When Jesus Calmed The Storm

When Jesus calmed the storm is found in Matthew 8:23-27. The disciples worried as Jesus slept peacefully in a raging storm. But he relieved their fears when he commanded it to stop. Here are some lessons the story teaches us.

When Jesus calmed the storm. Jesus is God and sovereign over the world

And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. (ESV, Matthew 8:24)

Jesus exercised his divinity by performing miracles. He had recently preached his famous, sermon on the Mount and healed several people. And now, as a man, he was tired and needed rest. So he climbed into a boat on the Sea of Galilee with his disciples to escape the crowds and cross to the other side.

On the way, a sudden storm arose. The Greek word for “storm” is sĕismŏs, which means earthquake. And it emphasizes the seriousness of their situation. Several of the disciples were experienced fisherman and recognized it too. Yet, Jesus slept peacefully. Either he had complete confidence or was really tired. Maybe both.

Certainly, it demonstrates the sovereignty of Jesus as God. What was a serious and potentially lethal problem for the disciples was a minor inconvenience for him.

When Jesus calmed the storm. He soothes the tempest in the human heart.

And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” (ESV, Matthew 8:25)

The disciples did not share Jesus’ confidence and woke him up. Don’t you know, Lord, we’re about to die? To which Jesus could have easily replied, “No we aren’t. I AM in complete control.” But he didn’t.

Although he did seem a bit irritated to be waken from his nap. Where was their faith? Easy for him to say, right? He didn’t need faith. HE KNEW HE WAS GOD!

Eventually, the disciples would share that confidence. And most of them would die for it. But they weren’t there yet. And perhaps, many of us are still growing in our faith too. But there’s good news. The longer we hang out with Jesus, the more we’ll grow to become like him.

And we’ve all been there. Lord, don’t you see how crazy my life is? Everything is out of control and I need your help. Your protection. And peace. Our hearts are in turmoil and perhaps we even wonder if Jesus is asleep

Sure. We know in our heads God is all powerful. But perhaps there is a disconnect between our heads and our hearts. We doubt our worthiness of his attention. Or wonder if he’s helping someone else. However, the truth is God has unlimited capacity. And he cares equally for all of us.

Although the intensity of trust and faith goes up and down, the key is exercising it consistently. And while the disciples were at a low point at the moment, they knew exactly who to call on. So should we.

When Jesus calmed the storm. His words initiated an action.

Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” (ESV, Matthew 8:26-27)

In Genesis, God spoke the world into existence. In the gospel of John, Jesus is called logos, the Greek for “word.” And now, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, speaks.

He didn’t kneel and pray, wave a wand, or cast a spell. But rose in the boat and rebuked the storm. The Greek word for “rebuke” is ĕpitimaō, which means to censure, admonish or forbid. In other words, as God Almighty, he controlled his creation. And the disciples marveled at the awesome display of power. Watching him maintain balance in a boat rocking in a rough sea would have been enough for me.

The point is, God is sovereign over creation. And his very words compell action. Or in this case, inaction. And we can have complete confidence in his absolute, loving care.

About Chip Tudor:

Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview. This blog is originally published here.

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