What Jesus did #8: he brought calm to the raging storm

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27 

I love this story. I find it deeply reassuring. There’s such a lot of humanity in it, alongside this incredible act of divine power.

The story’s also recorded in Mark 4 and Luke 8 with some added details we’re going to take a look at here. Mark points out that it’s evening. Everything is always more scary at night, isn’t it? Things seem more terrifying in the dark.

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. Mark 4:35-36

They leave behind a crowd. It’s an example of Jesus taking some time out. They take him out on the lake, ‘just as he was’. I like that touch. It’s feel very unpretentious somehow. He can be fully himself with them. He can relax. He has nothing to do, nowhere to be. He’s exhausted. He falls asleep in the stern.

And there are other boats too. When the storm comes, it’s not just Jesus and the others on his boat who are affected. This isn’t just any storm. It’s ferocious. Wild. A furious storm. A furious squall. The waves break over the boat. The boat is nearly swamped.

The disciples are terrified. Of course, they are. Who wouldn’t be? They’re only human, after all. And they call out for help as we all do when we’re scared. They call out to the only one who they believe can help in this situation: Jesus. Just as many find themselves calling out to God for help when they’re in danger, whether they thought they believed in God or not.

In each version, the words they use to wake Jesus are different.

Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!

Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?

Master, Master, we’re going to drown!

And here’s Jesus’ response.

You of little faith, why are you so afraid?

Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?

Where is your faith?

Jesus interprets their fear as a sign of their lack of faith. Faith in what? Faith in him. Faith in his ability to care for them. Faith in his protection. Faith that he can handle anything and everything. Faith that he has their back. Faith in his divine nature and power. If they had that kind of faith, they would have been able to trust Jesus for the outcome.

For who else could get up, rebuke the wind and say to the raging waters ‘Quiet! Be still!’ and it actually make a difference? Who else in the whole of human history has ever had that kind of control over the natural world?

When Jesus speaks into the situation, all is calm. Calm in the natural world, anyway.

The disciples aren’t calm however. Jesus has restored calm to the natural world, but their inner worlds are far from calm.

They’re amazed. They’re terrified. They’re afraid. They have one big question.

Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!

They can’t make sense of what they’ve witnessed. Jesus has helped them. He’s protected them from danger. He’s done exactly what they’ve asked. And yet they’re still afraid.

Being in danger to the point of crying out for help can feel scary.

But experiencing God’s help and protection can feel equally as scary it seems.

Sometimes our storms are literal storms. Devastating natural disasters that ravage homes and livelihoods. Sometimes the storms are less literal, but sweep through our lives destroying everything in their wake nevertheless. And sometimes it’s an inner calm that we crave. We call out to God for help, for calm, for peace, for an end to violence, war, conflict, distress, anxiety, fear.

And maybe God is asking you and me in these moments – Why are you so afraid? Where is your faith?

Faith in what? Faith in him. Faith in his ability to care for us. Faith in his protection. Faith that he can handle anything and everything. Faith that he has my back and your back. Faith in his divine nature and power. If we had that kind of faith, we would always be able to trust Jesus for the outcome.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Hear that? Nothing.

That’s the kind of faith I’m aiming for. A faith that can trust that God is with me and for me every step of the way.