Jesus Calms the Storm
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 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.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
It was pointed out to me lately that our culture has this "Jesus, fix it" mentality. That's not completely horrible because Jesus does answer our prayers and rescue us from distress sometimes. But the problem is, that's not ALL He is and does. We are missing the most major piece when that is all that comes to mind when we think of Jesus! What about the fact that He died for my sins, and because I have accepted Him as my Savior, now I am following Him rather than He follows behind me fixing the problems in my life.
As a follower of Jesus, I desire to be changed. I desire to be stirred. I don't want to stay the way I am because I have come to learn that my ways are not naturally good! I am not! I am selfish, judgmental, and prideful 100% of the time by nature. And...so are you.
So, when we decide to follow the doctrine of Jesus (and doctrine seems too light because even men have doctrine), He will begin to smooth in us that which He finds rough. He's constantly providing ways to sand us down in order that we might look more like Him in our words, thoughts, and actions.
So here in this passage of scripture, the men are sailing along while Jesus is sleeping. A storm so great comes that even grown men are afraid (picture a hurricane with me here). They are absolutely terrified! They wake Jesus saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” They didn't even ask, they just assumed that they were about to die, and they didn't ask because they weren't sure about the identity of the man in the boat with them. They refer to Him as "Lord," yet they don't really "get it" yet.
So these men are absolutely terrified, sweating bullets, very anxious, maybe even crying, and Jesus doesn't come to them, wrap His arms around them and say in a sweet, comforting, "Oh, I'm sorry you're afraid. Let me fix it for you. I didn't mean for you to be so nervous and upset." Instead, He turns to them and says, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” What?! He didn't even appologize for not stopping the storm sooner, or for making them experience such turmoil for a bit? They really thought they were about to die! No, He is more concerned that they don't believe the man in the boat with them is in control. He is more concerned about their lack of faith in Him.
He then turns to the sea and rebuked the winds! I can't do that, can you? The original word implies that His words to the winds were short and curt, as if he told them to "shut up!" And then, "it was completely calm." Wow!
Jesus' main concern was not about their safety. He was mostly concerned with their faith in Him!
Are you experiencing a storm right now? Perhaps instead of just asking the Lord to calm it, you should first examine your faith. Do you really KNOW the man in the boat with you? Do you know that He is right beside you in the boat? Do you understand that He has the power and authority to calm the biggest storm with just a word? I urge you to stop focusing only on the storm, as the disciples did, but to shift your focus to the One who has the power to stop the storm. For what does He want to use this storm in your life to do in your heart? Ask Him! There is a purpose in your pain, my friend.
I included the heading of this section above, "Jesus Calms the Storm" (which is not part of actual scripture -- men made those for organizational purposes) to point out that even the headings of our Bibles often point to a "Jesus, fix it" mentality. Perhaps the heading should read instead of "Jesus Calms the Storm" it should read, "Jesus Reveals Our Weak Faith," or "Jesus Causes the Storm in Order to Point Out Disciples Lack of Faith."
It's not about our safety, my friends. It's about our security and faith in Him. Do you trust Him and His purposes? If you refer to Him as "Lord," perhaps this is the day to examine, Do I really believe He is who He says He is? Do I really believe He will do what He Says He will do?
He is the Lord, and there is no other.
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