Jesus Calms the Storm
Lent 4 • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsJesus has authority over all life's storms, both great and small.
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23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 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. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Why are you afraid? What are those storms in your life that seem to be getter the better of you? Following a good day of ministry, Jesus’ disciples faced a storm they thought would kill them. But, in the midst of the storm, in faith, they turned to the one who has authority of all storms, but great and small.
The Great Storm on the Lake
The Great Storm on the Lake
Lepers are cleansed and people are healed
Now in a boat to travel to the other side where demons will be cast out
Now in a boat to travel to the other side where demons will be cast out
A great storm — seismos megas
A great storm — seismos megas
Seismologist, Seismograph —
σεισμὸς μέγας
studies and measures earthquakes
Seismologist, Seismograph — studies and measures earthquakes
These seasoned fisherman called on a carpenter for help!
These seasoned fisherman call on a carpenter for help!
The disciples recognized Jesus’ authority over all things, and pray to Him as God, the creator of heaven and earth
The disciples recognized Jesus’ authority over all things, and pray to Him as God, the creator of heaven and earth
They were afraid of this great storm of seismic power and called on the only One who could help. They recognized His authority...
They were afraid of this great storm of seismic power and called on the only One who could help.
Jesus asked His disciples, “Why are you fearful...”
Jesus rebukes the storm and there is a great calm.
What Does this Story Mean to Us?
What Does this Story Mean to Us?
σεισμὸς μέγαςWhat Does this Story Mean to Us?
The Great Storms of Our Day
The Great Storms of Our Day
Why are you fearful?
Like one swimmer saying to another, “Why are you wet?”
Like one swimmer saying to another, “Why are you wet?”
We are often afraid of what we cannot control
We are often afraid of what we cannot control
We are often afraid of what we cannot control
One swimmer says of another, “Why are you wet?”
Bad news from the Doctor
The Big “C” word . . . CANCER
Prayers for Larkin: Ovarian Cancer
Matt Young: stage 4 colon cancer
Ryan: Brain tumor
Tytan, Holly, Darsie, Barb, Rhonda and so many others who have a variety of maladies — including cancer — things we cannot control
Coronavirus is the thing today that has so many tied up in knots.
Coronavirus has so many people running and wondering
Coronavirus has so many people running and wondering
Now there’s a new Big “C” word: the coronavirus.
This is the thing today that has so many tied up in knots.
Now we worry over cold/flu symptoms, which were common in the past.
People are now out of work
The economy is on a roller-coaster
Who know toilet paper would be such a commodity?
We are wise to stay away from one another — Social Distancing
And who knew toilet paper would be such HOT a commodity?
Who know toilet paper would be such a commodity?
People out of work
Who know toilet paper would be such a commodity?
People out of work
Economy on a roller-coaster
Economy on a roller-coaster
Jesus asks us as He did His disciples of old: “Why are you fearful...”
As His disciples today, we call upon this carpenter for help
As His disciples today, we call upon this carpenter for help
As His disciples of old, we call upon this carpenter for help, because He is the only One who can change the direction of the storm and bring it to an end.
Jesus has all authority over illness (leporsy, cancer, coronavirus)
St. Paul points us to the only One who has authority to affect change: ()
As His disciples today, we call upon this carpenter for help
St. Paul said ()
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
A child does not worry all day long whether his house will be there when he gets home from school or whether his parents will have a meal for him that evening. Children do not worry about such things, because they trust their parents. In the same way, we as Christians trust our heavenly Father who promised supply our every need.
This carpenter is very much aware of what is going on in our world today, therefore, we can be a peace, because we know that God will give to us what is best.
This carpenter is very much aware of what is going on in our world today, therefore, we can be a peace, because we know that God will give to us what is best.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Jesus Has Authority Over the Storm, both Great and Small
Jesus Has Authority Over the Storm, both Great and Small
Jesus, sound asleep in the boat, is undisturbed, unaffected. The storm has no power over Him. Why?
He is the creator and sustainer of all things:
16 He created all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. Whether they are kings or lords, rulers or powers— everything has been created through him and for him. 17 He existed before everything and holds everything together.
— Confronted by a leper, “Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean” . . . Jesus said, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, 16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him—all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers—all things were created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.
— Centurion’s servant healed. “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented” . . . “But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority...” . . . “Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.”
— Peter’s mother-in-law was healed with a fever, and many were brought to Him were demon-possessed. “And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick., that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.’”
— Our text today, Jesus stilled the sea
— More people, demonized, are cleansed.
We are in the mess today because of what happened in the Garden of Eden. Cancer, Coronavirus, disease, death, etc. are all a result of the FALL.
Yet, because Jesus holds all things together is precisely why He became a human being; Why He was baptized to take on our sin; Why He was tempted in the wilderness to undo our temptation failures; Why He healed and cleansed so many in his early ministry. Jesus is setting straight what sin had twisted.
So, with just a speaking a Word, he “rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
And one day in the future, Jesus will rebuke one final time and all will be calm again — and forever.
Jesus has come with authority for those in need who call upon Him in faith.
We don’t know what things will look like when this current pandemic is over.
But Jesus does. He knows how it will come to a conclusion.
He knows the needs we have today, and will have tomorrow.
Jesus says to us now:
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Jesus will come again with glory on the clouds of heaven with full authority to save you, me, and all who believe.
Concordia Commentary: Matthew 1:1–11:1 What the Stilling of the Storm Does Mean: The Extent of Jesus’ Authority!
On that day, the Son of Man will rebuke once more and all will be calm again—and forever. He has come with authority for those in need who call upon him in faith, even though we are “little-faiths” (8:26). He who now has received all power in heaven and on earth (28:18) will come again with glory on the clouds of heaven with fully manifest authority to save those same ones.
One swimmer says of another, “Why are you wet?”
A great hymn writer says it best:
2 Be still, my soul; your God will undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
A child does not worry all day long whether his house will be there when he gets home from school or whether his parents will have a meal for him that evening. Children do not worry about such things, because they trust their parents. In the same way, we as Christians should trust our heavenly Father to supply what is best for us.
The voice that ruled the waves and winds, the very voice who speaks from His Word to you today: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” . . . “I will never leave, nor forsake you” . . . And, “Come unto me and I will give you rest.”
Our God has authority over every storm you face. Look to Jesus! Pray, and may His promised peace be yours.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.