturning the tables in the temple and "stormed the calm*" Matthew 21:12-13

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer, ’but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Jesus mixed with those thought of as wrong sorts of people; tax collectors, prostitutes and fishermen. He often rebuked the religious leaders.

- In the leaven of the Pharisees (Mark 8:15) he spoke out again religious hypocrisy & corruption

- In the leaven of  Sadducees (Matt 16:6) he spoke out against those who denied the resurrection

- In the leaven of Corinth (1 Cor 5:5-7) he spoke out against immorality and idolatry

- In the leaven of Herod (Matt 8:15) he spoke out against worldliness.

- In the leaven of Galatia (Gal 5:9) he spoke out against legalism - truth without love

ACTION: Sometimes we have to make waves in order to make this world a better place! Become a wave-maker and speak out against injustice, idolatry and immorality.

3. Jesus Converted Waves

Jesus transformed every day temporal things to talk of eternal realities John 4:13,14

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Just like the power of waves can be transformed into electrical power, Jesus uses the natural water of the well to speak of His transforming power that gives eternal life.

ACTION: Maybe the tsunami of Covid19 can become an opportunity to pray for opportunities to tell our story, of  how Jesus has transformed our lives, and how he can transform others for good.

                   1.Calm Waves,
                   2.Create Waves and
                   3.Convert Waves

*Trevor - permission to share kindly granted.