“Then Jesus got into a boat and His disciples followed Him. 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’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 waves, and there was A GREAT CALM. The men were amazed and asked, “WHAT KIND OF MAN IS THIS? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!” (Matt. 8:23-27) calm: the absence of violent or confrontational activity. great calm: intensity considerably above the normal. The considerably, above and beyond, absence of any aggressive activity. These were expert fishermen who had experienced storms before but this was a “great” (fierce) storm, that put fear in the hearts of these experienced fishermen. Due to its low-lying position in the rift valley, surrounded by hills, this sea often had sudden violent storms. A “rift valley” is a lowland region formed by the interaction of Earth’s tectonic plates.
This “Sudden FURIOUS STORM” was more than they had seen before. Why do you think? Jesus tells us “The thief (devil) comes only to steal and kill and DESTROY…” (John 10:10) This was an opportunity for Satan to steal the faith of the disciples and maybe even kill Jesus! Can he do something like this? “…we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS…” (Eph. 6:12) What kind of power does Satan have? “…if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost, in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving ones…” (2 Corin. 4:3-4)
The question is, how do we overcome the storms in our lives?
- FIRST: We need to realize what kind of person Jesus Christ is! He is, “God the Son” who gave up His life to redeem us. He is the creator of all things, “Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM and for Him. And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” (Col. 1:15-17)
- THEN: The devil does come to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Jesus gives us zoe (eternal) life and gives it superior in quality! How we’ll need that for what lies ahead!
-Bill Stockham