Yesterday, I heard thunder for the first time in a number of weeks. Instantly, an age old question came to mind: Was that really thunder or the voice of God? I know the scientific explanation. Thunder is the result of a lightening bolt breaking the sound barrier but I still wonder.
Thunder plays a role in one of my earliest childhood memories. Mother told me to stay inside the house until the storm outside passed. I watched carefully until the rain stopped. I put on my rubber boots so I would not get my shoes muddy. After all, I did not want to make my mother mad.
I exited the house via the garage because Mother was in the kitchen on the other end of the house. I merrily walked along the front of the house playing on the wet grass. Suddenly, a huge clap of thunder sent this pre-school lad yelling and screaming in absolute terror. I retreated as fast as my little legs could carry me back to the garage and into my confused mother's waiting arms.
Was it thunder or was the Father telling me to get back into the house until the storm had really ended? Without question, I was being a bad little boy for disobeying my mother and the thunder made that point abundantly clear. Did I really hear the voice of God that day? I did understand the message the thunder was telling me.
In John 12:27-30, Jesus is lamenting his fate. He realizes raising Lazarus from the dead only a few miles from Jerusalem just before the Passover has made Him public enemy number one in the eyes of the Pharisees. In response to Jesus praising the Father, some hear a clear message while others merely hear thunder. Still another group recognizes the message is from heaven but they do not seem to know what was said.
John is not clear as to what separates the various listeners into the three different groups. All four gospels record a voice from heaven speaking at various times but this passage in John is the only time some hear thunder rather than a clear message. Why? Is it a question of faith or did they simply need to listen closer?
I just heard another clap of thunder. Was that really just thunder?
Grace and peace in the power of the Holy Spirit.
(J. Wesley McComb is a published author and a member of Christ Episcopal Church, 1534 7th St, Slidell, 643-4531.)
© by The Slidell Independent newspaper; originally published on July 16, 2009. Used by permission of publisher and author.