“…he [Jesus] rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?’” – Matthew 8:26-27
As we admire the breathtaking beauty of our world – from glorious sunrises and sunsets to majestic ocean views, the restful sound of a flowing river or creek, snow-capped mountains, and beautiful fall colors – it is amazing to consider that creation is groaning under the curse caused by human sin, longing to be set free to reveal its full glory. In the Kingdom of God, not only will everyone be made perfect, so will everything. There will be no more forest fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, droughts, or tornadoes. Jesus’ miracles over nature to protect people give us hope that He can do the same for us today and assurance that, one day, He will assure our perfect harmony with the rest of creation forever. To help us grow our faith for this Kingdom reality, we will now learn how Jesus exercised His supernatural authority over storms.
In this scene, Jesus is in His hometown region of Galilee, where He was raised (Luke 4:16), and where 25 of His 33 miracles occurred. The Sea of Galilee is famous for its good fishing, and because it lies between Mount Hermon (which is around 9,000 feet high) and the Jordan River and is below sea level, the collision of warm and cold air causes sudden violent storms.
Jesus is exhausted after an entire day of preaching from a boat so that His voice could be amplified over the waters to a large crowd. Jesus fell asleep, completely drained from a long day of ministry, and the fishermen who were familiar with the lake found themselves overwhelmed by a storm. Risking sinking and drowning, the seasoned seafarers woke Jesus up, begging Him to help.
Without any fanfare, Jesus simply commands creation to obey Him. The wind and waves obeyed Jesus, and there was a sudden calm as the storm ended. Because Jesus is the Creator (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), creation obeyed His divine authority. This miracle is a fulfillment of the promise of Psalm 89:9, “You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.” Jesus asks His disciples, “Where is your faith?” as if commanding nature to obey with a word was not a big thing. His men spent the rest of the day shaking their heads trying to figure out where He got such authority.
Our lives are a bit like this scene. We can be having a seemingly normal day when suddenly, out of nowhere, a tumultuous storm of some sort arises, leaving us unsafe, anxious, panicked, and fearful. Thankfully, in this miracle, we learn that Jesus is in our boat, hears and answers pleas for help and rescue, and has the supernatural authority to bring peace and calm of tranquility.
Where do you need peace in your life? Take some time to pray for God to meet you in the storm and bring His peace which surpasses all understanding.
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