JESUS CALMS THE STORM

PROCLAMATION

“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!’ ”  Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle Matthew.  After Jesus had completed His Sermon on The Mount, He came down from the mountainside and large crowds followed Him. (Matthew 8:1)  He healed a man with leprosy (Matthew 8:2-4), healed the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13), healed Peter’s mother-in-law who was in bed with a fever (Matthew 8:14-15), and He healed all the sick and demon-possessed people that were brought to Him. (Matthew 8:16-17)  Because of the great multitude which had gathered around Him, Jesus gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. (Matthew 8:18)  As He and His disciples crossed the lake in a boat, a furious storm rose up on the lake.  The storm was severe enough to cause His disciples to panic. (Matthew 8:23-25)  They woke Jesus, and He arose and said, “Peace, be still.”  Then the winds died down and it was completely calm. (Mark 4:37-39)  They were amazed and asked themselves, “What manner of man is this?  Even the winds and the waves obey Him!” (Matthew 8:27)

APPLICATION

The Lord God made the weather, the winds, the water, and the waves, and He controls them.  He controls the storms as He did on the Sea of Tiberias. (Matthew 8:23-27 and Mark 4:37-39)  He also controls the storms which occur in our lives.  He can calm the storms, or He can give us the strength to go through the storms and accompany us along the journey.  He can walk on water and He can give us the ability to walk on the water in the midst of a storm. (Matthew 14:26-31)  However He chooses to handle the situation; He is still in control.  We need to acknowledge that He is all powerful.  To God be all the praise, honor, and glory!