Have you ever been on a stormy sea in a small vessel? If you have, then you probably know how terrifying the fury of wind and wave can be. It was just this type of fury that the disciples of the Lord Jesus experienced in this account in Luke chapter 8. In verse 22 we read, “Now it came to pass on a certain day, that He (the Lord Jesus) went into a ship with His disciples: and He said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.” The Lord Jesus was with His disciples near the shore of the Sea of Galilee on this day, and He desired to go over to the land of the Gadarenes on the eastern shore. He and His disciples entered a ship, and He bid them set sail. This may have been a trip that they were used to making, but on this day, they were to encounter a great storm at sea. It is my understanding that the Sea of Galilee is known for sudden, violent storms, so those who sailed it had to expect these kinds of events from time to time. At least four of the disciples were experienced fishermen who had made their living on the sea; however, even for those who were very experienced, a violent storm at sea is a thing not to be taken lightly—storms on the water are always dangerous, and they can be terrifying in the extreme, especially when sailing in a small ship. We read in verse 23, “But as they sailed He fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.”
The Lord Jesus had gone to sleep during the course of this voyage, and while He slept, the winds rose and the waves began to throw the ship about. When their ship began to take on water, the disciples realized that they were in serious trouble, and their seamanship was clearly no match for the forces that threatened to sink their vessel. Realizing their peril and in full panic, they woke the Lord Jesus whom they assumed was not in touch at all with the desperate nature of their situation, and they cried out in despair about their circumstances.
In verses 24 and 25 we read, “And they came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then He arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And He said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for He commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey Him.” These same disciples had walked with the Lord Jesus and had seen Him do many mighty works; yet it appears that with the winds raging and the high seas tossing them about, their eyes were focused on the storm only, and they forgot who they had in the ship with them. I wonder if we Christians sometimes focus only on the storms of our lives and forget who it is that calms the raging seas? In their midst, the disciples had One who did mighty works in the power of God, yet it appears that it never occurred to them that the Lord Jesus was able to bring even this seemingly desperate situation under control.
We read that Jesus rebuked the wind and the sea, and the immediate result was a calm, placid sea. That was a miracle! The disciples had seen other miracles at the hand of Jesus, so perhaps they should have realized just who it was that sailed with them. But apparently they did not expect this miracle; we see that they were frightened and astonished that even the wind and sea obeyed His voice. When we are in desperate straits and call upon the Lord, are we surprised when He is able to deliver us?
My dear Christian friend, do you realize who it is that walks with you through this stormy world? It may be that you have never experienced a storm at sea, but my guess is that many who read this paper have encountered storms in other aspects of your lives. Maybe you are experiencing a personal storm in your life at this very moment. Perhaps you have lost a job or a home, or have failed in a business venture; perhaps you have been diagnosed with a serious illness that will prevent you from pursuing your career dreams or even taking care of your own personal needs; perhaps you are unable to do some work for the Lord that you want with all your heart to do; or, perhaps you have been upset at the economic and political unrest in our world just now. Take heart, my dear Christian friend! You have the same sure resource that the disciples had on that stormy day on the sea so long ago. The same Lord Jesus who calmed the sea for His disciples in Luke 8 can calm each of the storms of our lives as well. He is risen and glorified, and is seated on the right hand of the Father now, but He knows very well your present distress. His ear is inclined toward His children, and he hears our cries just as He heard those of His disciples on that stormy day at sea. In Psalm 34:15 we read, “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.” This same Lord Jesus once walked in this scene, and He well knows our every need: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” (Hebrews 4:15, 16). When the storms of life rage, we can put our trust in the One who calmed the seas—He is only a prayer away!
“And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me,” (Psalm 50:15).
My times are in Thy hand; Father, I wish them there;
My life, my soul, my all, I leave entirely to Thy care. (Grace and Truth, #144).