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23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 A windstorm suddenly arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves, but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a dead calm. 27 They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”

 

Jesus and the disciples are going across the Sea of Galilee, after a busy time of ministry, when a storm blows up on the sea. Jesus is asleep, and the disciples (some of whom are experienced sailors on this particular body of water) are freaking out, terrified that the storm will wipe them out. They wake him, and he tells the wind and waves to chill out – which they do. Depending on who’s telling the story (Mark and Luke have their versions as well), he either questions the disciples before or after rebuking the wind; but either way, his question is basically a way of telling the disciples to chill out as well. Notice their reaction – “what kind of person is this? Even wind and waves obey him.”

 

So – why does Matthew tell this story? Ultimately, so that we might ask the same question they did. “Just who is this?” Remember that the Gospels were written to show that Jesus is the Messiah, the Redeemer that God promised. In Matthew 8, we see Jesus healing people (both in person and long-distance) and casting out demons and then exercising control over nature. Who does these kinds of things? God.

 

Does this story guarantee us that Jesus will calm all the storms of our lives? No. But it does remind us of who is riding in the boat with us.

 

Lord, we see the “wind and waves” in our lives, and it grabs our attention, and frightens us, because we know that we can’t control it. Help us to fix our eyes, and our faith, on you, for you go with us wherever you lead us. And whether you still the storm, or let it play out, our souls are safe with you. Amen.

 

Damon Glassmoyer

jwl1040@gmail.com

 

Prayer Concern: For peace to prevail in our land and in the world, not only between nations, but between individuals, and that we be guided in our opportunities to be peacemakers.