(35) "And on that day, when even was come, He saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side. (36) And leaving the multitude, they take Him with them, even as He was, in the boat. And other boats were with Him. (37) And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling. (38) And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Teacher, carest Thou not that we perish? (39) And He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (40) And He said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith? (41) And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"
Golden Text.—"He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still." Ps. 107:29.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) With what time of the day does this lesson begin? What did Jesus say to His disciples? What had He been doing that day? Verse 35. Note 1. (2) What then did the disciples do? Who else accompanied them? Verse 36. (3) What occurred to mar the pleasure of the voyage? Verse 37. (4) What was Jesus doing when the storm arose? What did the disciples do and say to Him? Verse 38. Note 2. (5) How did Jesus respond to this faithless insinuation? What was the result of His command? Verse 39. Note 3. (6) What did Jesus then say to His disciples? Verse 40. Note 4. (7) How were the disciples affected by this wonderful manifestation of power through the calm words of Jesus? What did they say to one another? Verse 41. Note 5.
NOTES.
1. "On that day."—It was in the evening of a busy day of teaching the people by parables and familiar illustrations. The crowd had become so great, and had pressed upon Him so hard, that He stepped into a boat, which was pushed out from the shore, and there He sat and taught the multitude. Verse 2 of the lesson chapter says, "He taught them many things in parables."
2. A faithless, even bitter insinuation is expressed in the despairing question, "Teacher, carest Thou not that we perish?" The "prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2) had stirred up this storm in hope of being able to destroy the Saviour of men; and he had impressed the weak minds of the disciples with the idea that they had fallen into a position where Jesus was powerless to help them, or was so overcome with drowsiness that He was careless of their welfare.
3. "The faith of Jesus."—When Jesus was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peace. There was no trace of fear in word or look, for no fear was in His heart. But He rested not in the possession of almighty power. It was not as the "Master of earth and sea and sky" that He reposed in quiet. That power He had laid down, and He says, "I can of Mine own self do nothing." John 5:30. He trusted in the Father's might. It was in faith—faith in God's love and care—that Jesus rested, and the power of that Word which stilled the storm was the power of God. As Jesus rested by faith in the Father's care, so we are to rest in the care of our Saviour. If the disciples had trusted in Him, they would have been kept in peace. Their fear in the time of danger revealed their unbelief. In their efforts to save themselves, they forgot Jesus; and it was only when, in despair of self-dependence, they turned to Him, that He could give them help.—The Desire of Ages, pp. 335, 336.
4. Personal application.—How often the disciples' experience is ours! When the tempests of temptation gather, and the fierce lightnings flash, and the waves sweep over us, we battle with the storm alone, forgetting that there is One who can help us. We trust to our own strength till our hope is lost, and we are ready to perish. Then we remember Jesus, and if we call upon Him to save us, we shall not cry in vain. Tho He sorrowfully reproves our unbelief and self-confidence, He never fails to give us the help we need. Whether on the land or on the sea, if we have the Saviour in our hearts, there is no need of fear. Living faith in the Redeemer will smooth the sea of life, and will deliver us from danger in the way that He knows to be best.—Id., p. 336.
5. Another lesson.—There is another spiritual lesson in this miracle of the stilling of the tempest. Every man's experience testifies to the truth of the words of Scripture: "The wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest. . . . There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Isa. 57:20, 21. Sin has destroyed our peace. While self is unsubdued, we can find no rest. The masterful passions of the heart no human power can control. We are as helpless here as were the disciples to quiet the raging storm. But He who spoke peace to the billows of Galilee, has spoken the word of peace for every soul. However fierce the tempest, those who turn to Jesus with the cry, "Lord, save us," will find deliverance. His grace, that reconciles the soul to God, quiets the strife of human passion, and in His love the heart is at rest. "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they are quiet; so He bringeth them unto their desired haven." Ps. 107:29, 30. "Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1. "The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever." Isa. 32:17.—Id., pp. 336, 337.
