Often the Gospels show us the parables of Jesus. Stories that Jesus tells to make a
point. They are fictitious, or at least,
they are made up to make a point, usually about how things are in the kingdom
of God.
But then we have the miracles and works of Jesus. These really happened. They are not made up earthly stories with a
heavenly meaning. They are true stories
from the life of Jesus. And yet they
also bring us a heavenly meaning, or application. As we get to know our Lord Jesus better, and
see who he is and what he does for those people, we learn more deeply who he is
and what he does for us.
And it’s no different here, with this miracle, the calming
of the storm.
It all starts at night on the sea of Galilee. A small sea, a
lake, really, surrounded by mountains.
Many of Jesus’ disciples were well familiar with it. This was where they were fishermen. This was where their father boated and
fished. Perhaps for many generations,
they were well-familiar with these waters.
But something unusual happens. A storm comes, without much warning, and it’s
a doozie. It’s so bad that the boat is
being swamped and threatening to sink.
It’s so bad that these seasoned men of the sea start squealing like
frightened children, “We’re all gonna die!”
And perhaps also unusual, but surely quite purposely, Jesus
is there – but sleeping. Taking a nap in
the back of the boat. Snoozing
away. The wind and wave didn’t even wake
him. The water filling up the boat
didn’t interrupt his naptime. But the
disciples go to him, in terror, wake him up, and cry out, “don’t you care that
we are perishing!?”
Jesus unceremoniously answers their frantic prayer. He simply gets up, and rebukes the wind and
wave. “Quiet. Be still.”
And so it is.
Just as suddenly as the storm begins, it stops, and all is
quiet and still. Actually, if you look
at the grammar of the Greek it indicates that the storm came quickly, but it
was still a process. When Jesus calmed
the storm it happened all at once, a completed action. You might imagine that a storm that dies down
naturally would still see the waves churning for some time. But here, in response to the command of
Jesus, all is still, and right away.
Wind and weave obey him immediately.
I think one reason this story is so beloved by Christians is
because the application is so straightforward.
We all have storms in our lives of one form or another. We are all terrified of this or that, and
rather than trust the Lord who is in the very boat with us – we turn to fear.
The truth is, we are perishing. Those disciples were right. Without Jesus’ help they well nigh might have
drowned. They knew enough about storms
and boats and wind and wave to know what trouble they were in. They were right in their assessment.
We, too, are perishing.
We don’t always feel it, or realize it.
But every now and again life throws us a storm that reminds us. This world is passing away, and we with
it. We may not drown in the lake, or die
in a storm (though, indeed, we may!). It
might be a diagnosis that stops you in your tracks – your own, or that of a
loved one. It might be a job loss or a
broken marriage. It might be a conflict
or controversy or some sort or another.
Life is full of troubles, and all of it reminds us of the brokenness
that comes from sin, and the wages of sin that is death.
The disciples were right about that. They were perishing. So are we.
But they were wrong to fear. Jesus
gently chides them, “Have you no faith?”
Even if they had drowned and died that night, they still had nothing to
fear, for they were with Jesus. Not just
in the boat, but in his grace. They
lived, like we live, by his promises.
It brings to mind the three men who were thrown into the
fiery furnace in the book of Daniel.
They had this interesting conversation with the king right before he
tried to cook their goose:
(the king said) “But if you do not worship (the image I
have made), you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who
is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to
the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17
If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning
fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not,
be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the
golden image that you have set up.”
Whether God saved them from this present trouble, or even
from fiery death – their faith stood strong.
They did not fear. They didn’t
take it as a sign of God’s weakness or indifference. They knew that in the end, in the end, their
salvation was sure. And we can take a
note from that book.
The disciples feared their fate, and we are often fearful of
our storms. But give them this much –
they knew where to go for help. They
knew it had to be Jesus.
Jesus was already with them – though sleeping. And here is a healthy reminder for us. When the wind kicks up and the sky darkens
and things start to get serious and scary, when life’s troubles rain down and
suffering squalls blow and the waves of death lap against your boat. Jesus is already there.
And you’ve already drowned, with him, in baptism. You’ve been crucified with him, buried with
him, in that watery grave. Only for him
to draw you up again and again from those waters, a new man, daily emerging to
live in faith toward him and love for your neighbor. Christ has been crucified
for you! And that’s enough to calm your
fears in any storm. Go to the
cross. Go to Jesus.
Jesus is there, with us, in every storm. And look, he’s not worried. He’s never more than a prayer away – though
it may be a frantic prayer at times. He
always hears. He always answers. He always helps, but in his time, in his
way. He may not snap his fingers and
chase away all your troubles right away.
You may have to ride out this or that storm with him. But we know that
in the end there is perfect peace for us.
We know that in the end, and forever we will be with him. And no storm, no sword, no earthquake, no
fire, no powers of this world of any world can finally harm us. Because we have Jesus and his powerful word.
That word that he commands to the wind and wave – peace, be
still – is the word that also calms and stills us. That powerful word that commands the forces
of nature, will one day call forth the faithful dead in Christ to life
again. And that loving word of comfort
will invite you and all his people to enter into your rest. There around the throne of God, and the
great, calm, glassy sea, we will never have another fear, or hurt or pain. It’ll be clear sailing for eternity.
So fear not the storms, Christian. Remember Jesus is in the boat with you. And call on him in every trouble. Pray, praise and give thanks. Be at peace, and be still.
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