Luke 8:22-25
22 Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out.
23 But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger.
24 They came up to Jesus and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm.
25 And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”
Jesus Calming the Storm
Jesus in the boat
Do you believe in the miracles recorded in the Bible? I do. Those who say they cannot believe in miracles because they are unscientific try to explain them rationally. However, that approach is far too subjective and only opens the way to arbitrary interpretations. The greatest miracle in the Bible is the “Incarnation” (the Son of God becoming human). If you can believe in the “Incarnation,” then every question concerning miracles is resolved. John said, “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being” (John 1:3). In other words, Jesus is the One who created the universe. Is it not natural, then, that He has the power to calm the storm? And yet, that same Jesus fell sound asleep in the boat. Here we see Jesus, physically and emotionally exhausted from His ministry and care for people. How truly poor the Lord Jesus became for our sake! If you think that no one understands your suffering, then now is the time to confess that suffering to Jesus.
Disciples fearful
The Sea of Galilee is located about 656 feet (200 m) below sea level. Surrounded by steep mountains, it is subject to rapid weather changes, and sudden violent winds often sweep through. In today’s passage, water began to fill the boat, and it seems they were in a very dangerous situation. Among the disciples were several who had once been fishermen. Even they were genuinely afraid, says that it must have been quite a storm. Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waves. The One who created the universe by His word calmed the forces of nature by His word. After the lake became calm, the situation that Luke most wanted to convey took place. The disciples were afraid of Jesus. This fear was different from the fear they had felt toward the storm – it was a sense of awe, a fear that comes from the awareness of standing in the very presence of God. They must have remembered the words of Psalm 89:9: “You rule the surging of the sea; when its waves rise, You calm them.” The disciples asked, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” But we know the answer. Even now, Jesus is with you in the boat of your life. Let us confess, “Jesus is Lord,” and rejoice in His presence.
Today's prayer
Almighty God, I thank You for sending Your Son Jesus for us. The Lord Jesus is with me now. I wholeheartedly rejoice in and receive His presence. Please calm my troubled heart. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.