Jesus Calms the Storm

Prayer

Heavenly Father, the entrance of Your Word gives light!

We ask that You will shine the light of Your Word into our hearts,

so that it may be reflected in our lives and illuminate the world around us.

Amen

Introduction

Good Morning! My name is Andrew Daw and I am Efford’s indigenous theologian.

I was able to access our passage for this morning in P75 (3rd cent), codex Sinaiticus (4th cent), and codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis (5th cent). There are other manuscripts that I could have referred to since our passage is well attested. This account is not preserved in the more prominent manuscript known as P45 due to ware and tare.

Two of the New Testament Gospels were not written by Apostles, but by their companions. The Gospel of Mark is often seen as coming from Peter. The Gospel of Luke is widely held to be based upon eye-witness testimony gathered by Paul.

Luke 8:22-56 deals with a series of mighty works performed by Jesus. In this chapter Jesus will calm the stormy sea of Galilee, cast out a legion of demons, raise the dead, and heal a woman who had been sick for many years. In this chapter we see the power of God manifested in the life of Jesus. These acts of power would prepare the way for Peter’s confession of Christ in the next chapter (Luke 9:18-20).

But these signs and wonders are not just works of divine power. They provide evidence for the compassion of God in Christ for humanity (NIGTC).

The account of how Jesus stilled the storm on the sea of Galilee is a very well known. It must have left a deep impression upon the disciples because it appears all three of the Synoptic Gospels. Though sometimes they used different Greek words to describe the same experience. In my opinion this account preserves internal signs that it was translated from an earlier account in the Hebrew language [cf.PNTC].

When Jesus invited his disciples to join him on his journey across the sea of Galilee, they did not realise that they were about to face one of the greatest tests of their faith to date.

Many children take GCSEs, what we used to call O (ordinary) levels. It is usually their greatest test up to that point. But the intention is not to stop them in their tracks, though some do, or to criticise them for their mistakes. The hope is that after this test they will develop and go on to A (advanced) levels and perhaps even Higher Education Degrees. We might see the storm on the sea of Galilee in that vein.

The wonders which Jesus would perform were signs to his community. They were evidence of Jesus’ compassion for others. But they were also teaching aids to promote the spiritual development of the disciples. There is an old saying ‘Seeing is believing!’, and Jesus’ disciples would see more evidence than most that Jesus was no ordinary teacher, indeed he was no ordinary prophet.

Jesus’ goal was not just to produce believers, but to produce disciples who would reach their spiritual potential.

With Christ in the Vessel

Luke 8:22–23 NIV

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.

It is not unusual to hear Christians tell people that when you become a Christian, this will solve all of your problems, and you will be just float up to heaven on flowery beds of ease and everything in the garden will be lovely. So what gives? This account does not sound like part of the plan.

One thing that is quite noticeable is that when Jesus asks them to do something, they don’t hold a committee to decide whether they agree. I am not saying that we don’t need to talk things through, but I am saying that sometimes following Jesus can be demanding, controversial, and unpopular. It could even lead to a giant “I told you so!” from others, but if they had not gone with Jesus they would have missed the miracle, and an important stage in their spiritual development.

So the disciples got into a boat with Jesus and proceeded eastward across the sea of Galilee. Suddenly, they were at the centre of a storm, but Jesus was asleep.

Based on the local geography, it is entirely possible the boat was headed directly into the storm, since the mountains are on the eastern side. This story tells us that if we want to follow Jesus, then we need be ready for trouble, though thankfully it is is not guaranteed.

The disciples were not just in trouble they were in danger!

There are some echos of the Jonah story in this account which we will not explore at this time.

Luke, who was more at home with Greek, than Hebrew, describes יָם־כִּנֶּ֔רֶת Yam Kineret as a λιμνη lake and not as a θαλασσα sea. The other Gospel writers call it a sea due to translation issues, θαλασσα being the standard Greek equivalent for the Hebrew word ים yam meaning sea. The sea of Galilee was known by a number of diferent names. Geographically speaking it is a ’harp’ shaped lake (hence its Hebrew name כִּנֶּ֫רֶת Kineret meaning ‘harp’) that was approximately 13 miles long and 7 to 9 miles across.

We are not quite sure how many were in the boat, but most people usually assume that we are dealing with Jesus plus the twelve. Mark indicates that the incident took place during the evening.

The occurrence of a sudden storm was not a total surprise since the sea of Galilee is subject to sudden storms. But perhaps it was of greater intensity than usual. This would be quite scary during the day, but during the night it was terrifying.

But Jesus is in the same boat with his disciples.

People get all sorts of problems, and sometimes they think that talking about their problems means that they are somehow not spiritual enough. But this is not the case. We need to recognise our problems and if we need to talk them through then we should do. We can take our problems to the Lord in prayer because he knows what it means to be in the same boat.

Panic Strikes!

Luke 8:24 NIV

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.

Picture the scene: It was pitch dark. Severe storm winds were blowing. Great waves were rising high and swamping the ship. It looked like it was all over and everybody was going to drown.

As you can well imagine, the disciples were panic stricken when they awoke Jesus.

When I was a young Christian we use to sing a little song that went like this “With Christ in the Vessel you can smile at the storm”. Apparently the Apostles didn’t know it!

Now I know what you are thinking. This would be the perfect opportunity to teach it to them! But seriously, we all get afraid sometimes.

Sometimes we all feel afraid and even panic stricken like the disciples. It is OK, even the Apostles panicked occasionally. Some of them were experienced boatmen who were fishermen by trade working on the sea of Galilee, but even they were scarred. They were probably in a boat owned by one of Jesus’ followers or a family member.

Each one of the 3 Gospels translates the Hebrew title of respect in a different way. Luke uses ἐπιστᾰ́της, Matthew uses κύριος, and Mark uses δῐδάσκᾰλος, but they all probably translate the Hebrew רבי Rabbi.

It may be argued with some force that this story is part of the apostolic portrayal of Jesus as the Son of God, exercising divine power. What do you think? This situation and its solution raises all sorts of questions about Jesus.

In the Old Testament God is portrayed as rebuking the waves. Is this what Jesus was doing?

In the Psalms, stormy deep waters are used as a metaphor for trouble so serious that it make you feel powerless. But the storms of life do not mean that Jesus has left you alone, or that God has forsaken you.

The book of Acts (27:13-26) provides an example of the kind of faith that the disciples should have exhibited in the face of the storm from the life of Paul. Perhaps Paul had learned this lesson from the 12, when he heard them recount this story from their past.

Some commentators recount the fact that Jesus’ rebuke of the storm seems reminiscent of his treatment of the forces of evil. I am not entirely convinced by this idea, either way Jesus knew just how to deal with the situation.

Where is Your Faith

Luke 8:25 NIV

“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.”

I don’t think that Jesus was expecting his disciples to rebuke the wind and waves like he did.

I believe that the Gospel writers were making an important point about the power of Jesus.

Commentators often present this event in the Gospel story as an example of Jesus exercising a prerogative of God (WBC35A; Psalms 65:7, 77:16, 89:9, 104:7, 107:29).

Was his comment “Where is your faith?” humorous or was it a rebuke? We may never know. But we do know that this event made a deep impression upon his disciples.

We know that on other occasions Jesus praised the faith of people who were not disciples, and this may have given rise to a sense of unease and even shame among the disciples.

Christians may be described in many ways. One important way is that we are men and women of faith. This emphasis on faith has become even more important in our age of skepticism.

For every good relationship that is built upon skepticism and doubt there are at least ten that that are built upon faith and the mutual bond of trust.

Jesus’ call to faith is one of the most prominent aspects of his message.

I like evidence, and conclusive proof counts for a lot, but faith is better.

The example of a life that fully invests in Kingdom values is truly impressive. You can always tell the difference between a church attender and a true believer.

So-called enlightened skepticism does not make for good disciples, but well-informed faith can be a powerful force for good.

The disciples were frightened and amazed by Jesus. They thought that they were going to die then Jesus put a stop to the storm just like that.

But the climax of the story is not the miracle, it’s the question that comes at the end [EBC]. He gave them a practical test and followed it up with a question?

Some early commentators allegorised this account to find meaning. But although this is possible, it is not necessary for us to do this to learn what it has to teach us. In these allegories the boat is used to represent the Church. It navigates difficult waters of opposition but because Jesus is present all are safe and sound.

This was not just an exercise in testing the disciples faith, it was also intended to strengthen their faith in Jesus and develop their walk with God.

Was this the power of God, was this a manifestation of the Messiah whom heaven and earth obey that was expected by the Essenes [4Q521]?

Not only did Jesus calm the storm but he also calmed the fears of his followers. Jesus brought peace to the situation. He brought peace to the storm on the waters and peace to their hearts. Blessed are the peace makers!

What Does this Mean to Me?

With Christ in the vessel, you may not be able to smile at the storm, but you may be able to take comfort in a sense of his calming presence and his overwhelming power.

The entire experience begged the question “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey him.” It invites us to explore the Scriptures in order to understand the power of God.

The question that we may ask ourselves today is “Who is Jesus to me?”

The power of God may be shown in the rising of the tempest and the calming of the storm. In circumstances such as these, our vulnerability and dependence upon God are brought into focus. There are times when all of us feel vulnerable, but Christians can take comfort in the knowledge that wherever we find ourselves, God is with us.

The Christian life provides us with a series of opportunities to experience communion with the fear of God and the love of God.

We learn from this account that the Christian life is not a way around the problems and difficulties of life, but a way through them.

The apostles time with Jesus was a voyage of discovery that began with their call and may have just taken a major step forward with the stilling of the storm.

They were all working towards achieving their spiritual potential.

It is my hope that as we face the storms of life each one of us will reach our spiritual potential in faith, in devotion, in understanding, in witnessing, and in service to the Lord.

I close my sermon with a song that they may all have known:

Psalm 107:23–32 NIV

Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.

AMEN

Sermon and Background not included in the Sermon