JESUS CALMS THE STORMS

PROCLAMATION

“Now it came to pass on a certain day, that He 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.  But as they sailed, He fell asleep;  and there came a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and they were in jeopardy.  And they came to Him, and woke 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 the water, and they obey Him.’ ”  Luke 8:22-25 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by 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)  When they crossed the lake they arrived at the country of Gardarenes.  There Jesus met a demon-possessed man who lived among the tombs.  The demon said that his name was “Legion” because many demons had entered into him.  Jesus commanded to leave the man and He allowed them to enter a herd of swine feeding nearby, and the swine ran down a steep bank into the sea and drowned. (Luke 8:26-36)  Jesus left there at the request of the people, went back across the sea to Galilee, and there He healed the woman with the issue of blood, and He brought back to life the dead daughter of Jairus. (Luke 8:37-56)

 

APPLICATION

The rebuking of the wind and the waters by Jesus when He calmed the storm is recorded in all four gospels.  Christ 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. (John 10:28-29)  So, we have no need to fear the storms of life.