Jesus calms the storm

Matthew 8:23-27

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’
He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’

Some years ago my wife and I went on holiday to France with two of our children. We went camping in Brittany and travelled there by ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff – a six hour sailing across the western end of the English Channel.


About an hour out of Plymouth the sea began to get a little rough and then rougher and rougher and rougher. The boat was rocking backwards and forwards. Some people went out on deck, some people went down below.

I felt fine and enjoyed a greasy all day breakfast in a rather empty self-service restaurant!

I overheard some people expressing concern that we might not make it! But I was confident that we would – The ship was big and it was new, we had all that technology. There was no way it was going to sink.

But of course, it wasn’t like that, that time on the Sea of Galilee. Oh yes the lake was smaller – only about 6 or 7 miles wide and the journey would only take about an hour or so. But the boat was smaller as well!

Lake Galilee is known for its violent storms. It’s over 200m below sea level and the cold winds blow off the Golan Heights and when they meet the warm water they can whip up a right storm without much warning. But the word that Matthew uses for storm usually means earthquake, literally shaking, and really does highlight the serious danger that they were in.

The disciples are beginning to understand more about Jesus and who He is. 

Matthew is using the story as part of his progressive revelation to his readers and to us, that Jesus really is the Son of God. 

The Kingdom of God has broken through.

Immediately before this section Jesus has been talking about discipleship and the cost of following Him. 

Now we have the storm on the lake and the disciples soon learn about the practicalities of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

Now let’s return to the incident. “Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.”

The disciples were in the boat and Jesus was asleep. It’s important to remember that some of these disciples were experienced fishermen. Sailing on Galilee was their job. You could imagine some of the others getting concerned when the wind starts to blow and the waters rise. But men like Peter, Andrew, James and John - they knew all about it. 

They weren't land lovers going on holiday to France! 

They knew what to expect. And yet even they were afraid when the waves began breaking over the boat. If they were afraid then there must have been something seriously wrong. 

So much so, that they went and woke Jesus, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" they shouted.

Look how Jesus responded. "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" What is he talking about. 

“But Jesus, the waves are in the boat, we’re going to drown!!!” you could imagine them thinking or even saying.

But then He rebukes the waves and there is calm. Everyone is amazed, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

But why did Jesus rebuke the disciples as well as the wind and the waves? 

What is going on? 

Surely He could see why they were afraid. The boat was filling up with water. Telling them off doesn't sound like the sort of thing that we would expect Jesus to do. 

So what is going on?

We can find the key if we look back at verse 18. 

“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.”

Jesus gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.

And when Jesus gives orders to cross to the other side of the lake, where are they going?

That’s right - the other side of the lake.

They’re going to the other side of the lake and there is no storm in the world that’s going to stop them! 

Now, as we sail into 2014 I want to encourage you.

You have come to where ever you are now from many different places and backgrounds and maybe for many different reasons.

But I am certain that if you have felt the call of Jesus on your life you are where you are for a good reason.

Just as the Holy Spirit told the believers to set apart Paul and Barnabas for the work to which they were called. You too have been called by Jesus to do the things that He has called you to.

Paul calls them good works, which God prepared in advance for you to do.

But you need to know that it won’t all be plain sailing! 

There may be storms. 

In fact I can guarantee that there will be storms. 

There will be times, maybe even right now when you feel scared. 

You might be wondering what have I let myself into. 

What on earth am I doing here?

You might get fed up, feel depressed, want to jack it all in. 

But I want to tell you not to. 

There’s no need to be afraid like the disciples. You know what sort of man He is - that even the winds and the waves obey Him.

He’s called you.

He’s in the boat with you.

He’s commanded you to go across to the other side of the lake and that’s where you’re going.

You may have problems. 

But, you are going. 

He has commanded it.

Jesus is with you and He will never leave you or forsake you.