Peace in the Storm
Notes
Transcript
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”
And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.
But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
The most difficult aspect of being a believer is when we become aware of the depths of our unbelief.
In our journey of faith, we often find ourselves like the disciples in the boat—overwhelmed by the storms of life and struggling to trust in Jesus' presence and power.
If you’re like me, you’ve often heard that we simply need to trust Jesus during such times.
That’s true, even as we are reminded in today’s story that proximity to Jesus was not enough to overcome the fear of the disciples.
Today, we are going to see why the disciples have so little faith.
We are also going to see how we can more deeply acquire the type of faith Jesus is talking about through a life of deep and consistent prayer.
We begin by seeing that Jesus does, indeed, have power over nature.
Jesus' Power Over Nature
Jesus' Power Over Nature
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.
But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
We begin by seeing that Jesus does, indeed, have power over nature.
The apostles know Jesus has great power, and yet they see this one as too big for even Jesus.
The passage vividly depicts Jesus' sovereignty over the natural world.
…a violent storm, waves crashing over the boat, seasoned fishermen fearing for their lives.
Yet, amidst this chaos, Jesus is found sleeping, undisturbed by the storm.
When awakened, He simply speaks, "Quiet! Be still!" and the wind and waves obey Him.
This moment reveals not just His control over creation but also His ability to calm the storms in our hearts.
Life often throws unexpected storms our way—personal challenges, family struggles, health issues, or even the broader societal upheavals we witness.
The disciples' reaction to the storm shows their fear and lack of faith.
Despite being in close proximity to Jesus, they were overwhelmed by the storm.
They cried out, "Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?"
This question reveals their desperation and doubt.
Jesus Responds
Jesus Responds
And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
Jesus’ response, challenges them to trust in His presence and power, even in the face of overwhelming fear.
This passage highlights the struggle many of us face in our faith journey.
It is easy to trust Jesus when life is calm, but our faith is truly tested in the storms.
The disciples had Jesus physically with them, yet they struggled with fear.
We, too, have Jesus with us through His Spirit, and like the disciples, we can sometimes forget His constant presence.
Who Is This?
Who Is This?
And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
After Jesus rebukes them, we see in the disciples the true reason for their lack of faith.
They don’t know him deeply.
“Who is this?” Well, if they knew him well, they would know who he is.
And like the disciples, we are reminded that proximity to Jesus is not enough.
More is needed.
A deep knowing is required.
But from where does this knowing come?
Deepening Our Faith Through Prayer
Deepening Our Faith Through Prayer
Fortunately, Jesus gives us a great template for knowing our Heavenly Father.
He is recorded as praying at least 25 times.
His witness is what led to Paul’s call for us to…
pray without ceasing,
There was never a moment in his ministry when Jesus was not in a spirit of prayer.
There were literally no circumstances where Jesus was not praying.
He could sleep through a storm because he, as our savior, knew the Father.
He had perfect peace and trust, and he could ride out any storm, even the storms he could stop in the blink of an eye.
What does this say to us about our own walk with God.
Yes, we know about Jesus.
We know what he can do.
We’ve read the Bible stories.
We know he rose from the dead.
But do we know God so deeply in prayer that we have peace even through the storms of life?
The key to overcoming our unbelief and deepening our faith is through a life of deep and consistent prayer.
Evagrius Ponticus was a desert monk in the fourth century, and he famously wrote:
“If you are a theologian, you will pray. And if you pray truly, you are a theologian.”
Catch that?
We tend to think that a theologian is a Christian with lots of knowledge; one who takes up a life of deep study.
No, the true theologian is the one who knows God deeply.
If you’re illiterate but you pray truly, and know God deeply, you are more a theologian than the PhD who can tell you everything you’d ever want to know, but does not have a rich and deep prayer life.
I will never forget walking into our bedroom once, and seeing Jerianne laying on the floor before God, just being with Him.
By that point I had pastored for several years, but I knew in that moment she knew something I didn’t know.
She knew God.
And she knew God because she learned deep peace by relying on Him through some absolutely awful storms.
What This Means
What This Means
Friends, I encourage Christians to engage in every opportunity for spiritual growth.
I will say this though.
If I had to choose for you one hour of Bible reading…
…or five minutes of Bible reading and 55 minutes of prayer, I would choose the latter.
I would choose that for you because I know how easy it is to get head puffed up full of knowledge…even Biblical knowledge.
We can begin imagining that by intellectually grasping much that we have known God.
No, we know God when we meet Him in prayer.
It is when we meet the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in prayer, that the storms of life seem to pale in comparison to the peace that passes all understanding in deep relationship with God.
In our own lives, let us strive not just to be near Jesus but to know Him deeply through prayer.
Prayer is our lifeline, our connection to the divine.
It is through prayer that we can cultivate a faith that withstands the storms of life.
In doing so, we will find peace in the storms and assurance in the transitions of life.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As we reflect on this story of Jesus calming the storm, may we be reminded that mere proximity to Jesus is not enough.
The disciples were physically close to Him, yet they struggled with their faith.
We must go beyond proximity to cultivate a deep and abiding faith through prayer.
In prayer we will KNOW that the Jesus in our boat has all the power necessary to make our storms seem less severe.
Let us hold onto the truth that Jesus is in our boat, guiding us through every storm and transition.
May we find comfort and reassurance in His presence and power, trusting that He will lead us to calm waters and safe harbors. Amen.
Let us Pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your presence and power that calms the storms in our lives. Help us to deepen our faith through consistent prayer and to trust in Your unwavering care, even in the midst of life's challenges. As we leave this place, remind us that Jesus is always with us, guiding us through every transition and bringing peace to our hearts. Strengthen our belief and draw us closer to You, that we may live in the assurance of Your love and sovereignty. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Hymn of Response: Master the Tempest is Raging (vs 1, 3 – OGR # 354)