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 4th 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment