Calming the Storm

Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV)

Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying ‘Lord save us! we are going to drown!’
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.

Have you had a day when you are constantly with people who want you to fulfil their needs, to meet their demands - you’re exhausted and just want a rest. Jesus had this in abundance: a man with leprosy, a centurion with a servant in great pain, Peter's mother-in-law, the demon-possessed - he certainly needed a break.

Jesus stepped into a boat on a calm lake with the disciples, who started rowing across whilst he curled in the bow for a snooze. The boat was probably about 27 feet long,7/8 feet wide with a sail, oars and rudder to steer. 

I was in a boat a bit bigger than that on a calm sea when a storm suddenly whipped up.  We grabbed life jackets and waterproofs, attached ourselves to safety harnesses, and reefed the sail. It was frantic; we were soaking wet, and it was very scary. On Lake Galilee, wind gusts can reach up to 60 miles per hour, with waves crashing over the sides of a boat. We had an engine, lights, digital map, weather forecast, and radio, but for the disciples who knew the lake's weather, this was a very frightening experience with the real possibility of the boat sinking. Somehow, Jesus slept through it. How would you have felt? I think I would have been yelling for Jesus to grab a bucket and help to bail out the water. When they woke Jesus, he questioned their fear and lack of faith – he calmly rebuked the winds and waves until the sea was completely calm.

I think most of us would have been very frightened in that boat. Jesus showing the disciples that they need not fear anything if he is with them. He can even control the weather- what was there to fear?

Prayer - So often in our lives, it is fear that can overwhelm us, thank you Lord, we can trust you to keep us safe.