May 14, 2023 – “Jesus Calms the Storm”
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May 14, 2023
“Jesus Calms the Storm”
Luke 8:22-25
Read Luke 8:22-25… After a long day of teaching, Jesus and His disciples get into a boat, no doubt a fishing boat, probably belonging to Peter, James, or John.
Mark also recorded that on the evening of the day when Jesus taught the parable of the sower and the seed (Mark 4:35-36), “On that day, when evening came, [Jesus] said [His disciples], ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him.”
There was an earlier narrative recorded in Luke 5 that suggests that even after these fishermen became followers of Jesus, they still had their fishing vessels.
See Luke 5:1-11…
Notice that Luke 8:22 records “on one of those days,” Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go to the other side of the lake.” Luke didn’t always follow a strict timeline or chronological sequence, he often arranged his narratives according to themes, topics, or subject matter.
The events in Luke’s Gospel are also recorded in Matthew 8:23-27 and
Mark 4:35-41; in all three accounts Jesus had been explaining parables to His disciples, and it had been a long day of preaching, teaching, and healing; Jesus needed to get away from the large crowds for some rest, so in the boat they go.
The lake they are traveling on is the Sea of Galilee, also known as Sea of Tiberias, Lake of Gennesaret, and Lake Kinneret. The western side of the lake had large cities, but the eastern side was much less populated; and so, it was most likely that they were headed to the eastern shore.
In Luke 8:23, we are told that, as they were sailing, a fierce wind [lit. furious squall] came up, tossing the boat about, as waves came over the sides of the boat, to the point where the boat was taking on water and was in danger of capsizing.
Note: *Wind is common to the Sea of Galilee which is about 13 miles long and 8 miles wide and sits at about 700 ft. below sea level [the lowest freshwater lake on the earth]. Mt. Hermon, at 9200 ft., is to the north, and in between is a narrow gorge that funnels winds to the lake causing extreme conditions and sudden storms.
Note: The boat was probably a small fishing type very common to fisherman like Peter, James, and John. Archaeologists have recovered several fishing boats (from the time of Christ), in the area of the Sea of Galilee, with an average size of 30’ long, 8’ wide, 4’ deep.
Most of the disciples were experienced fisherman who had spent many years sailing under harsh conditions on the lake, but in this event, they are afraid and fearful for their lives.
According to Luke 8:24, Jesus was exhausted from His long day(s) of ministry, and even though the fierce storm was tossing and nearly swamping the boat, He is sound asleep on a cushion [Mark 4:38], at the back of the boat.
In a panic, the disciples wake Jesus up exclaiming, "Lord, save us! Or we're going to die!” Jesus gets up, rebukes the wind and the sea, saying, "Quiet! Be still!" And guess what? The wind dies downwind the sea is completely calmed.
Jesus is God incarnate, the Creator of all, who fed thousands with one boy’s lunch, who cast out demons, healed every kind of disease, raised the dead, and now, He displays His power and authority over nature itself.
This same Jesus spoke the universe into existence (Genesis 1:1-5) "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light’; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning [Day 1].”
The Biblical narrative records Day’s 2-6, when God spoke into existence land, vegetation, sea animals, birds, land animals, insects, and humans to rule over everything that has life, after which it says (Genesis 2:2-3), “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made..”
John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.”
John 14:7, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
Hebrews 1:1-2, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”
Colossians 1:16-17, “For by Him [Jesus] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
Back to Luke 8:25… This storm is clearly a means of challenging the faith of Christ’s disciples. After rebuking the wind and the waves, causing them to become calm, Jesus said to His disciples, “Where is your faith?”
In Matthew 8:26, Jesus said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?”
The men in the boat were fearful [terrified, very much afraid], for these guys were finally coming to terms with all the miraculous healings, powerful teachings, and now the supernatural authority over nature itself, to where they were asking each other, “Who is this in the boat with us, ”that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"
Jesus questions His disciples, "Why are you so afraid?, i.e., “Don't you have faith in Me to care for you, even after everything you have witnessed Me doing, and all that you have heard from Me?”
Read Matthew 6:25-34… Three times in that passage Jesus commands us not to worry. Granted, that is so easy to say, but not so easy to do!
As Paul writes (Philippians 4:5b-6), “The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Paul’s total trust in his present circumstances and his future circumstances was completely entrusted to Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior.
Just like those first disciples, you and I must personally and heartfully consider, “Who is this Jesus?" The disciples, that day on the Sea of Galilee, were suddenly confronted with the realization that this Jesus, in their boat, was God Almighty! God Incarnate! The very One and Only begotten of the Father who is the Creator, Sustainer, Judge over all, and the Resurrection and the Life
(John 11:23-26), “Jesus said to [Martha], “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Moments later, at the tomb where Lazarus had laid dead for four days, Jesus calls out for Lazarus to come out of the grave. All who were there witnessed Lazarus coming out alive!
The One in the boat who has calmed the wind and the sea was (John 3:16-19), “The only begotten Son [of God], [and] whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Jesus reassures these men that they can place their total faith and belief in Him, now and forever. Have you done that? Confessed your sins and and believed in Jesus Christ [God’s Son, Lord and Savior]?
Ask yourself today: do you have the assurance e that God has saved you, and that He will provide for you, and protect you, during the raging storms that will come upon you in this life; but He will also bring you to be with Him in heave forever.
Ephesians 1:13-14, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Acts 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Romans 8:1-2, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
Romans 10:13, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord [for the forgiveness of sins] will be saved.”
2Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Proverbs 3:5-6,
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:23-24,
“Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet."
Jesus is the only Savior, He is the only Way to heaven, and He turns no one away who comes to Him in faith seeking forgiveness; but you must admit you are a sinner, confessing your sinfulness to Him, believing in Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, and coming again to take you to be with Him in heaven.
At the moment of genuine belief in God’s Son, as Savior and Lord, you are granted eternal life, and you become a child of God, now and forever.
Psalm 100:5,
“For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
And all God's children said,
Amen!
Pastor Mike
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