Responding To Jesus

Sermon on Matthew 8:23–34

Matthew 8:23–34 NKJV

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.” And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.

Title: When You Meet Jesus, You Must Respond

Introduction:

Today’s passage shows us a powerful truth: when we encounter Jesus, we must respond.

There are only two possible responses —

We reject Him: because we fail to understand who He is or fear the change He demands, so we either ignore Him or beg Him to leave us alone.

We receive Him: acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior, surrendering our whole lives to Him in faith and obedience.

There is no neutral ground with Jesus.

Let us look closely at Matthew 8:23-34 and see how different people responded to Him — and ask ourselves, how will we respond?

1. Following Jesus Requires Sacrifice, Trust, and Obedience (vv. 23-27)

A. Only a few entered the boat.

Only the Twelve got in with Jesus.

In the previous verses, two would-be disciples made excuses — one hesitating to follow until family matters were settled, the other hesitating at the thought of hardship (vv. 18-22).

Jesus made clear that following Him means immediate, complete surrender. It demands sacrifice — even the things we hold most dear — and a willingness to embrace uncertainty for the sake of obedience.

B. Men fear the world, but Jesus commands it.

As the storm raged, the disciples were terrified — but Jesus, with a word, calmed the winds and the waves.

We often fear the storms around us, forgetting that Jesus is Lord over all creation.

Fear is natural — but faith reminds us that Jesus has already overcome the world (John 16:33).

C. Jesus reveals more of Himself in our trials.

In their darkest hour, the disciples saw a new aspect of who Jesus is — His divine authority over nature.

Likewise, it is often in our hardships and fearful nights that Jesus reveals Himself more deeply to us.

When we cling to Him through the storm, we experience His power, His faithfulness, and His peace in ways we never would otherwise.

2. Knowing About Jesus Is Not the Same as Following Jesus (vv. 28-34)

A. Jesus crosses into Gentile territory.

Jesus and His disciples landed in the region of the Gergesenes, a mostly Gentile area across the lake.

The message of Jesus had not spread widely here yet — this was unfamiliar territory for His ministry.

Yet Jesus intentionally went where others would not, revealing His mission to reach all people.

B. The demons recognized Jesus immediately.

Two demon-possessed men rushed out to confront Him.

The demons knew exactly who Jesus was — the Son of God — and they trembled at His authority.

They tried to bargain with Jesus, begging to be sent into a herd of pigs instead of being cast into the abyss.

How often we do the same!

We try to bargain with God — offering Him part of our lives while keeping back the rest.

But Jesus demands full surrender. Partial obedience leads only to destruction — just like the pigs rushing headlong into the sea.

C. There is always a response to encountering Jesus.

The townspeople came out — and instead of rejoicing, they were afraid.

They saw Jesus’s power and realized He would disrupt their way of life — and they begged Him to leave.

Tragically, they valued their comfort, their economy, and their routines more than salvation itself.

We often do the same:

We resist change.

We cling to familiar sins rather than surrender to Christ.

We fear losing control instead of trusting the One who holds all things together.

Application:

1. Get in the boat with Jesus.

Following Jesus means trusting Him — not just when the seas are calm, but especially when the storms rage.

Faith steps into the boat, even when the destination is unknown.

2. Recognize that knowing about Jesus is not enough.

The demons knew who Jesus was — but they did not love or obey Him.

True discipleship means giving Jesus not just your knowledge, but your heart, your loyalty, and your life.

3. When you encounter Jesus, you must respond.

There is no neutral response.

You will either beg Him to leave you alone — clinging to the life you know— Or you will surrender, bow before Him as Savior and Lord, and follow Him into eternal life.

Which response will you choose today?

Conclusion and Invitation:

Today, we have seen that meeting Jesus demands a response. The storm showed the disciples that following Him requires sacrifice, trust, and obedience. The demon-possessed men and the townspeople revealed that even recognizing Jesus’s power is not enough — we must choose what to do with Him. You and I face the same decision: will we beg Jesus to leave us alone so we can cling to our old ways? Or will we surrender our lives to Him, trusting that what He offers — forgiveness, eternal life, and true peace — is worth far more than anything this world can give?

Friend, Jesus stands before you today just as He did on that shoreline. He is not here to ruin your life; He is here to redeem it. He is not here to take from you, but to give you life — abundant and everlasting. Will you trust Him? Will you step into the boat with Him, even through the storms? Today is the day to respond. Don’t send Jesus away. Open your heart, surrender your life, and follow Him — and you will find in Him everything your soul has ever longed for.

Who got in the boat with Jesus? What about them made them get in the boat?

What was the immediate response of the disciples when the storm arose?

What does Jesus’ calming of the storm reveal about His authority and nature?

In what ways can we recognize Jesus revealing Himself during our own trials?

How can we demonstrate our trust in Jesus when facing uncertainties in our lives?

What’s the difference between knowing Jesus and following Jesus?

Can we know Jesus and not follow Him?

What does the interaction with the demons reveal about the spiritual authority of Jesus?

How can we ensure that our knowledge of Jesus translates into genuine discipleship?

What are some specific areas in your life where you might be resisting surrender to Jesus?

What sacrifices did Jesus describe as necessary for following Him?

How does this passage illustrate the concept that there is no neutral response to Jesus?