And they came to Him, [Jesus] and awoke Him, saying, "Master, master, we perish." Then He arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm." (Luke 8:24)
And He [Jesus] saith unto them, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm." (Matthew 8:26)
And He [Jesus] arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." (Mark 4:39)
Herein, are two examples of raging storms. In the first, Jonah on the Old Testament side instructs the others on the boat to cast him into the sea so that the sea would calm because he knew in his own heart that it was his disobedience to the Lord that caused the storm. In the latter example (on the New Testament side), Jesus speaks directly to the winds, rebuking the raging waves, and when He does, the sea is suddenly calm. The danger that was imminent to those disciples in the boat subsided at His spoken word.
In both examples, the stormy seas were so tempestuous that the others on the boat(s) became fearful. And as we see from the gospels, the disciples who had walked with Jesus, and witnessed His many miracles similarly "feared exceedingly." (Mark 4:41)
"And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, "Master, carest Thou not that we perish?" And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said unto them, "Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?" (Mark 4:38-40)
As we read, Jesus spake to the winds and the sea was immediately calm. There was no more danger to those in the boat because He calmed the tempest that heaved the ship in the stormy seas. It must have been quite the storm for the disciples to be frightened, knowing that many had been experienced fishermen -- before having heeded Jesus' call to "follow Me!"
The contrast revealing -- Jonah was cast into the sea by those on the boat (headlong over the side of the boat and into the storm) while the disciples tarried on the boat in fear, trembling over the possibility of imminent death, if the boat succumbed to the stormy waves. In both cases, the Master who commands the seas was known. In one, Jesus is sleeping on the boat. In the other, Jonah ends up in the belly of a great fish. Three days and three nights later, Jonah is spit out on the shores of Ninevah wherein he proceeds to preach to those within, as the Lord had originally decreed. How often are we like Jonah, not responding to the Lord's instruction, and then later, when we do, His peace fills us and the storms that once taunted us -- calmed.
[For background, Nineveh is first mentioned in Genesis 10:11-12 -- "Ashur left that land, and built Nineveh." The city became the flourishing capital of the Assyrian Empire. Nineveh is linked to the Biblical rein of King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah -- Old Testament side. Nineveh is also a place where Sennacherib is known to have dwelt. (Isaiah 36:1; Isaiah 37:17-37; II Chronicles 32:1-22; II Kings 18:13; II Kings 19:16-36) In the time of Jonah, Nineveh is recognized as a "wicked city" worthy of destruction. God has sent Jonah to preach to the Ninevites but as we know, he did not initially heed the Lord's call. However, when Jonah finally concedes and preaches to those in Nineveh, they repent, and God showing His abundant mercy, spared the city from destruction and ruin.
In other words, the Ninevites responded to the Lord God's call to repentance -- the message preached to them by Jonah. To me, it offers a wonderful prelude to the Lord God's mercy and grace being further extended to the Gentiles (wherein He forgives those who repent) in the New Testament side. But I digress.]
As we are now so privileged to know in this current dispensation of grace -- "the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (II Peter 3:9)
Still, even then, the tempest that Jonah experienced (prior to finding himself in the belly of the great fish) is instrumental in showing us too that the Lord is still in control of the storms that rage around us, and that, in the end, it is He -- Jesus who is God manifest in the flesh -- that brings the calm. (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31; John 10:30; John 1:10-11; John 14:6-12; Revelation 1:8) So when the disciples marvelled, asking "what manner of man is this that even the winds and the sea obey Him" we should be likewise prompted into complete awe of His Majesty. (Matthew 8:37; Mark 4:41)
Why? Because like the sinner who trembles in fear when the storms howl around them, attempted to wholly engulf them, we also know that our Lord God and Saviour hears our heart's cry. Indeed, He is still in the storm calm-ing business -- gliding those who believe on Him and trust in His Name into a sea of eternal and everlasting rest. Yes, the Lord hears our cry and calms the sea so that we can safely abide in Him. As the disciples observed, "even the winds and the sea obey Him." (Matthew 8:27)
"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:1-8)
"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:1-8)
Note that in both scriptural examples, the storm raged around Jonah and Jesus' disciples too but they were not overtaken by the storm. At the same time, it is important to observe that these were not kept form the dangers of the storm. But the lesson here is that when we wholly trust in Jesus (as both our Lord God and Saviour, the Christ), He gives us His peace and rest that surpasses all human understanding. He knows the beginning from the end, and in Him, we know who holds our future.
Yes, Jesus has the authority to prevent the storms of life, but like the disciples, we needed to see His Majesty displayed -- in that even the winds and seas obey Him. And also, that He will deliver us from every storm that is thrown at us, when we wholly put our trust in Him. Only Jesus can provide the perfect calm. Only He -- the One and Only God can disarm the roaring storms into silence, replacing the worldly noise with the peaceable fruits of His righteousness.
As Jesus said, "I AM -- the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me!" (John 14:6)
If you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, ask Him into your heart today. Find a New Testament Bible (preferably an authorized King James version) and study His Word. Let His love and peace guide and instruct you in the day to day. Ask the Lord Jesus to establish your steps.
As apostle Paul wrote -- "And He said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (II Corinthians 12:9)
Therefore, when we turn to the Lord Jesus, as did the disciples in the boat, we have an example that even under the pressure of heavy trials, we have a Saviour in whom we can trust. We can prove Him to be faithful in all things, for as Jesus Himself said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you; I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you!"
Allow me to close with the following scripture, which is so telling for each and every one of us who believe in the Lord Jesus by faith, and have willingly, in answer of a good conscience toward Him, been water baptized in His precious, holy Name. (Acts 2:36-41; Acts 10:44-48; Romans 6:1-4; I Peter 3:21-22)
"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ ..." (I Peter 1:6-7)
He alone is worthy of all our praise! Thank you Jesus for all the many blessings you bestow upon Your people.
He alone is worthy of all our praise! Thank you Jesus for all the many blessings you bestow upon Your people.
Stand in the offering plate.
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