Jesus Calms the Storm and What You Can Learn

Jesus Calms the Storm. The story about Jesus calming the storm is one of the most famous stories in the Bible. Its symbolism brings great hope and encouragement to anyone facing a life storm. Jesus’ disciples chose fear instead of faith. We should always choose faith over fear because we can rely on God to control everything. 

Scripture says that after preaching to a large crowd by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus, and his apostles rode a boat to the opposite shore to rest. However, a storm with strong winds came up. The waves broke over the ship, so it was almost swamped.

The apostles were frightened. They thought that they would die. They went to Jesus, who was sleeping on a cushion in the stern. They woke him and asked why he did not care about what was happening. Jesus woke up and told the storm to be still. The winds ceased immediately, and everything became calm.

Jesus asked His apostles why they were afraid and had no faith. The apostles were filled with awe, for Jesus, the Son of God, can make even the water and winds obey His command.

Jesus Calms the Storm

The story of Jesus calming the storm can be seen in Matthew 8:23-27. The verses say, “Then he got into the boat, and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples 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 utterly calm waves. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

The mastery of the Lord over His creation is a sign that He is truly divine. He is the Messiah. Only God can command the sea and the waves.

This is evident in Job 38:8-11. “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’?”

Likewise, Psalm 65:5-6 tells us, “You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength.”

Jesus was asleep because He needed rest. He was a man, after all. Being human, He needed time to refresh after being exhausted from ministry. According to Hebrews 2:17, “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”

The Bible makes it clear that Jesus was fully human. However, He was also fully God. Therefore, He can make everything follow His command, including a raging storm. Matthew 8:27 tells us, “The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

The image of Jesus and His apostles in a boat is often used to show a picture of the Church. Some people think God should never cause a storm because it is harmful. However, God permits storms to show to deliver us from them. This way, we would see His protection.

Also, Jesus rebuking the storm signifies His calming of the disruptions in our souls. This story is also pertinent to everything happening in the world today. Each day, we are faced with numerous storms in our lives. As a result, we experience intense emotions as we try to deal with chaotic circumstances beyond our control.

The Sea of Galilee is known for raging storms. Many of the apostles were also seasoned fishermen. They have experienced lots of storms and were undoubtedly prepared for one. They knew what to do.

Then again, just like us, the apostles were also humans. So, it was natural for them to feel fear amid a situation they felt was beyond their control. Nonetheless, they were not alone. They were with Jesus. Although He was human, He was also God. He had power over the storm, the winds, and the waters.

Matthew 8:24-25 tells us, “Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

It was clear that the apostles were afraid. They were panicking because Jesus did not seem to care. In Luke 8:24-25, we read, “The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

The apostles knew they were with Jesus, the Son of God, yet they did not have any faith.

Jesus Calms the Storm and What It Means In Our Daily Lives

Whether losing our job, Covid-19, feeling lonely, or any other problem, Jesus has a solution for us. The question we have to ask is, what do we put our trust in? Do we trust Jesus or money? Do we trust Jesus, or do we trust people? Many people believe in who the creator created instead of putting their faith in Jesus alone. 

God will shake things up at a moment’s notice to remind people that they do not have as much control as they think they do. The Tower of Babel is a perfect example of this. The people thought they could build a tower up to God because they thought they were on the same level as God. He had to scatter them and give them new languages to remind them that God is God and that we will always be his people. 

So, where is our faith?
Even though we experience uncertainty, we should always have faith in God, for He is merciful and faithful. He is a loving God. Our faith should always be more potent than our fears, for if we feed our faith, our fears will surely starve to death.