Jesus Calms The Storm
Notes
Transcript
Open your bible with me to Luke 8:22-25
In the fall of 1736, Hymn Writers Charles and John Wesley went to Georgia in what was known then as the Colonies of America. It had been an all but disappointing trip. Seemed nothing went right. And as the Wesleys traveled back to England, they encountered turbulent waters in the Atlantic. Though weary from the troubles in ministry and a literal storm that almost caused them to despair, Wesley did NOT pray for deliverance but for faith. He prayed for faith in the storm, NOT only for himself, but for the other passengers.
In the end, the Lord moved. The storm subsided, the ship endured, and many gave their hearts to Christ.
It was apparently the context from which Wesley would eventually write his famous hymn – Jesus, Lover of My Soul.
Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high;
Hide me, O my Savior, hide
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last!
These words and situation draw us close to our text this morning, in which the disciples encounter a storm with Jesus. In which Jesus intends to show His disciples, and Luke intends to show us a picture of true faith, and moreover proposes a greater question of our faith.
Namely, will faith remain when storms come? You’ve heard it before – and it’s true in life, you are either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or heading towards a storm.
And it’s often in those storms that the Lord teaches us great truths, solidifies our faith, and reveals to us the truth of our hearts. And so, in the context of faith, who has faith, what true faith looks like, Luke shows us the testing of faith in the midst of a storm – in order to teach us this truth.
Sermon Summary: Storms Test Our Faith; only Jesus can Save Us and Sustain Us.
22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
You know, I’ve realized in Luke’s gospel, many things are present in couplets or pairs, if you will.
I’ve seen this in my study, and I’m sure you’ve felt that within our sermons. We have certainly seen Luke weaving in multiple themes within the last couple of chapters. Yet, think about how Luke begins.
He shows us two women – Elizabeth and Mary. He contrasts the Messiah, Jesus, with another figure, John the Baptist. He shows us multiple soils, but two responses: faith or doubt. Often, he gives us two stories together that complement one another.
And within this passage, He gives us two questions being proposed – Who is this? And where is your faith? Likewise, there are two rebukes: first, the winds and waves, and then the disciples. You have two main ideas, STORM and SLUMBER. You see the two natures of Christ in this text. Human, and Divine. And even in this passage, 4 verses, there are at least 10 couplet ideas – nearly every verb in this passage is complemented with another verb. – Jesus got in a boat, AND said…They set out, AND HE FELL ASLEEP….They were filling with water, AND were in danger…they went AND WOKE HIM…..WINDS and WAVES. It’s everywhere in this text….and if I were smart enough, I would have two points this morning, but I’m not….so I have three.
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I. Christ In The Storm (v.22-23)
I. Christ In The Storm (v.22-23)
This account is mentioned in both Matthew 8 :23-27, and Mark 4:34-35. Luke’s interest is NOT so much in chronology as in showing us that Christ is the Messiah and the things fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus. Luke is nonetheless showing us a progression of Jesus' ministry. And so Jesus' ministry and expectation are on a collision course with His fulfillment as the Son of Man. That’s going to come to a head in the next couple of chapters, which is why the question continues to be asked, “Who is this?”This has been and will continue to be the most pressing question of Luke’s gospel.
And in the context of doubt, even His disciples, who possessed faith, when a storm comes, are troubled. In that sense, they are no different than John the Baptist, who struggled in the face of adversity and expectations shaken.
22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger.
Jesus is now travelling with His disciples, and on the other side of the lake is another healing of a demon-possessed man, a gentile. So Jesus says, Guys, let’s get into the boat and let’s go across to the other side of the lake.
The lake, NOT to sound contradictory, is the Sea of Galilee. Which, NOT to sound confusing, is in fact a lake. Lake Gennesaret is thirteen miles in length and seven and one-half miles in width. And evidently, Jesus was tired. We’ve seen him through the gospel of Luke being active in ministry. He’s healing, He’s ministering. He’s preaching the word. And now, to our surprise. Jesus is tired.
This is a subtle detail, but worth reflecting on. The humility of Jesus. To put on humanity. To take upon flesh. To the degree that he gets hungry. He is tempted. And here he gets fatigued. Jesus is tired. Jesus was subject to every human experience. Even the need for sleep. There is an entire theology of sleep. The act of trusting God in the subconscious. We are sometimes troubled in sleep. We get sleep-deprived. We toss and turn. Our minds race, often because there is a sense of something unsettled. But Jesus doesn’t wrestle with that here…he is even able to sleep in the midst of a storm.
The word here for Windstorm means a strong wind. A tempest. What Mark and Matthew call a GREAT WIND. The Sea of Galilee was situated 680 ft below Sea level, and was situated between mountain ranges. In which cooler air would rush down and collide with the warm air coming off the water. It was the perfect mix for storms to arise almost instantaneously. And so that’s likely why Luke uses the language of a windstorm coming down on the lake….
And it caused serious concern among the disciples. They think they are about to die. And this wasn’t an exaggeration. The boat was taking on water, and they were in fact in danger!
And the same is true for us. Often storms come just as quick and unexcepted as they did on the sea of Galilee that day. And here are the disciples. Who, think about it, were seeking to follow Jesus, and obey. Jesus said, Let’s go, and SO they set out, doing what Jesus said….and Jesus is asleep, and in comes a storm.
The same is true today. We are often subject to the notion that following Jesus means the end of our trouble. But often, it is the beginning of following Jesus into troubled waters and raging Seas. And coming to Jesus is never a promise that hardship leaves. Diagnoses still come; chronic illness isn’t immune to us because of Christ. We still live in a fallen world of death, pain, and loss. Furthermore, following Jesus may come at a cost to us. It may cost us our job, friendships, or lead to financial hardship or setbacks.
In this life, we will face hardship. Things we didn’t ask or expect. 1 Peter 4:12-13
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
You know it’s interesting what happens in that moment. When we look around and feel like God is distant and asleep, though we know Psalm 121:3-4 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. And we think, man, all I attempted to do is be obedient, and it just seems like trials come. But don’t mistake what seems like a lack of activity from God to mean abandonment by God. Here, Jesus hadn’t left the disciples. He was very present with them. And even though they feel like things are out of control. The Lord is in perfect control and can calm, even in the mighty tempest of life.
And beloved, let me say lastly, that in the moments when our faith is being stretched, it is often the same moments that our faith is truly being formed.
The Lord knows what He’s doing, even when strong winds and storms blow in without warning and without much explanation. It’s an invitation to trust, and grow in faith….even when our circumstances are demanding that our faith to fail.
In the storms of life, God's presence is NOT diminished by our fear—He is always near, always in control. Christ is with us, in the boat, and in the storm. What feels like silence or stillness from Him is often His way of forming deeper faith in us, inviting us to trust Him even when the waves rise.
--------------------------------------------------- Christ In The Storm
II. Christ Over The Storm (v.24)
II. Christ Over The Storm (v.24)
So the disciples are fearful. The boat is taking on water; they are in danger of perishing. The faith is being tested in the storm.
24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.
At least, they knew enough to come to Jesus. At least they still knew; they had enough faith to come to Jesus in the midst of the storm. Luke clues us in to that reality, with the use of the Vocative Tense. The intentional address – MASTER, MASTER – or LORD LORD!
We are perishing– Mark tells us there is a hint of doubt of the Lord’s care for them. Lord, don’t you care that we are perishing?
And again, we see that storms can cause deep distress. That we begin to question, we begin to doubt. We begin to sense that things are out of control. We are perishing! And even causes us to wonder, where God is in the midst of our struggle and storms.
Storms put us in this place. Where we recognizeGod’s control, but in the same moment, maybe question his character and goodness in those moments of pain and fear. We are perishing!! Are you going to do something!!
Yet, God is both sovereign and good. And if we ever separate those two realities, it is a recipe for disaster in us. But this is where the disciples are - They have witnessed up close and personal. The Lord’s control over sickness, disease, unclean spirits, even death…..but what about in this moment? When the storm is rising in my life? Can God be trusted!!
But He is the Lord!! He is LORD LORD. He is the Master and in control of all things!!
And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.
Jesus rebukes the wind and the waves. The word here, for rebuke, is the same word that was used when Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit. Luke 4:35, and the fever in Luke 4:39. And here, Jesus isn’t casting out any demonic activity, though some think that, instead. Jesus is displayingHIS SOVEREIGNITY over his creation.
This is seen because the WINDS AND the RAGING waves ceased….There is a great calm. This language is intentional by Luke. To contrast the CALAMITY of the STORM, and then the CALM that Jesus brings!
This is a miracle. In most cases, when a calm comes over the water, it takes time for the waters to settle down. You still feel the wake for a brief moment. If you notice, the ripple effect. Not here…Instead, there was a great calm. This was a jolt and puzzling to those watching. That when Jesus speaks, the storm, this of it contextually….LISTEN and OBEY HIM. That’s what they are astonished by in v.25.
This is clear evidence of Jesus' Lordship. He is the Messiah. He is Jesus. He is Lord!
This calls to mind the words of the Psalmist – Psalm 107:28-30
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
Jesus speaks to the storm, and it listens and obeys. He speaks to His creation, and His creation responds. He is sovereign over creation. He is sovereign, His disciples, and this world….and this even this STORM. He is the LORD. To say that Jesus is Lord is NOT just a title—It’s a declaration of kingship.
Christ is King over every inch of creation—in heaven and on earth. He is the divine supreme ruler over every domain. Over the natural and the supernatural. Over peace and chaos. Over you and me.
He is the LORD.
And beloved, He cares for us!! I want you to notice something that is maybe a little hidden in this text. Notice that it wasn’t the storm that woke JESUS. Jesus slept at ease when the STORM and its WATERS RAGED!! It wasn’t the STORM that DIDN’T WAKE JESUS, but instead, what woke Jesus was the need of His DISCIPLES!!
And I think we believe the opposite when the storms of our lives come. We think. Well, God mustNOT care.God must have forgotten me. God must be out to get me. He mustNOT care. But buried here is the sovereign power of Christ, but also the tender mercy and sovereign care of Christ for His people.
Just as Peter writes – 1 Peter 5:6-7
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Beloved, know this when the storms of life come. Jesus is near. He is present and powerful….And he is more than a helper. He is LORD!! He’s Lord in the STORM. And He’s Lord OVER THE STORM….THE GOD WHO IS WITH US in the STORMis SOVEREIGN OVER THE STORM!! And He cares for us!! And NOT only that. It is only Jesus who can bring us peace in the storm. And so often when we want to turn away from the Lord, when trials come. We move in the wrong direction. But it’s only Jesus who can calm us. Only Jesus brings us peace and a great calm. And it’s Jesus who is both sovereign and loving, and GOOD, even in the storms of life.
--------------------------------------------------- Christ Over The Storm
III. Christ’s Purpose Through The Storm (v.25)
III. Christ’s Purpose Through The Storm (v.25)
We see Jesus in the storm. We see the sovereignty of Jesus over the storm. And now, the calm has come. We see there is a lesson that Jesus wants His disciples to learn after the storm. This wasn’t meaningless. This wasn’t without purpose. The Sovereign Lord has lessons for us. He teaches us even in hardship and trials.
25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
There seems to be a connection that the disciples make here. When Jesus asks the question – WHERE IS YOUR FAITH? It apparently signaled to them. He was responsible for bringing peace in the storm. Further, they knew it was him who commanded the winds and the water, and they listened.
The disciples responded in FEAR, and they marveled. We’ve seen both of these words through Luke’s gospel. It was the same response in Luke 5:26 when the Paralytic was healed.
26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
The same response in Luke 7:16 when the widow’s son was raised.
16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”
Luke intentionally uses both fear and amazement to highlight how people are confronted by Jesus’ authority and power. This dual reaction invites us to move from fear to faith, from uncertainty to worship.
The disciple move – think about it….from FAITH….and then a storm comes and their faith is shaken…and now, they are moved again to worship.
And so Jesus gave another rebuke. A 2nd rebuke. The first was to the storm. And now, a gentle rebuke to His disciples for their lack of faith.
And Jesus says to the disciples - WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?
Jesus clearly means to encourage his disciples to trust the Lord in the most severe circumstances and trials. He means to show them that their faith was moving in the wrong direction when the storm arose.
That God intends to teach us, in trials, in tribulations. In hardship. He often teaches us things about ourselves, of our heart and our faith. He exposes things we cannot see until trials and storms reveal them for the disciples. YOU TRUSTED….UNTIL the storm was so great that you forgot the Lord who was with you!!
And here Jesus is teaching His disciples. That Storms are often where our faith truly grows. That in storms, we are to look to Christ in the midst of it. And that he has a purpose in our hardships, struggles, and storms. And so it’s EASY to trust God in the calm. But it’s hard to trust Him in the CHOAS!! And Jesus wants His disciples to look back now, and say. He can be trusted in both!! When the waters are calm and when the storms of life threaten to take us under!! Jesus can be trusted! Where is YOUR FAITH!!
It's interesting to consider, because nearly every instant of faith to this point. The disciples have been onlookers. They’ve watchedJesus heal. They’ve watched Jesus exercise authority. They were likely those in the crowd, watching and waiting, who it is that would exercise faith in JESUS! Maybe even say something cliché – well, all you have to do is believe. Just have faith, people. It will be alright.
And then a storm came that required more than watching. It required them to endure personally.
That’s different, isn’t it? I think sometimes, we can be so impersonal and insensitive when we see people in storms and trials. AH, Well, just have faith….you know, prayer and stuff. I mean, come on. Just believe!!
And that’s NOT what Jesus is doing here. But He is inviting His disciples to exercise personally what they have seen and said in theory for 8 chapters now. WHERE is YOUR FAITH? It’s different to go through trials as an onlooker, compared to a participant. It’s one thing to speak of faith as a concept; it’s another to live it in the storm. Watching others go through trials is one thing. But when the waves crash over your own boat—faith stops being theory. It becomes a decision. To have seen and known the Lord to be near, able, and a friendin the troubles of LIFE!!
So hear, the Apostle Paul in multiple places
16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
It’s why Paul can say, even though He has a thorn in the FLESH –
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
And why is He confident in Acts 27, when He experiences His own shipwreck– Acts 27:22.
Christian, how do you live when trials become personal? Do you trust the Lord? Does your faith rise to the occasion? Does your faith rise above the waters of the storms as they blow? To continue to live in confidence in Christ! Or does it beginto wither away!
This rock-solid confidence in Christ, in all things, is what inspired and whyPaul could write the ever comforting words in Romans 8:
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christian, do you live in this faith? NOT IN THE THEORY…But in real lasting faith!
When the storm hits your boat, when the diagnosis comes, when the betrayal happens, when the doors close, when the prayers seem unanswered—where is your faith? NOT in theory. NOT in someone else’s story. But in your real, raw, personal storm. Like the disciples, Jesus isn’t rebuking you for being human—He’s inviting you to trust Him more; deeper than you ever have before. Like Paul, may you come to know the comfort of God in your affliction, the strength of Christ in your weakness, and the unshakeable love of God that holds you when nothing else can. The storm may rage, but the Savior stands with you. And that—that—is where real faith is forged.
That when we face trials….We must REMEMBER TRUTH….and We must be willing to wrestle in faith.
This question reveals that the disciples, in that moment, had forgotten what they knew to be true. They had seen Jesus perform miracles— heal the sick, cast out demons, even raise the dead. They had heard His words, walked closely with Him, and knewHis character. But in the panic of the storm, they didn’t remember any of it. They allowed their circumstances to speak louder than the truth. They forgot that Jesus was the one who led them into the boat. They forgot that He was with them — even if He seemed to be sleeping. And they forgotwhat He had promised: “Let us go to the other side.” Jesus didn’t say, “Let’s see if we survive.” His intention was clear, but their fear overwhelmed their memory.
At the same time, we see something equally important: the disciples didn’t abandon Jesus — they ran to Him. That’s the essence of wrestling. They were terrified, confused, and likely questioning why He would lead them into such danger and then seem so indifferent to it. But instead of giving up, they cried out: “Master!” That may sound like panic, but it’s also a form of prayer. They knew who to run to, even when their faith was weak. And when Jesus calmed the storm, they didn’t just go back to normal — they were in awe, asking one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (v.25). This shows that they were wrestling with a deeper understanding of who Jesus is. The storm didn’t just terrify them — it revealed their limits and pushed them to a greater realization of Jesus’ authority.
So in this passage, we see both sides of the spiritual life: we must remember, and we must wrestle. Remembering means trusting who Jesus is — His promises, His presence, His power — even when storms hit. Wrestling means facing our doubts honestly and bringing our fear to Jesus rather than turning away from Him. The disciples failed to remember, but they still wrestled. And Jesus met them there — NOT with condemnation, but with a question that invites growth: “Where is your faith?” That same question still calls to us today, NOT as judgment, but as a gentle challenge — to remember, to wrestle, and to trust.
And then Luke shows us a 2nd question – The first is from JESUS….where is your faith? The 2nd is from his disciples. WHO IS THIS?
In their wonder and awe – WHO IS THIS, THAT HE COMMANDSeven the winds and waters, and they obey!
That’s been the question of Luke…Who is This? Who is this Jesus? And it’s all about to come to a head when Jesus doesn’t ask the crowds or the religious elites. But His disciples in Luke 9:18-20. BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM!!
And that’s the question that’s being asked. WHO IS THIS JESUS? WHO IS THIS who even the winds and water obey Him?
Oh, Theophilus, I want you to know. Without a shadow of a doubt. That It is Jesus, WHO IS…LORD. That’s the only logical answer to this repeated question. – JESUS is the CHRIST, he is LORD!!
He is…
He is the Everlasting King who reigns in justice and righteousness.— Isaiah 9:6-7
He is the Son of Man given dominion, glory, and a kingdom that all peoples serve.— Daniel 7:13-14
He is the King who will break the nations with a rod of iron.— Psalm 2:9
He is the One with all authority in heaven and on earth.— Matthew 28:18
He is the Creator through whom all things were made.— John 1:3
He is the Sustainer who holds all things together.— Colossians 1:17
He is the fullness of God dwelling bodily.— Colossians 2:9
He is the Exalted One, given the name above every name.— Philippians 2:9
He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of His nature.— Hebrews 1:3
He is the Lord and Christ, exalted by God.— Acts 2:36
He is the Alpha and the Omega, the eternal and Almighty God.— Revelation 1:8
He is the ruler of the kings of the earth.— Revelation 1:5-8
He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life and has the authority to take it up again.— John 10:14-18
He is the Judge of the living and the dead, to whom all will give account.— 2 Timothy 4:1
He is the Lord who commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey Him.— Luke 8:25
HE is CHRIST, HE IS LORD….and EVEN THE WINDS AND WATERS obey….The question remains. WILL YOU?
The soft heart of the good soil is those who HEAR THE WORD, and OBEY it…The true family of Jesus are those who HEAR THE WORD of God and DO IT!!
Here is Jesus, who is LORD, WHO IS SOVERIGN, in the storm, OVER THE STORM, and teaches us beyond the storm. He can be trusted! We can believe in HIM. And remain faithful in HIM!!WHO IS THIS – That He commands, even winds and water, and they obey.
Yes, who is Jesus? COSEMICALLY…..But the better question, here is personally! He is LORD, but is He your Lord? He is Savior. Is he your savior? He is King. Is he your King?
And so often, that’s revealed NOTin the calm, but the chaos of the storm.
In the midst of life’s storms, Jesus reveals Himself as the One who is both in the storm and over the storm. When the disciples were terrified as the waves crashed around them, Jesus was there—calm and present—showing that He is NOT distant but intimately involved in our struggles(vv. 22-23). His authority over the wind and waves (v. 24) declares that He alone is sovereign, able to command creation itself and bring peace in chaos. This power invites us to trust Him— NOT just as a rescuer but as the Lord who sustains all things.
But beyond calming the storm, Jesus’ purpose is deeper: He teaches us about faith (v. 25). The question remains: Who is this Jesus? He is Christ, Lord of all creation, the Good Shepherd who holds our lives, the Judge and King. The winds and waters obey Him—so the real question is, will you obey Him? Storms will come, but only those who hear His Word and obey it will stand firm. Trust Jesus today—He alone saves, sustains, and leads us safely through every storm.
It was true of John and Charles Wesley. It was true for His disciples. It was true for the Apostle Paul. And Beloved, it is true for us today who hope in Christ!!
Sermon Summary: Storms Test Our Faith; only Jesus can Save Us and Sustain Us.
Trust Jesus today. He alone saves, sustains, and leads us safely through every storm.
