Visionary Leadership: The Other Side

by Rev. Chrysantha Tillekeratne
(Veliveriya, Sri Lanka)

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" Mark 4:35-41

We are all familiar with the miracle of Jesus calming the storm. As we take a closer look at this story we can extract ten visionary leadership principles which will place us at the cutting edge of our ministry.

Jesus called his disciples and said “Let us go over to the other side”. “The other side” gives us the big picture in our life and ministry. The “other side” becomes clearer as we get nearer. So you may not see everything in black and white at the beginning. But do not be afraid. Having received a vision from God, simply launch out in faith.

“The other side” also shows us the direction which we are to travel. When God puts a vision in our hearts, it gives us a sense of direction for our lives. Without direction, life can be nothing but running in circles. When Samson’s eyes were gouged out the Philistines set him to grind in the prison (Jud 16:21).

In ancient days, animals were tied to the pole of the grinding mill and made to go round and round resulting in the wheat ,olives or grapes being threshed. When a leader has no vision, he usually ends up doing the same thing over and over again.

Here’s good news! Jesus is in your boat. If He called you to go to the “other side” he will surely take you there.