JESUS CALMS THE STORM

PROCLAMATION

“One day Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side of the lake.’  So they got into a boat and set out.  As they sailed, He fell asleep.  A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped and they were in great danger.  The disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’  He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.  ‘Where is your faith?’ He asked His disciples.  In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this?  He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’ ”  Luke 8:22-25 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to Luke, the physician.   After He left the home of the Pharisee, Jesus traveled from one town and village to another, preaching and teaching.  His disciples and some of the women were with Him. (Luke 8:1-3)  There was also a large crowd following Him and He told them The Parable of The Sower, (Luke 8:4-15) and He told them about A Lamp on A Stand. (Luke 8:16-18)  Then Jesus and His disciples went over to the other side of the lake.  As they were sailing on the lake, a severe storm arose which frightened His disciples.  Jesus was asleep on the boat and they woke Him.  He got up and rebuked the storm saying, “Peace, be still.”  Immediately the winds and the waters were calm. (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:36-41; Luke 8:22-25; and John 6:16-21)  

 

APPLICATION

The rebuking of the wind and the waters by Jesus when He calmed the storm is recorded in all four gospels.  Jesus, The Christ, is able to control all of the elements and the weather.  He controls the storms in our lives, both physical and situational.  He may choose not to calm every storm, even though He can because He is omnipotent.  However, He will be with us as we go through our storms.  He said that He would never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)  We are protected in His hands and nothing can ever take us out of His hands. (John 10:28-29)  Through His permissive will, He may allow us to be punished, but we will never be utterly and completely destroyed.  As believers, we have been promised the victory through our Lord Jesus, The Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)  So, we have no need to fear the storms of life.