«Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep» (Matthew 8:23, 24).
ACCORDING TO MARK’S GOSPEL, one day the Lord was teaching by the sea, but so many people had gathered around Him that He had to board a boat that was at sea. Then He spoke to them in parables. How long did Jesus speak? We do not know, but it must have been a long day, because Mark himself writes that it was «that day when evening came» that Jesus told His disciples to go over to the other side of the shore (Mark 4:35, NIV).
We already know what happened soon after: «a great tempest arose on the sea» (Matthew 8:24), and the small boat was struck by strong gusts of wind, in the midst of a stormy sea «that the boat was covered with the waves.» The situation became so difficult that the disciples, although they were experienced fishermen, feared for their lives.
In all of this, where was the Lord? Mark says that «He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow» (Mark 4:38). And when the terrified disciples awoke Him, the simple account in the Scriptures says that «He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm» (vv. 38, 39). The story ends with the astonished disciples asking each other, » ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!’ » (v. 41).
«Who can this be?» Yes, who is this person who expels demons, heals all kinds of diseases, and with His voice subdues the powers of nature? Who is this who, overcome by tiredness, falls asleep and then gets up and calms the storm? I will tell you who He is: He is Jesus, your wonderful Savior; the same One who, in order to save you, gave up His throne in heaven in exchange for the horrible death of the cross. And I am going to tell you something else: this story is not in the Scriptures just so that today you can with admiration remember what happened that night on the Sea of Galilee. It was recorded so that you never forget that no matter how hard the storms of life strike you, you will always have the blessed Savior by your side.
Is there a storm coming down on you right now? Are the waves around you so big that your little boat is about to sink? If this is what you are experiencing, here is God’s promise to you right now: «Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go’ » (Joshua 1:9, NW).
Thank You, Jesus, because You have promised to be with me every day until the end of the world. And thank You because, with You by my side, there’s no storm that can sink my boat!