Jesus in control of life's turbulence

 

Calming the storm    v15-21

In the feeding of the multitude it is clear that He controls the production of earth’s food supplies.  In the calming of the storm He controls the elements of nature-the wind and the waves of the sea.  Jesus departed Himself to a mountain alone.  Following his miraculous provision of food for the multitude, He wanted to be alone, to pray, to commune with His Father, and to seek guidance for the future. The disciples departed to go towards Capernaum, the home of Peter and Andrew-a fishing haven, and the centre of the Galilean ministry.

So the picture is that the disciples are on the boat on the sea in the darkness and Jesus is on the mountain alone.  This is symbolic of the present day with Jesus in heaven, praying and interceding for His people, while they toil on earth in the dark, and in the midst of a storm.  The ship was in the midst of the sea tossed with waves. The Lord came in the fourth watch of the night, which was the last of the night watches.  In order to test their faith the Lord allows them to reach the end of their tether.  The 4^th watch of the night was 3a.m.-6a.m. at the darkest point of night.  It is only in the storm that we truly find Him, and when all hope seems lost. The disciples had rowed for three or four miles; the ship was carried by the wind into the centre of the sea.  Because they were rowing against the wind, it's quite possible that they had been rowing for between six and eight hours.  The Lord wanted to test them, He left them to struggle on before He came to them.   

 

The waves of the sea represent the trials of life that will come the way of the disciples of Christ.  These trials can come from mistakes of our own making, from men who try us to the limit, from Satan who seeks to destroy us, and ultimately from God whose purpose is always benign.  Scriptures are full of evidence that faith is put to the test, and it comes from many sources, the principal source being God Himself-Job 9v17; 30v22; Psalm 65v7; 89v9; 107v29; Isaiah 25v4.  The Lord is the instigator of the storm, and He is also the refuge.  This may have been a satanically inspired storm which God allowed.  The first two chapters of Job reveal that Satan can move the elements of nature.  The evidence is that Jesus “rebuked” the storm-Matthew 8v26.   He is not in the habit of rebuking normal weather patterns, so this storm is satanically driven, no doubt another attempt to destroy the group of Christ’s followers.

 

There are two accounts of the storm on the lake, which can best be understood by the contrast between Matthew 8 and14.  Matthew records both occasions, Mark and Luke, the first occasion, and John records the second of them.  It is in the comparison of them all that we learn the full picture being presented here in the two accounts of the storm on the lake.

In Matthew 8, Jesus was in the boat with them; in Matthew 14 Jesus was on the mount apart from them.

In Matthew 8 a great tempest arose; in Matthew 14 the boat was tossed with the waves.

In Matthew 8 Jesus was asleep; in Matthew 14 He was awake and praying.

 In Matthew 8 the disciples cried to Him; in Matthew 14 the disciples were afraid of him.

In Matthew 8, He said to them “…o ye of little faith; in Matthew 14 He said, “Be not afraid.

In Matthew 8 it says He rebuked the winds; in Matthew 14 the wind ceased.

In Matthew 8 the disciples said “What manner of man is this?”; in Matthew 14 they declared “Thou art the Son of God”.

 

It is necessary to understand the meaning of the storm in the lake for us today.  Too often we talk about little problems that come our way, like bodily ailments, business troubles and the like.  All these problems are common to humanity, and are not what are in view here.  Some of these may be very testing but this is not what is in view here.  The story of the storm in the lake, which is recorded in every gospel, and which is viewed from two different angles is relating to real stressful, life-threatening situations which may come upon us all today.  Particularly in the first incident, in Matthew, Mark and Luke, we find the extent of the storm.  In Matthew 8v24 we find that the storm came from beneath the boat “Behold there arose a great tempest of the sea inasmuch that the ship was covered with the waves.  The storm came from underneath from the depths of the sea.  In Mark 4v37 we find that the storm came from all around them.  It says that “the waves beat into that ship so that it was now full.”  In Luke 8v23 it is recorded “There came down a storm of wind on the lake and they were filled with water and were in jeopardy”- the storm came from above.  Putting these three records together:

From underneath them, from all around them, and from above them the waves filled the boat.  They were in peril of their lives! This is not about common, everyday problems.  We are talking about severe life-threatening problems that come the way of the Christian believer. The lesson surely is that since Christ delivers them from severe extremities, He will also deliver them from lesser problems.  We learn, from this, just who He is who controls nature, and rebuffs the Satanic spiritual attacks on His people.  The Psalm 46v10- “Be still and know that I am God” seems relevant here.  The winds ceased, the waves were stilled- one of them records there was “a great calm.” The situation went from life-threatening trauma to blessed peace; if He is with them in the pressure of life-threatening trials, so He will be in the ordinary problems of life.  The phrase “Peace be still” can be translated “Hush!”  There is no situation which He does not control.  As He approached them walking on the sea, they were afraid.  He said, “It is I, be not afraid”.  The sea was calmed and the disciples were saved; they willingly receive Him into the ship, and following the miracle of the calming of the sea, there was another miracle, they were immediately at the safe haven of Capernaum.  He knew they had suffered enough trauma for one day.  At all times and in every situation, He is with us in our troubles, “He is able to save to the uttermost, all that come unto God by Him.”-Hebrews 7v25.