Jesus sends life’s storms so we look for Him more, need Him more, and trust Him always! Life is full of storms…But Jesus is in your boat…
1. Here’s what they saw in Luke 8:23. Jesus was sleeping and in v. 23a Luke says a fierce gale, and the Greek word is lailaps, and that is the word for a hurricane. You’re talking about very, very strong winds, hurricane-type winds. It’s the word that would be used for whirlwind or tornado. In v.23b “descended” is from the Greek verb katabainō which it “came down”. Then they cried as the boat was being swamped, “we are perishing”.
2. Matthew 8:24 describes the effect on the lake with interesting Greek words. He calls it a seismos megas – a mega seismic event. Seismos is the word for quake; mega is the word for big or massive. Matthew says it was a “water-quake”, which is a way of describing the violent shaking, agitation, the massive waves generated by hurricane-force winds.
3. You can imagine the pandemonium. Luke 8:24 says they said, “Master, Master” – epistatēs means Commander, the person in charge, or Leader. So the disciples are crying out “Master, Master – Epistata, Epistata”. In Matthew 8:25 they said, “Kurios, Kurios” – Lord, Lord. In Mark 4:38 they said, “Didaskalos, Didaskalos” – teacher, teacher. This is sheer panic, and what did they say? “Master, Lord, Teacher” – anything, everything. Just save us!
4. Jesus awakes in Mark 4:39 and says “Peace. Be still.” That’s two sentences. “Peace.” Actually, it’s, “Shh! Be still.” Instantly the wind and the sea recognized their Creator’s voice and respond—just like disease responded when He rebuked it, and demons responded when He rebuked them, and death responded when it yielded up its victims, and fish responded when He commanded them to go to a certain place. The wind and waves stopped instantly. What does Jesus say? Where’s your faith—you now have God in your boat! Wow, what a lesson.
5. Remember how Peter processed this event? In 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast your care on Him; He cares for you.” Our Sovereign Lord is more than a teacher; He is God Almighty. He controls all the forces of nature, and He is a protector of His people, and nothing will happen to you that’s outside His purpose. That’s a life lesson from the Sea of Galilee.
APPLICATION PRAYER—
Lord, I need all these reminders: to follow, to obey, to keep my eyes on you Lord Jesus, and to love you with sacrificial love and the close felt love of friendship. But, most of all, like the disciples during the storm that You knew was coming—I need You to increase my faith.
You are in the boat, my boat, my life—every day. Even if it seems You are asleep and not watching, You are still Lord of Heaven and Earth. Nothing escapes Your notice, You see and hear all things.
Help me to trust Your attributes: Your Love keeps anything away from harming me. Your Omnipotence stops any unhelpful dangers. Your Omniscience means that nothing surprises You. Your Omnipresence just means You are ALWAYS in my boat no matter what storm I face. Increase my faith as I lovingly follow You today. For Jesus’ sake, amen.
(LOTBT-25)
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