Luke 8:23, commentary and pictures

Exhausted from long labor in teaching and healing, He fell asleep in the little sailboat while crossing the lake toward the quieter shore for rest. After nightfall a sudden, fierce windstorm of the kind common on that lake broke upon them, tossing the boat with high waves and spray until it filled with water and was in jeopardy of sinking beyond the skill of even the experienced fishermen. Awakened by their fearful cry, He rose with calm authority and commanded the storm to cease, and wind and sea obeyed, showing His power over the elements and His ability to save His followers in danger. Their fear revealed unbelief, self-reliance and forgetfulness that He was with them, for they struggled by their own efforts until helpless instead of trusting Him and calling upon Him at the first sign of danger, as people in trouble still do. Those who trust and have the Saviour in the heart need not fear on land or sea, for He hears the humble, earnest cry even when help was not sought at first, never forsakes, and brings help and deliverance in the way He knows is best, and the storm means for present believers the tempests of temptation and dangers of life in which they must remember Him and call upon Him to save.

Setting and Storm Details

Worn out by long, demanding labor in teaching and healing, Jesus fell asleep in the fishermen's little sailboat while crossing the lake. The crossing was toward the less-inhabited shore where He and the disciples hoped to find rest after their work, with other boats carrying people eager to hear Him following behind. It was a night crossing, and by the time they reached shore the night on the water was over, leading to the encounter on land with the two men possessed by demons.

After nightfall, in darkness, the calm gave way to a sudden, fierce, violent windstorm sweeping down on the water, of the kind that often strikes that lake. High waves ran and tossed the boat up and down, with spray dashing over it as it careened over the water, amid tempest and lightning. The boat was battered and tossed, sprang a leak, and was filled with water and in real jeopardy of sinking. Even the experienced fishermen could not manage the gale, became helpless and despaired, and feared drowning, perishing, and being lost.

The storm displays the majesty of God and His works, for He holds the winds in His hand and controls the waters. At one glance He beholds the highest heavens and the midst of the sea, and though finite beings on the broad deep waters are mere specks in His sight, He sends angels from His excellent glory to guard the imperiled boat. Beholding the grand ocean fills the heart with awe and makes the boat with the disciples vivid to the mind.

Faith in Time of Peril

Jesus slept peacefully in the midst of the tempest, with no fear for Himself but with concern for His disciples, and awakened by their fearful, reproachful cry He rose, stilled the storm, and rebuked their fear and lack of faith. By commanding the storm to cease so that wind and water obeyed Him, He showed His power over the elements and His ability to save His followers when they are in danger. He stilled the tempest with the same calm authority with which He confronted and conquered Satan.

The calming of wind and sea strengthened the disciples' faith that He was the Son of God, yet when He was betrayed they expected Him to use that same power to escape His enemies and could not believe that He would die. Those who heard what had happened saw the miracle but fixed their thoughts on their property loss and asked Him to leave.

The disciples' fear showed unbelief, self-reliance, and forgetfulness that Jesus was with them, for even experienced fishermen became helpless and feared they were lost. They tried to save themselves by their own efforts until they were helpless, instead of trusting Him and calling on Him at the first sign of danger. People facing trouble and trials do the same, struggling alone and relying on their own strength until hope is lost.

The peril teaches that those who trust and have the Saviour in the heart need not fear whether on land or sea, for Jesus is present with them. He hears the humble, earnest cry in danger even when help was not sought at first, He will not forsake those who call, and He never fails to give needed help. Though He sorrowfully reproves unbelief and self-confidence, living faith smooths the sea of life and brings help and deliverance from danger in the way He knows is best. The miracle was wrought for present believers as well as for the disciples, for the storm with its tempest, lightning, and sweeping waves means the tempests of temptation and the dangers of life when believers battle alone, forget Jesus can help, and trust their own strength until hope is lost. When ready to perish they must remember Jesus and call upon Him to save, and they will not cry in vain.