June 2, He Calms the Storm
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Mark 4:39
“Peace, be still,” represents the command Jesus used to calm a nighttime storm on the Sea of Galilee. The Scriptures describe Jesus as having “rebuked the wind.” He revealed His authority over the elements. But He also revealed His Lordship over the disciple’s lives.
Matthew’s account of this story (Matthew 8:23-27) represents the larger context of a series of reports about Jesus’ authority in various areas: authority over sickness, demons, death, and sin. The specific theme of this series of recorded miracles reveals Jesus’ authority over all things, including nature. Every aspect of life resides under the authority of our Lord. Colossians 1:16 proclaims the authority and supremacy of Jesus through the fact that all things were made by Him, through Him, and for Him. This indicates that Jesus was present at the very beginning of all creation, He was the power that brought all things into existence, and all things were made for His honor and glory. What an amazing truth of Jesus’ supremacy over all things, including the created order of the entire universe. And Mark 4:39 reveals this truth in the “real time” of a storm on the sea of Galilee as Jesus rebuked the winds and commanded the elements to become completely calm.
Can you imagine that moment? The sea was raging. This tempest arose quickly and fiercely, as the topography of the land around the sea caused such storms to develop without much notice, even to seasoned mariners like the fishermen-turned-disciples. The entire sea and winds were raging. And, so were the disciples. They were fearful beyond their own self-control. They panicked and woke Jesus from sleeping in the bow of boat. They then confronted Jesus in a tone that may have sounded accusatory, as they said, “don’t you care that we are going to die?”
Jesus stood, rebuked the winds, and said “peace be still.” All became perfectly calm.
All became calm. The storm was over. The disciples realized that their panic had been wrong and they had demonstrated weak faith, for after Jesus rebuked the storm he lovingly rebuked the disciples. He asked, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?”
All became calm. But then the disciples developed a different expression of fear: they were terrified and asked, “who is this that even the winds and seas obey Him?” (Mark 4:41). The one who was flesh and blood with them, the one who had been asleep in the boat, stood as God and controlled creation. The disciples’ hopeless fear of the storm became an astonishing fear of the One who stood before them in majesty and authority. All became calm.
Today, our world rages. Today, many people are raging. The climate of mankind’s attitude seems woefully out of control. Fear and panic. Anger and rage. Like the disciples on the storm- tossed sea, many today become engulfed by situations that seems woefully beyond anyone’s control.
Because of this, perhaps you feel helpless, hopeless, or even a bit enraged. Perhaps this present moment has caused you to feel exhausted in your spirit from the burden of uncertainties and from the turbulent emotions caused by the chaos of a broken world. Perhaps you feel like you need to run to the bow of the ship to wake Jesus and to cry out in desperation.
Be assured that Jesus is not only awake but is ruling over your life of faith as the Prince of Peace. Just because the storm affected the disciples adversely that day did not in any way diminish the authority of Jesus over the storm. He was just as much Lord over the storm before He calmed the sea as He was when all became still. Jesus is indeed the One who stands over your storm as the Prince of Peace. And, we must trust Him. All things are under Jesus’ authority, and while the storms may rage, the storms in no way define the moment. Jesus does. The real question is this: will we look to the raging circumstances around us, or will we look to Jesus and encourage others to do the same?
The Psalmist revealed the voice of our God, “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), and Jesus became that same voice to the disciples amid a raging sea. And His voice speaks at this very moment to you: “peace, be still.”
Until your storm is calmed, allow Jesus to calm you in the midst of the storm. You can trust Him, even before the sea becomes still.
The song “Sometimes He Calms the Storm,” by Benton Kevin Stokes and Tony W. Wood, accurately and powerfully communicate this truth:
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered “Peace, be still.”
He can settle any sea,
But it doesn’t mean He will.
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild;
Sometimes He calms the storm,
And other times He calms His child.
Blessings!
READ
Read Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:37-41, and Luke 8:23-25. Be encouraged in the storm.
