“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly 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!” Matthew 8.23-27
If I taught on this passage once I’ve taught on it a hundred times. It’s a beautiful story and one in which I receive comfort every time I read it. I recently led a group of Methodist youth through a bible study on this miracle. It was easy to apply it to the current storm of COVID-19 which is occurring in our world.
The story in itself is surreal and almost funny. Jesus is in the boat with his disciples, crossing the Sea of Galilee, and he is asleep. He’s worn out. People have been demanding of his time and attention. He’s needed at every turn yet he is able to sleep in a storm. Unreal.
So finally, Jesus is able to rest. That is until he is woken by his frightened disciples who are in a panic because of the tremendous wind and waves crashing over the side of the boat. Now keep in mind, Jesus is asleep during this storm. Is He wet? Is he secure on the boat even when the waves crash? He’s not worried. He created the wind, waves, water and the world. Why would the Creator fear the creation?
The disciples on the other hand are terrified. Many of these men are fisherman, use to the water. Yet, they fear for their lives and cry out to Jesus, “Lord, save us! We are going to drown!” Jesus replies, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then the Bible tells us that Jesus gets up, “rebukes the winds and the waves and it was completely calm.”
This is what Jesus does. He calms our storms. Jesus also wants us to have faith in his ability to do it. He wants us to trust him, no matter what comes our way. When given a task for which we feel inferior, Jesus says “Trust me.” When facing a global pandemic, a wave of civil unrest, a world in crisis, Jesus says, “Trust me.”
In what ways do you need to trust Jesus today? What area in your life is experiencing trial and temptation? Why not allow Jesus to calm your fears and to subside the storm? Rest in him. Trust in him. Find strength in the one who commands even the wind and the waves.
“O Lord God, you are good. I thank you for loving me and for allowing me to find hope in your word. Come now, Lord Father, Creator of all things, make your way into my heart. Help me find security in your word and grace by your hand. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen