Part 29 | Jesus Calms a Storm

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Introduction: The Importance of Asking Questions

We know that kids are notorious for asking many questions… and often parents are creative with their answers.

There is a trend on Twitter where moms and dads share snippets of these exchanges with their children.

My daughter asked me if cheese is a vegetable, so...yeah she’s an optimist.

My 4-year-old asked me if I’d fit in a trunk and suddenly being put in a nursing home doesn’t sound so bad.

My son just asked me if I when I was little I had to stay inside for COVIDs 1 through 18

My three year old asked me if the tooth he just lost "is going to heaven." These are the precious moments that make parenting so worthwhile. I reminded him that he bit me last month and told him his tooth was hell-bound.

Today, my 6yo asked me if monkeys only eat bananas, and now I’m questioning my entire adult existence because I have absolutely no clue what the answer to this question is.

My daughter asked, "If dreams can come true, what about the bad ones?” I laughed and laughed and then I cried.

In today’s text, the disciples are traveling with Jesus by boat across The Sea of Galilea. When a storm threatens their lives, they pose two questions—questions that most of us have grappled with.

They could be summarized like this:

1) Does Jesus Really Care About Us?

Have you ever been puzzled that the Lord would allow you to go through a certain storm in life, leading you to ask, “Does the Lord really care about me?”

The good news is that we are not the first generation to ask such a question. The disciples themselves pondered the same thing.

2) Who is Jesus?

If you haven’t asked this question, you certainly should. It is not enough to merely believe Jesus existed. The important question is “Who is He?”.

Our text provides insight to both of these compelling questions.

I. Does Jesus Really Care About Us?

The Sea of Galilea is a large body of water—about 13 miles long and up to eight miles wide.

It lies just over 600 feet below sea level providing it with rather mild, year-long temperatures.

However, it is surrounded by mountain ranges to the east and west that extend over 2,650 feet above the level of the lake.

There are strong warm winds that come from one side of lake that meet with cool winds from the other side… and they converge, producing storms out of nowhere with waves seven feet and more, easily able to swamp a boat.

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Before diving into our text, lets give a broad view of the storyline thus far:

Remember, Jesus was up on a hillside where He taught about the Good News of the Kingdom of God

He then then came down to crowds of people where he demonstrated the power of the Kingdom… He healed multitudes of sick people and delivered them from demonic oppression and then, what does He do?

Matthew 8:18 (ESV)

Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.

Jesus needs a break from the crowds of people. So He commands His disciples to get in the boat so they can take about a six mile journey by night to get to the other side of the lake.

Matthew 8:23 (ESV)

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.

And when they are traveling this massive storm comes out of nowhere and the disciples are scared for the lives. They believe they are going to perish.

Who’s idea was it travel to the other side of the Lake? It was Jesus’ idea.

Here is my point: the disciples are in this predicament because they obeyed Jesus.

In the familiar story of Jonah, God sends a storm that threatens the lives of the sailors because Jonah disobeyed God. He was supposed to go to Nineveh to preach a message of repentance to the wicked city… but he tried to flee the plan of God… consequently, God sent a storm.

Now, the disciples obey Jesus and they find themselves in a storm, so tumultuous in fact, that they think their lives are over.

Have you ever been in a season where you are really trying to serve Jesus and walk in obedience to the Bible, only to experience a very difficult storm?

This can be really confusing. It’s like, “Jesus, I am trying my best to serve you, why would you let this happen to me?

This is precisely what is happening with the disciples.

Matthew 8:25 (ESV)

And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.”

They actually question Jesus, and questions His concern for Him. “Jesus, do you even care about us?”

You say, I don’t see that in the text. Fair enough. But Mark—in His Gospel— expounds on this conversation between the disciples and Jesus.

Mark 4:37–38 (ESV)

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?”

There was a popular idea in Judaism that also exists in Christianity: it is called the retribution principle.

We can summarize the principle like this: If I follow God, He will bless me. If I disobey Him, my life will be in chaos.

The book of Proverbs alludes this idea.

But this is why it is important to look at the Bible as a whole.

When Job’s life fell to pieces, his friends assumed that he had some great sin in his life. But that wasn’t the case.

It seems the disciples—at this point—hold to some version of the retribution principle.

What is Jesus doing while this storm is happening? He is sleeping! It’s like Jesus there is the massive storm happening… why aren’t you helping us? Do you even care about us.

But Jesus gently rebukes them: “why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”

They have just witness Jesus’ compassion being poured out on multitudes of people, yet they are questioning His concern for them.

Jesus knew what He was doing. He knew the storm was coming. Through this frightening situation, He is teaching His disciples about who He is, which tells me this: storms in our lives our not meaningless.

Ten of His twelve disciples would be martyred for their faith in Jesus and one would be exiled. They would have to learn to trust Him.

When God allows storms in our lives, sometimes it is because of our own disobedience; and out of loving discipline, God uses these circumstances to draw bring us to repentance.

Other times, we can be walking in obedience, doing our best to serve God and other humans, and yet, God allows us to go through some excruciating circumstances.

When you go through a storm, it can feel like the Lord is asleep and unconcerned about you; DO NOT doubt His love!

The beauty of the story is that He was in the boat with His disciples. And He will be in the boat with you. He doesn’t abandon us in our storms.

In the story, Jesus gets up, rebukes the winds and the sea, and immediately the storm subsides. The disciples then ask another question: “What sort of man is this?” In other words, “Who really is Jesus?”

Let’s explore the answer to this question:

II. Who is Jesus?

A) He is a Human Being

Matthew 8:24 (ESV)

And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.

Why did Jesus want to get in the boat in the first place? I think we can infer that He wanted a break from the crowds.

It is not that He didn’t like people. He has just brought healing and deliverance to multitudes of people. But He is ready for a break.

I understand this all too well: I LOVE ministering to you guys. But honestly, ministry can be exhausting. There are times I just need to step away and spend time alone with God or spend time with my family to get recharged.

You who are parents get this. You love your kids and would do anything for them… but sometimes you just need some “me time” away from the rascals.

So, Jesus gets in the boat to get away from the crowds… and then what does He do? He goes to sleep. Why? Because He is exhausted. So exhausted that He sleeps through the storm.

This resonates with us. All of us have likely been so exhausted at some point, where we can sleep though anything.

It’s like someone you get up in the morning and watch the news and hear that there was a storm during the night. And you are oblivious because you slept through the heavy rain, strong winds, and roaring thunder.

What does this tell about Jesus? It tells us that He is fully Human. As we enter the Christmas season, we are reminded that Jesus left His glorified state in heaven to come to earth and take on human flesh, to be Immanuel—God with us.

But then, what does Jesus do? He gets up, speaks to the winds and the waves, and a calm comes upon the waters.

What is the point of this miracle? What does Matthew want us to see about Jesus?

Jesus Christ came into the world, in part, to demonstrate (His) power, to show for all who would see it that He was indeed the Son of God. The promised Messiah and King had power to redeem man from sin and to give him renewed sovereignty over a renewed earth.... Matthew has already shown that Jesus had the right genealogy, the right birth, the right baptism, the right success over temptation, and the right message....

When Jesus healed diseases and restored broken bodies, He previewed the kingdom, in which there would be no sickness or deformity. When He cast out demons, He previewed the kingdom, in which there would be no demonic activity. When He raised the dead, He previewed the kingdom, in which there would be no death.

So, what does Matthew want us to see about Jesus by giving us this story about Jesus calming the storm? He wants us to Jesus is the Son of God.

The story pushes us back to the OT, to the account of the Exodus.

The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for centuries. God sent Moses and Aaron to deliver His people out of bondage. When Pharaoh refused to let the people go, the Lord sent plagues upon Egypt. After the final plague, Pharaoh finally agreed to release the Israelites.

As they were on there way, Pharoah changed his mind and had his men pursue them. And listen to the Israelites response:

Exodus 14:10 (ESV)

When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord.

Exodus 14:13 (ESV)

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

Does this sound familiar? The Israel stand before the great waters thinking that they will perish.

In our story, the disciples are on the Sea, thinking that they will perish.

In the story of the Exodus, God parts the seas and rescues His people.

Now, Jesus controls the waters by the power of His word. He doesn’t pray to the Father for help. He speaks and a calm comes upon the waters.

The seas are this great, uncontrollable force. The OT poets, when attempting to describe the greatness of God, often talk about His sovereignty of the waters…

Psalm 135:6–7 (ESV)

Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,

in heaven and on earth,

in the seas and all deeps.

He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,

who makes lightnings for the rain

and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

It is God alone who has control over the natural elements of this world. The disciples know this.

So, by including this story in his Gospel account, Matthew wants us to see that Jesus doesn’t just have power over sickness, He has authority over, even over the waters… a power that belongs to God alone. Jesus is no mere human, He is the Son of God.

H.B. Charles said of this story, “Jesus laid down to rest as a human being and God up as the Sovereign, all-powerful Son of God.

Who... is... this... man?

This is a question that every one of us should grapple with.

There is no doubt that Jesus existed.

Some see Him as a prophet.

Some see Him as a great, moral teacher.

He is both of these. But, we can’t stop there. He is the God-Man who came to save us from our sins. He is Lord. And He is our hope in life and death.

Matthew 8:25 (ESV)

And they went and woke him (Jesus), saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.”

I love that Matthew uses the word “perishing.” Why?

Truth be told, as humans our greatest issue is not related to marriage problems… it isn’t related to finances… it isn’t related to sickness. Our greatest problem is sin—because of wish, we destined to perish—eternally.

But does the word “perish” bring to mind any other verse?

John 3:16 (ESV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

You and I will face storms in life, whether or not we are Christians. The most important I can ask you is “is Jesus in the boat with you.” Have you put your faith in Jesus? Are you truly a follower of His?

If not, you are destined to perish. If you haven’t trusted Christ, I encourage you to repent, put your faith in Him, and follow Him all the days of your life.

Closing:

If you are a Christian and you are going through a difficult time right now that has you questioning God’s love for you, I would encourage you that Jesus is with you in the storm.

The Lord is doing something in your life. Your storm isn’t meaningless. And because He is in the boat with you, you will not perish.

The late Scottish minister, Samuel Rutherford said that the great King keeps His best wine in the cellar of affliction.

I will close with words from a hymn entitled “God Moves in Mysterious Ways, written by William Cowper and John Newton.”

God moves in a mysterious ways His wonders to perform: He plants His footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head.

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