A quick overview from the gospel accounts

This is a powerful and important narrative. It is the first time in the Synoptics that Jesus’ power acted upon the inanimate. It brought fear and astonishment, even to his closest followers. Some have tried to explain this event as coincidence or relegate it to myth or imagination. None of these, however, adequately explain such vivid eyewitness details. Furthermore, it is admitted more and more that an anti-supernatural bias is scientifically and philosophically indefensible.

At the same time, this event is more than a mere account of a historic event. Miracles are somewhat like enacted parables of the kingdom.^6-137 That very night, after Jesus preached a sermon on the kingdom of God, all in parables, he demonstrated two important aspects of the kingdom. First, Jesus demonstrates God’s power (cf. Ps 104:7; 107:23-30).^6-138 In other words, the kingdom of God had broken into human history. Second, Jesus saves his people through the storm.^6-139

Mk 4:35-38 with Mt 8:18, 24-25, Lk 8:23-24 ³⁵That day when evening came, [when Jesus saw the crowds around him^MT] he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷[Without warning^MT] a furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped [and they were in great danger.^LK] ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, [Lord^MT] [Master, Master^LK] “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

Jesus has finished his sermon in parables inside the house. Apparently there are still crowds at the door waiting for him to come out and teach them. Perhaps it was apparent to the disciples that they were going to get no sleep that night unless they left town (Mk 4:35). Without taking time to change clothes or shower they hop in the boat for a quick getaway. But they aren’t quick enough. The crowds attempt to follow Jesus in other boats. This is a mistake as they will discover shortly. A violent storm is brewing. Either they will be driven back to shore by the storm or dropped to the bottom of the lake.

The storm comes suddenly, as is common on the Sea of Galilee. The lake sits in a basin, 685 feet below sea level, surrounded by hills 2,000 feet high. When the winds come across those hills they sweep down quickly and with great force. This “furious squall”  is the word used for a hurricane. It is a tremendously powerful storm.

Meanwhile, Jesus falls asleep in the stern on a cushion (likely made of sheepskin). This is the only place we read of Jesus sleeping, which is all the more amazing since the boat is “swamped” and “in danger.” Both of these words are in the imperfect verb tense, indicating an ongoing dilemma for the disciples. In other words, the boat was being filled up with water. It is one of those sturdy, steady, but slow fishing boats. Thirteen men would certainly be a “full house.” As the waves beat against the side and blow into the boat, they sink deeper and deeper into the water.

The disciples wake Jesus and say, “Master, Master we’re going to drown” (Lk 8:24). This “Master,” used only by Luke, means “commander.” They are not only surprised that he is sleeping through all this, but also a bit peeved. By their response to the miracle, it seems obvious that they were not expecting Jesus to calm the storm. Rather, they need all hands on deck to help man the oars or bail out the boat.

Mk 4:39-41 with Lk 8:25, Mt 8:27 ³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹They were terrified and [in fear and amazement^LK] asked each other, “Who is this? [What kind of man is this?^MT] Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Both the words “rebuked”  and “be quiet” , referring to the winds and waves, are used in narratives of casting out demons (cf. Mk 1:25). Thus, there is a strong connection between Jesus calming the sea and casting out the demons at Gerasa. Both are under his command and control. Both show Jesus’ divine authority.

The elements bey Jesus’ voice and there is silence on the Sea of Galilee. As co-creator (Jn 1:1-18; Col 1:16) and co-sustainer (Col 1:17; Heb 1:3), the physical universe responds to the commands of its master.

Mark alone contains Jesus’ rebuke of their lack of faith (which he repeats a number of times, cf. Mk 7:18; 8:17-18, 21, 32-33; 9:19). Jesus has demonstrated power over disease, demons, and death. Now he shows that he is even master of the elements. For fishermen, this is powerful! It is not surprising that they had no faith for such a miracle. This is truly extraordinary!

In Capernaum (Mk 1:27), they asked “what is this.” But now the question becomes “Who is this?” And that is the key question this miracle is designed to answer. The Pharisees oppose him, the crowds wonder at him. Why, even his closest companions don’t know who he really is. But his deeds reveal the truth. Jesus is God revealed in human form.

Verse-by-verse study

(8:18) Introduction: Jesus Christ attracts people. He has made such an impact upon the world that human history itself measures its years by the date of His birth and death (B.C. – Before Christ, and A.D. – anno Domini, in the year of the Lord). Jesus predicted: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth [the cross], will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32).

Multitudes—Jesus Christ, Response: the multitude was attracted to Jesus. Note that the multitude gathered about Jesus because they had desperate needs, and He was meeting their needs out of a heart of deep compassion (cp. Matthew 8:16-17). The whole countryside and surrounding towns were swarming with people who had heard that He was in Capernaum, and they had flocked to Him. They were attracted to what they were hearing, ever hoping to have their needs met.

People often come to Jesus Christ because of what they can get out of Him. Men have a faint idea and some understanding that He can meet needs, so when they face bad situations they come to Him and to the church for help.

There are several reasons why the multitude is attracted to Jesus.

1)   Some like what they see: lives are changed for good, people are helped, ministry is carried on for the public good, and good works abound. Some people agree with what is being done—at least in spirit—and they are perfectly willing to be identified with such a movement.

2)   Some profess Christ and belong to a church because of the image and social standing it brings. Professing Christ, even if it is done quietly or silently, opens doors. Membership in Christ’s church is even listed and expected by some employers when hiring personnel. Belonging to a church helps to show a well-rounded and moral person. Some just want the image that profession of faith conveys.

3)   Some follow Christ and His church because of family and friends. They are urged to belong to a church; therefore, they profess and attend—some regularly, others irregularly.

4)   Some feel more comfortable following Christ and attending church. Their consciences would bother them if they did not profess Him and attend church at least occasionally. They profess and attend only enough to feel comfortable and to keep their consciences subdued.

5)   Some have a faint understanding of God. They want to be approved and accepted by Him. They know that they must show some interest in Him if they wish Him to show interest in them, looking after and caring for them. So they profess Him and attend church as much as they deem necessary in order to secure His approval and care.

6)   Some have seen God’s power to change lives and deliver through terrible trials. It may have been in the life of a family member, a friend, a fellow employee, a relative, or a distant acquaintance. But the power of Christ was clearly evident. Thus they know that Christ and His church might be able to help them when trouble comes.

7)   Some believe Jesus is the Savior, the promised Messiah, and they want to be identified with Him. So they follow Him and His church.

Jesus Calms a Storm: Conquering Fear and Nature, 8:23-27

At creation God ordained man to be king of the earth, to “rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Gen. 1:26). But when man fell into sin, he was dethroned and lost his sovereignty over the earth. He lost his God-given majesty along with his innocence. With the rest of the earth man was cursed and corrupted. He lost his dominion, and both man and earth lost their glory. The control of earth fell into the hands of the usurper, Satan, who now reigns as ruler of this world and age (John 12:31; 14:30). Man’s sin, earth’s corruption, and Satan’s rule have brought sickness, pain, death, hardship, sorrow, war, injustice, falsehood, hunger, natural disaster, demonic activity, and every other evil that plagues the world.

But from the beginning, and even before the beginning, God planned the redemption of both man and the earth, reversing the curse. According to His divine plan, God’s own Son would come to earth twice in the process of that redemption—the first time to redeem man and the second time to redeem the earth. In His first coming Jesus Christ came in humility, going to the cross and rising from the grave to redeem man from sin. In His second coming He will come in blazing glory and establish a completely new heaven and earth—redeeming the whole of creation for all eternity

In the coming spiritual kingdom of God (heaven), His ultimate plan for earth will be restored—without sin, pain, disease, hatred, hardship, sorrow, disaster, or demons. There will be only holiness, righteousness, truth, peace, love, and beauty. Everything that now blights man’s happiness, that breaks his heart, that frustrates his hopes, that disrupts and perverts his dominion will be removed forever. For all time and eternity the universe will be redeemed.

As we look at mankind and the present earth, however, it is glaringly obvious that man himself could never effect such changes. Man cannot solve the natural problems of environment, weather, droughts, famines, disease, and sickness. Someone has said that for every problem science solves, six others are created in its place. The greater our advancements, the more severe the complications.

Even less can man solve his moral and spiritual problems. As we become more advanced in psychology, sociology, criminology, and diplomacy, we also become more engulfed in psychological disorders, sociological problems, and in crime and war.

The power to reverse the curse and bring a new heaven and a new earth not only is infinitely beyond man but is inconceivable to man. We cannot imagine the power necessary to make such a radical recreation of the universe, any more than we can imagine the power it took to create it in the first place and to sustain it. Man has the capability to destroy his world, but not the power to perfect it.

The psalmist tells us that “power belongs to God” (Ps. 62:11). He speaks of “the greatness of Thy power” (79:11) and of the one “who dost establish the mountains by His strength, being girded with might.” (65:6) David cried out, “O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly; my soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have beheld Thee in the sanctuary, to see Thy power and Thy glory” (Ps. 63:1-2). Paul reminds us that, “since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made” Rom. 1:20.

The more man delves into the universe, the more amazing and awesome the wonder of creation becomes. Telescopes can take us some four billion light years—about twenty-five sextillion miles—into space, and yet we have not come near the edge of the universe. We have discovered certain gravitational principles that keep the stars and planets in their orbits, yet we are far from fully explaining those principles, much less duplicating them. The earth spins on its axis at a thousand miles an hour at the equator, travels in a five-hundred-eighty-million-mile orbit around the sun at about a thousand miles a minute, and, with the rest of its solar system, careens through space at an even faster speed in an orbit that would take billions of years to complete. The energy of the sun has been estimated to be equivalent to five-hundred-million-million-billion horsepower. There are at least one-hundred-thousand-million other suns in our galaxy, most of them larger than ours.

God is also creator and sustainer of the microcosm. A teaspoon of water contains a million-billion-trillion atoms, which themselves are composed of still smaller particles of energy. Smaller subparticles of those particles are still being discovered.

We know Jesus Christ “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Heb. 1:3). He energizes every atom and every atomic particle and subparticle in the universe. That is the power of our God and Savior! If He has power to create and sustain the earth, surely He has power to recreate it. He has the power to bring back Eden and, indeed, create a new earth that far surpasses Eden.

Jesus Christ came into the world, in part, to demonstrate that power, to show for all who would see it that He was indeed the Son of God. The promised Messiah and King had power to redeem man from sin and to give him renewed sovereignty over a renewed earth. As noted in the previous chapter, Matthew has already shown that Jesus had the right genealogy, the right birth, the right baptism, the right success over temptation, and the right message.

God had said that the One who would reverse the curse would come through the line of David, and Jesus did. God had said this Deliverer would be born of a virgin, and Jesus was. God had said He would be approved by the Father, and Jesus was. God had said He would be more powerful than Satan, and Jesus proved that He was. God had said His Son would speak the truth, and Jesus did. God had said He would have power over disease and death, and Jesus proved that He did.

Above all else the miracles were foretastes of kingdom power. When Jesus healed diseases and restored broken bodies, He previewed the kingdom, in which there would be no sickness or deformity. When He cast out demons, He previewed the kingdom, in which there would be no demonic activity. When He raised the dead, He previewed the kingdom, in which there would be no death.

After Jesus had both forgiven and healed the paralytic, He said that He had done so “in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth” (Matt. 9:6). When the multitudes saw Jesus’ miracles, “they were filled with awe, and glorified God, who had given such authority” (9:8).

To prepare them for His transfiguration, Jesus told His disciples, “‘Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.’ And six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white” (Mark 9:1-3).

As He taught in the Capernaum synagogue one Sabbath, the people “were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority” (Luke 4:32). When He cast a demon out of a man in that synagogue, they were still further amazed and exclaimed, “With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” (v. 36)

In the opening words of his letter to the Romans, Paul speaks of Jesus’ being “declared the Son of God with power,” (1:4) and in First Corinthians speaks of Him as “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1:24). The supreme proof of Jesus’ divinity and messiahship was His absolute authority and power over everything on earth.

In Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus demonstrates His unlimited power over the natural world. His stilling the storm is the first miracle of the second group of three miracles presented in chapters 8 and 9.

(8:23-27) Introduction—Messiah—Messiahship: What was the purpose of this experience? Why was a storm allowed to arise on the sea with Christ in the boat? The answer is given in Matthew 8:27. And what a marvelous purpose it was: to stir His people to ask, “What manner of man is this?” He proved again that He is the Messiah! Calming the storm did three things.

1. It demonstrated who He is: the Sovereign Lord who has all power—even power over nature.
2. It strengthened the belief of His followers: belief in Him as the Messiah and in His personal care as their Savior.
3. It gave to all generations a picture of His care and power—His care and power to deliver through all the storms of life (trials and fearful experiences).

It does not matter what the storm or trial is nor how terrifying it may be, Christ is able to deliver and bring about the most assuring calm. Few trials could be as terrifying as being caught in a life-threatening storm at sea. In this experience God demonstrated His wonderful care and power to deliver believers through the storms of life.

1. A basic fact: true disciples follow Him no matter what (v.23).
2. A fearful experience: a great storm (v.24).
3. A terrifying discovery: man is not able to handle the situation (v.24).
4. A desperate approach: Lord, awake – save us (v.25).
5. A challenging question (v.26).
6. A strong, powerful deliverance: a great calm (v.26).
7. A marvelous purpose (v.27).

(8:23) Discipleship—Self-denial: And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold,
there arose a great storm in the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves; but He Himself was asleep. (8:23-24)

A basic fact—true disciples follow Jesus no matter what. The words “His disciples followed Him” are significant. His disciples followed Him wherever He went. They had made a genuine commitment; they were now committed to following Him regardless of the circumstances and the cost. We have some idea of the sacrifice His disciples made through a glimpse into Peter’s family (Matthew 8:14-17). Remember, Peter and the others had left home, seldom to return, at least for any length of time. Just imagine the cost, the enormous sacrifice it was for them and their families!

Not everyone follows Jesus. It was only a short distance around the lake (twelve miles) and only eight miles across. Jesus could have easily walked around the lake, but He chose to go by sea in order to rest and to share this experience with the disciples. But note: there is nothing said about the multitudes following Him now, not like they were following after the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 8:1). Why were they not following?

1) The extra distance? (The effort required to follow Jesus was just too demanding.)

2) The potentially dangerous storms as one journeyed? (The journey to follow Jesus involved too many storms of abuse and ridicule, persecution and questions.)

3) The cost of passage? (The cost of following Jesus required too much sacrifice, the denial of too many creature comforts.)

4) The unbelief and dislike of His miracles and claims?

The Particulars

After confronting the three superficial followers with the true cost of  discipleship (8:18-22; Luke 9:61-62), Jesus got into the boat to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is about 13 miles long and as much as 8 miles wide.

The disciples who followed Him included the twelve, some of whom were in the same boat as Jesus, along with other followers who went in separate boats (Mark 4:36). Because Jesus healed many people and talked with the three professing disciples after “evening had come,” (v. 16) it was probably well into the night when the small flotilla departed.

Disciple simply means a follower, learner, or pupil. The word itself has no spiritual connotation, and it is used of superficial followers of Jesus as well as of genuine believers. Because the Sermon on the Mount is essentially a message on salvation, the disciples who gathered on the mountain to hear Jesus (Matt. 5:1) obviously included unbelievers. The two men who approached Jesus just before He entered the boat are called disciples (Matt. 8:21; cf. v. 19), but their leaving Him proved them to be fake disciples. The men of Jesus’ inner circle are often referred to as disciples (Matt. 10:1), yet unbelieving Judas ended up betraying the Lord.

At least four categories of disciples are seen in the gospels. The first and broadest group were the curious, those who followed Jesus for a while simply to find out what He was like. They were fascinated and intrigued by what He said and did, but they would not surrender to Him as Lord and Savior. We see some of these disciples in John 6. When Jesus proclaimed, “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves,’” … “Many therefore of His disciples, when they heard this said, ‘This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?’” … “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore” John 6:53, 60, 66.

The second category of disciple included those who were intellectually convinced of Jesus’ divine message and power. When Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, he said, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2). But at that point he was not yet committed to Jesus. As the Lord went on to point out, Nicodemus was not born again and consequently had no spiritual relationship to God, no participation in His kingdom, and no eternal life. (vv. 3-15)

The third category of disciple was composed of secret believers. Joseph of Arimathea was such a clandestine follower until he asked Pilate for permission to bury Jesus in his own tomb and thereby proclaimed allegiance to his Savior (Matt. 27:57-58).

In the fourth category of disciples were the true and open believers, those who were publicly and permanently committed to Jesus Christ. The small group of disciples who followed Him was more than just the twelve and no doubt included all four kinds.

The boat was probably a small, open fishing craft of the type commonly used by fishermen such as Peter, James, and John. The Sea of Galilee lies just over 600 feet below sea level, near the northern end of the Jordan River. Mt. Hermon rises 9,200 feet to the north, and strong northerly winds often plummet down the upper Jordan valley with great force. When they meet the warmer air over the Galilee basin, the intensity is increased. Hitting the cliffs on the eastern shore, the winds swirl and twist, causing the waters beneath them to churn violently. The
fact that they come quickly and with little warning makes the storms all the more dangerous and frightening.

Storm literally means a shaking and is the term from which we get seismic, seismograph, and related terms. The storm was so violent that it shook the water in the lake as if it were a glass of water in the hands of a great giant. The exclamation behold intensifies the rapid and surprising manner in which there arose a great storm in the sea. The storm became so fierce that the boat was covered with the waves, and Mark explains that “the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up” Mark 4:37.

Yet Jesus Himself was asleep, no doubt being exhausted from the long day’s work of healing and teaching. Just before we see one of His most awesome demonstrations of deity, we see a touching picture of His humanness. The Lord was bone weary, and He slept so soundly that not even the tossing of the boat, the noise of the wind, or the blowing water in His face awakened Him. He was soaked to the skin while lying on hard planks with only a cushion for His head (Mark 4:38).

Yet this was all part of the divine plan. The storm was howling, the wind and waves were about to swamp the boat as it tossed about on the water like a cork—and the Creator of the world slept soundly in the midst of it all. Although in His divinity He was omniscient, in His humanness He was at this time oblivious to the turmoil that surrounded Him.

(8:24) Trials—Trouble—Afflictions: a fearful experience—a great storm arose. This was a most fearful experience; the apostles’ very lives were threatened (Matthew 8:25). The waves were covering the boat (Matthew 8:24). It was, so to speak, a trial of trials. If Jesus could teach them His care through this experience, they would know He could take care of them through any storm or trial.

Note three things.

1. The storm arose immediately, unexpectedly: “Behold, there arose.”
2. The storm was great: the waves were covering the boat.
3. The storm was life-threatening: “we perish” (Matthew 8:25).

We face many storms throughout life, fearful storms.

1) Some storms swoop down upon us totally unexpectedly. There is no warning, no sign of their coming. But they come, and as long as we follow Jesus, they will come.

2) Some storms are great. Their waves and repercussions slash against us. They overwhelm us and threaten to engulf us.

3) Some are life-threatening. We see no escape, no way out, no deliverance. There seems to be no way to carry on, not in the present circumstances.

Nature itself can appear calm and secure; it can seem serene and safe. But its storms can arise quickly, unexpectedly. Some persons are frightened by the storm’s billowing clouds rolling in upon one another, the roar of thunder, the flash of lightening, and the torrent of rain. It is dangerous and life-threatening to anyone who is not sheltered and protected.

The picture is also true with some of the trials of life—trials which everyone has or will have. What we need is the shelter and protection of Jesus Christ Himself.

(8:24) Helplessness—Weakness: a terrifying discovery—man is not able to handle the situation. The terrifying discovery was twofold.

1. They, the seasoned and self-confident fishermen, were unable to handle this particular storm. Note these facts about the disciples and the storm.
2. They were seasoned fishermen. They knew the sea and the boat; they knew how to handle themselves in the midst of any situation or trial. The same is true with many of us. We are seasoned at living and in handling the storms of life. We feel that no trial or situation can swoop down upon us beyond our control. We are completely self sufficient, or so we think and feel.
3. They were face to face with a storm so severe that they were not able to save themselves. No doubt they had faced storms before, but they had never confronted a situation as terrifying as this severe storm. Everyone of us will face a storm that terrifies us some day. The terrifying storm will be beyond our control. We will not be able to save ourselves.
4. They were frightened and terrified. They were completely helpless and hopeless, left to themselves. When the terrifying storm hits us, it will leave us fearful, helpless, and hopeless.
5. They apparently had tried to handle the storm without Jesus until the situation got out of control (cp. Matthew 8:25). This, of course, is the root of the problem in many of our situations: lack of trust and faith in Christ and failing to call upon Him soon enough to prevent desperation.
6. They were without the immediate help of Jesus. To them, He was asleep. Jesus was present, yet He seemed so far away; He seemed asleep. He was out of reach, unaware of their desperate plight, unconscious of their need—so the disciples thought. How often our lack of trust and sin cause us to feel that the Lord is unaware and out of reach and untouched by our need.

(8:25) Seeking God: a desperate approach—Lord, awake – save us.

And they came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” And He said to them, “why are you timid, you men of little faith?” (8:25-26a)

Note these significant lessons.

1)   Imminent danger can drive us to Christ, but we need to remember three critical things.

1. a) We can wait too long. We can die and slip into eternity before we know it.
2. b) We run a terrible risk in waiting. We overlook something: a person who decides to wait until the last minute is not all that sincere about Christ, and Christ knows it.
3. c) We waste a lifetime of living – really living in all the fulness of life. Abundant life comes only through Christ—the life that brings unbelievable confidence and assurance, security and self-worth, love and joy, peace and rest.

2)   There is one ingredient so often missed in asking Christ to save us—one ingredient that determines whether we are heard or not: a true sense of need—a desperate plea for help beyond ourselves—a crying out to the Lord Himself—a diligent seeking.

3)   Their cry included the steps necessary for Christ to save us.

1. a) They believed He could save them: so they came to Him.
2. b) They confessed their need to be saved, that they were perishing.
3. c) They cried out in desperation for Christ to save them.

4) A desperate cry that will not quit will awaken the Lord to our need. No matter what it may be, persevering in prayer will awaken Him and bring the answer .

(8:26) Fear—Unbelief: a challenging question. The disciples were going through two human experiences, but they were aware of only one: the experience of terrible fear. What they failed to see was completely hidden to them. They were experiencing the root cause of fear: little faith. Their trust in Christ (that their lives were completely in His keeping and under His care) was lacking. Their trust was incomplete and immature. They were not sure that He was aware of their desperate need. But He was, just as He is aware of all needs—always. He was the One who asked, “Why are ye fearful?” It was as though He was shocked at their lack of faith.

Note several lessons.

1)   Christ was not disturbed with their calling and interrupting His sleep. He was disturbed with their fear and lack of trust. He is never disturbed with our crying out to Him.

2)   There is no excuse for a disciple’s fear. Of all people, believers are supposed to be the persons trusting Him, knowing that He is looking after their lives. Believers are to know His supernatural strength; they are supposed to walk through all things courageously, even death.

3)   The disciples neglected Christ. They could have prevented much of their problem if they had gone to Christ earlier. As pointed out earlier, they were trying to handle the situation by themselves, confident of their own ability. How often we walk in self-confidence, not paying enough attention to the Lord and His care. We always need to be calling upon Him, not waiting until the last moment, expecting Him to step in and meet our emergency (1 Peter 5:7; Ephes. 6:18).

4)   Christ rebukes fear and unbelief. Fear and unbelief dishonor Him. It says to the world that Christ is not enough. He is not strong enough and does not care enough and does not love enough to look after us in our trouble and sin. How foolish we are (John 3:16; 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 11:28-30)!

5)   Faith is to be several things.

• Faith is to be the foundation of our lives, not a beam for emergency support.
• Faith is to be the flow of our behavior, not the serum for emergencies.
• Faith is to be the permeating thought of our mind, not the sporadic thought aroused by need.
• Faith is to be the constant plea of our heart, not the occasional cry of desperation.

6)   Storms and trials can lead to terrible discouragement and fear…

• fear that one has gone too far for recovery.
• fear that no one really cares.
• fear that one is a stumblingblock and a burden to others.
• fear that there is no real reason for living.

But there is hope—in Christ. He is The Great Deliverer from fear. In fact, He is The Great Deliverer from all trials and temptations.

(8:26) Deliverance—Jesus Christ, Power: a strong, powerful deliverance—a great calm. Christ is the Sovereign Lord over all nature. He can do what He wills for any of us. He arose and rebuked the storm—then there was an instantaneous calm. But note this: the disciples misread both the situation and Christ’s presence. When they awoke Christ, Christ pointed out their fear immediately—even before He arose and answered their need.

This says something of critical importance: all the problems of the world are known by Christ and providentially overruled by Him. He does not have to rush to meet them. Problems are not a danger or threat to the child of God. This does not mean that we shall not suffer or die, nor that we do not have to bear terrible trials. The disciples had to experience this storm and they had to experience many other storms. But Christ was with them, and He is always with us. He will strengthen and carry us through all the storms of life. In fact, as with the disciples, God uses the storms of life to teach us more and more trust in Him. If there were no trials, there would be no need to trust Him.

How often we misread the presence of Christ, thinking He is out of reach. And how often we misread the storm, thinking it is out of His control. The problem is, we are not walking close enough to Him to be conscious of His presence and care. He will speak and calm the storm at the very best time, after everyone has learned what they are supposed to learn through the storms.

 

Several of the twelve disciples were fishermen, and we can be certain they  had done everything possible to save themselves. They were probably just as  tired as Jesus was, but were far too afraid to sleep. They had nowhere else to turn  but to Jesus and were exactly where God wanted them to be. Sometimes the Lord has to bring us to a point of absolute desperation before He can get our attention, and that is what He did with those disciples whose boat was about to be swamped or torn to pieces. They had run out of human solutions and had only Jesus to turn
to. Perhaps the one who could cleanse lepers, restore sight to the blind, and heal every other sort of disease also had power over the wind and the sea. Their great fear was mixed with a glimmer of faith as they came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” Had they had the confidence in Jesus that He had in His Father, they would have been as calm and unconcerned as He.

The story is told of a hardened old sea captain who was quite vocal about his atheism. One night during a storm he was washed overboard and his men heard him crying out to God for help. When he was finally rescued one of the men asked him, “I thought you didn’t believe in God.” He replied, “Well, if there isn’t a God, there ought to be one for times like this.” Many people turn to the Lord only when every other resource has been exhausted. When sickness, death, loss of job, or some other tragedy comes, they cry out to God much as the disciples did to Jesus.

God is always pleased when men turn to Him, especially for salvation. People can be healed, comforted, saved from financial ruin, and helped in many other ways without God’s direct intervention, but the person who is not saved has absolutely no resource but the Lord. God loves to hear a sinner’s cry of desperation, because realizing one’s own inadequacy is the first step in turning to Him. He also loves to hear His own people cry out to Him, even in desperation, because that is a sign they remember to whom they belong.

Even the greatest saints of God have at times forgotten their heavenly Father and become swamped by circumstances.

• The psalmist cried, “Why dost Thou stand afar off, O Lord? Why dost Thou hide Thyself in times of trouble?” (Ps. 10:1).
• The writer of Psalm 44 lamented: “But for Thy sake we are killed all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. Arouse Thyself, why dost Thou sleep, O Lord?” (vv. 22-23).
• Even Isaiah was dismayed at God’s seeming inability to help His people. “Awake, awake,” he cried out, “put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago” (Isa. 51:9).

Like the disciples during the storm, he wondered why God slept while His people were perishing.

Jesus’ first response to the disciples’ plea was to rebuke them gently for their lack of faith. He said to them, “why are you timid, you men of little faith?”  (timid) has the basic meaning of being fearful or cowardly, and the disciples must have wondered why Jesus wondered at them. How could He ask why they were afraid and timid, when they obviously had everything to be afraid of? The great question in their minds was why Jesus was not afraid. It was the middle of the night, the storm was sure to wash them overboard or sink the boat,
and any response but fear seemed foolish and unnatural. Jesus’ calmness so perplexed the disciples that they accused Him of insensitivity: “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38).

But Jesus turned the rebuke back upon them. Why are you timid, He asked, and then gave the answer as part of the question: you men of little faith? They were fearful because they were faithless, timid because they had little faith. “Don’t you believe in Me and in My power?” He asked, in effect. “Haven’t you seen enough of My power and experienced enough of My love to know you are perfectly safe with Me? You have seen Me perform miracle upon miracle, even on behalf of those who never trusted in Me or even bothered to thank Me. You have seen My power and My compassion, and you should know that because of My power I can help you and that because of My compassion I will help you. Even if you should drown, don’t you know that would mean instant heaven?
What, then, do you have to be worried about?”

The disciples knew the Psalms. Many times they had heard and repeated the words of Psalm 89: “O Lord God of Hosts, who is like Thee, O mighty Lord? Thy faithfulness also surrounds Thee. Thou dost rule the swelling of the sea; when its waves rise, Thou dost still them” (vv. 8-9). They had sung, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea: though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride” (Ps. 46:1-3).

They knew well the majestic and comforting words of Psalm 107:

Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters; they have seen the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths; their soul melted away in their misery. They reeled and staggered like a drunken man, and were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and
He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet; so He guided them to their desired haven. (Ps. 107:23-30)

It was a literal fulfillment of those verses that Jesus was about to accomplish on the Sea of Galilee.

The believer who is aware of God’s power and love has no reason to be afraid of anything. Because God both can and will take care of His children, there is no hardship or danger through which He cannot or will not take them.
God’s power and love will see us through any storm, and that is the essence of what we need to know and consider when we are in trouble.

Yet every believer realizes from his own experience that knowing about God’s power and love and trusting in them do not always go together. Our weaknesses and frailties are so much a part of us that, even after we have witnessed God doing marvelous things, we still fall into doubt and fear. In fact, like Elijah after the great miracle on Mt. Carmel and the disciples after the great miracles in Capernaum, we sometimes are most afraid just after we have been overwhelmed with God’s greatness. We marvel at His greatness, but as soon as trouble comes we forget His greatness and see only the trouble.

Faith needs constant strengthening, as the disciples eventually came to realize. “Increase our faith!” they pleaded of Jesus (Luke 17:5). Even believers are subject to disbelief, and the more we believe, the more we also want to try out with the father of the boy with the unclean spirit, “I do believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). We know God can provide, but we also know how easily we can fail to trust in His provision. We know God loves us, but we also know how easily we can forget His love. We know He gives peace that passes understanding, but we also know how easily we can fall into worry and despair. When it is coupled with little faith, even much knowledge about God leaves us timid and afraid when trouble comes.

The Power

Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and it became perfectly calm. (8:26b)

Jesus arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea, saying, “Hush, be still” (Mark 4:39). At the word of the Creator the storm could do nothing but become perfectly calm. The winds stopped, the waves ceased, the air cleared, and the water became as glass. Storms normally subside gradually, with winds and waves diminishing little by little until calm is restored. But this storm subsided faster even than it had come; it came suddenly and ceased instantly. Though small in comparison to hurricanes and typhoons, that storm on the Sea of Galilee had generated multiplied millions of units of horsepower. Yet Jesus stopped it with a word—an easy feat compared to His bringing the entire world into existence with a word.

The one who had control over diseases and demons also had control over nature. And as Matthew would proceed to show, He also had power to forgive sins and to raise the dead.

Why did the disciples call upon Jesus now? Why not earlier?

• The situation was totally out of control, beyond their ability to handle.
• They were about to perish and die.
• They had waited and waited, tried and tried to handle the situation themselves. They were prideful men: big, sturdy, capable, seasoned, and prideful in their profession. They had always handled every situation before; they could handle this one, or so they thought.

In the final analysis, the disciples confessed their need. They broke through their pride and came to Jesus. But note: they had almost waited too late, humanly speaking (Matthew 8:24-25). Jesus stirred Himself and heard their confession.

(8:27) Power: a marvelous purpose. The disciples marvelled; they had never seen anything like it—even the winds and seas obeyed Him.

And the men marveled, saying, “what kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (8:27)

1. They now knew more about what it meant to call Him “Lord.” He was the sovereign Lord who possessed all power over nature—the same power that the prophets of old proclaimed for God.
2. They also knew more about what it meant to trust Him and His Word. He was able to control even the elements of nature. They could now depend upon His power to do whatever was needed. In Him the power was available to control all things and to do all things.

Marveled refers to extreme amazement and can carry the idea  of portending. The men could not imagine what kind of a man Jesus was, that even the winds and the sea obey Him. Mark reports that, along with their great amazement, the men were also “very much afraid” (4:41). They were now more afraid of the one who had stilled the storm than they had been of the storm itself.

Many of them had encountered dangerous storms, but none had encountered such supernatural power as Jesus here displayed.

After God had declared His great power and majesty, Job exclaimed, “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees Thee; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6). When Isaiah “saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple,” he declared, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isa. 6:1, 5).

After Daniel beheld the Lord, he testified:  “No strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground” (Dan. 10:8-9).

When Peter saw Jesus miraculously provide the great catch of fish, “he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’” (Luke 5:8). When Paul encountered the risen Christ on the Damascus road, “he fell to the ground … And though his eyes were open, he could see nothing” Acts 9:4, 8.

God’s majesty is so overwhelming that when He displays Himself in even a small part of His glory men cannot stand in His presence. These disciples suddenly realized that God was standing in the very boat with them, and they were terrified by His power and His holiness. On a similar and later occasion Peter walked on the water. But when the wind came up, he became afraid, and Jesus not only held up His faithless disciple but also caused the wind to stop. “And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God’s Son!’” (Matt. 14:29-33).

Isaac Watts wrote: We sing the mighty power of God, Who bade the mountains rise. Who spread the flowing seas abroad, And built the lofty skies. We sing the wisdom that ordained The sun to rule the day. The moon shines full at His command, And all the stars obey. Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed Where e’er we turn our eyes, When e’er we view the ground we tread, Or gaze upon the skies. There’s not a plant nor flower below But makes Thy glories known, And clouds arise and tempest blow By order of Thy throne. He closes with the beautiful lines: On Thee each moment we depend, If Thou withdraw we die. O may we ne’er that God offend, Who is forever nigh.

The same Christ who stilled the Sea of Galilee is the Christ who keeps every atom and every star in its orbit. He keeps the universe in balance and provides for each plant and animal. One day He is coming to restore the world that sin defiled, to make completely new the heavens and the earth. Even now He is the God who gives eternal life to those who trust in Him, and who will calm their every storm and give strength for their every tragedy.