Jesus Standing Calmly in the Boat in the StormBible World
8:25Matthew 8:25
And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
The cry was uttered on a sinking boat at night, when skilled fishermen had exhausted their own efforts against a furious storm and turned to Jesus aboard as their only hope of rescue from perishing. It was forced from them by helplessness and despair, yet it manifested distrust and self-confidence because they had battled alone and forgotten Him until death was before them instead of calling at the first appearance of danger. He awoke and by His word commanded wind and sea to cease, saving His followers and showing absolute authority over nature. Though He reproves such unbelief, He never fails to hear the earnest cry of faith and give the help needed, whether on land or sea. The same pattern belongs to believers in life's tempests and to the soul in danger, for the brief sincere plea for rescue from perishing brings deliverance from danger, peace with God, and entry into rest.
Night Crossing and Storm
The cry, Lord, save us: we perish, was uttered in the evening after a full day of teaching parables beside the Sea of Galilee and healing, when Jesus, utterly wearied from ministering with scarcely food or rest, sought retirement across the lake to the more desolate and heathen eastern shore. The disciples took Him just as He was into the boat, with other fishing boats following, to find rest from fatigue away from the dwellings of men. That shore they left for was desert compared to the shore they left, chosen for retirement away from men.
That day He had spoken His first parables explaining the nature of His kingdom and the manner in which it was to be established. He likened His own work to that of the sower, the development of His kingdom to the growth of the mustard seed and the effect of leaven in the measure of meal, the great final separation of the righteous and the wicked to the wheat and tares and the fishing-net, and the exceeding preciousness of the truths He taught to the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, while in the householder He taught His disciples how they were to labor as His representatives.
Weather that had been calm and pleasant changed after sunset, when clouds gathered darkly and black night settled on the water into one of the furious storms that frequently visited those parts. Angry waves dashed against the ship threatening to engulf it, tossing it on mountain billows then plunging it into the trough, until it sprang a leak and fast filled with water amid hurry and confusion and roaring waves. It was a little boat buffeted by high running waves, tossed up and down with spray dashing over it. Finite beings on such waters are mere specks upon the broad deep, yet watched over even there.
Though strong and courageous, hardy fishermen who had spent their lives on the lake and guided their craft through many storms, skilled in managing their craft and experienced with the moods of the sea, the disciples knew not what to do. Their strength and skill availed nothing in the gale, and hope failed as the waves filled the leaking vessel and threatened to engulf it. Their hearts filled with despair as they saw the boat sinking.
Jesus lay asleep from weariness on the hard plank of the fisherman's boat, undisturbed amid noise and confusion and tumult. Absorbed in efforts to save themselves, the disciples had forgotten for a time that He was on board. Only when labor was vain and death was before them, able to do no more to save themselves, did they remember at whose command they had set out to cross the sea and that He had before saved them in like peril, even walking upon the water to rescue them from death, and saw in Jesus aboard their only hope.
The peril belongs to the night crossing that ended when Jesus stilled the tempest with word and beckoning hand and brought them safely to shore, showing authority over wind and waves that remains unchanged on land and sea. It was the night before He landed on the shore of Gadara among the demon-possessed men from the tombs. Those who had crossed the lake with Him told the people of that region about that danger and the miracle by which He stilled the tempest.
Desperate Cry for Rescue
The cry is forced from the disciples by complete helplessness and despair on the sinking boat at night, a plea to the Lord to rescue them from perishing. Their own efforts to save the boat have failed and the storm has overwhelmed them, and when they remember Jesus is aboard they turn to Him as their only hope. Though experienced fishermen, they are helpless in the gale as the vessel fills and threatens to go down.
Their first appeal meets dense darkness that hides Him, with voices drowned by the roaring tempest and no reply. In agony of fear lest He has deserted them and left them to destruction, they rush to His prostrate form and cry again reproachfully as if He cares not for their perishing. Doubt and fear question whether He who has conquered disease and demons and even death is now powerless to help and unmindful in their distress. The sinking boat stands a moment from being swallowed by the hungry waters while they grasp their oars for a last effort.
A flash of lightning reveals Him asleep undisturbed by the tumult, with the peace of heaven in His face and self-forgetful tender love in His glance, and their hearts turn to Him. Their agonized cry reaches His heart. He awakes from refreshing sleep and rises to stand in divine majesty in the midst of His disciples while the tempest still rages and the waves break over them.
Christ Hears and Delivers
Jesus commanded the terrible storm to cease, and the angry elements obeyed His voice, so wind and sea were calmed and His followers crying to Him for rescue in danger on the sea were saved. He has absolute control over the winds and waves and authority over nature, and He came to their aid both by walking on the waves and by calming the storm with His word to bring them safely to shore. When they thought they were about to perish in the storm He heard their call to save them and did not forsake them.
That same power exercises God's rule over nations and over nature, holding back the impatient winds, controlling the tempests and calming the angry sea. The sequence of nature is under God's jurisdiction, for God works by His own laws as a God of order who holds the winds in His hand and controls the waters, beholding at one glance the highest heavens and the midst of the sea. The same power rolled up the mighty deep and piled up walls of water to make a path to deliver more than a million of His people from Egyptian slavery, then released the held-back waters to destroy Pharaoh and his host. Still mighty angels at His bidding hold back winds and waves from destroying, guarding the little boat careening over the waves and bringing the ship sailed to harbor when lightning and tempest pass by and death-threatening waves sink proud vessels.
In peril those who put their trust in Jesus may call to Him, for when waves break over a sinking bark and destruction threatens He hears the agonizing cry of those in danger and never forsakes them. He is by His followers' side to comfort and save them even when high heaving billows and mountainous waves break fearfully overhead, and He can speak calm and steadiness to those with Him in the storm. The weary voyager tossed on raging billows should remember this deliverance and trust Him, for trusting Him is safety through every gale.
He stilled the tempest by word or by the lifting of His finger or the beckoning of His hand, and joined with walking on the sea to still it, showing authority over wind and waves with fearless power that remains unchanged on land and sea. That was a visible display of supremacy over Satan and victory over him, meant to convince the people He was the Son of God. Finite beings are mere specks upon the broad deep waters, yet He who controls them sends help from His excellent glory to guard them.
That calming of wind and sea became one of the miracles the disciples remembered as evidence that He was the Son of God, though they later could not believe He would die and hoped He would use His power to free Himself from His enemies. Those who had crossed the lake with Him told the people of that danger and miracle on reaching the shore, but eyes blinded by worldliness saw only loss of property, feared additional loss, refused to consider the advantage of having Him among them, and begged Him to depart.
Unbelief and Self-Confidence
The terrified cry, Lord, save us, we perish, exposed distrust, unbelief and self-confidence, for the disciples rudely woke Him only after exhausting their own efforts to save themselves and forgetting He was on board. Their panic in the face of the sinking boat showed they had no faith, and had they trusted Him they would have been kept in peace. Jesus Himself had no fear for His own safety, and His anxiety was wholly for them, which He sorrowfully reproved.
They should have called upon Him at the first appearance of danger, and He would have relieved their anxiety and helped them. Instead they battled alone in self-dependence until, despairing of self, they at last turned to Him so He could help them.
Though He reproves unbelief and self-confidence and rebukes them for not seeking Him at the very beginning of trial, He never fails to hear their earnest, agonizing cry of faith and gives the help they need.
Help in Life's Trials
The same pattern belongs to believers in the trying scenes of life, when tempests of temptation gather with flashing lightning and sweeping waves and people fight the storms of adversity alone, trusting their own strength and skill and battling while forgetting the One who can help until baffled and discouraged and ready to perish. The miracle was wrought for believers now as well as for the disciples then, who remembered Jesus only when despairing of self and hope was lost. They should have called upon Him at the first appearance of danger and He would have relieved their anxiety and helped them, instead of forgetting Him until labor was vain.
Calling upon Him to save never cries in vain, for the call of faith always meets a response. Whether on land or sea, sleeping or waking, if the Saviour is in the heart there is no need of fear, because living faith in the Redeemer smooths the sea of life and delivers from danger in the way He knows to be best. He hears those who put their trust in Him and will never forsake them, but accepts their humble petitions even when they are wearied by their own efforts to save themselves.
He is present with His people in the storm and can speak calm and steadiness to them, and trusting Him is safety through every gale. He can protect His followers and calm their fears because the waters obey Him. In danger and helplessness the weak and unworthy may come to Christ for help and receive strength and wisdom from Him.
The plea also expresses a desperate appeal to God for deliverance when life seems in danger amid severe physical distress and fear of death.
Cry for Spiritual Salvation
The cry is a model of brief, sincere prayer for a soul in danger, in which one sorrowful for sin and seeing that without Christ there is no hope asks Jesus for rescue from perishing. It is the helpless appeal of one who feels close to perishing and in desperate dependence looks to Him to save and forgive through simple, earnest faith. Jesus removes the crushing burden of sin and gives His peace in answer to that plea. He does so from assured understanding of personal trials, responding with pity and tenderness.
As the disciples were helpless before the raging storm, so people cannot by human power control or quiet the storm of sinful passions and uncontrolled passion within. Those who turn to Jesus for deliverance and help find rescue, for His grace reconciles them to God and quiets the struggle within and brings peace to the heart.
Applied to the soul, the cry calls a person to turn from mortal concerns and come to Christ in personal unworthiness and helplessness, trusting Him rather than seeking wisdom and help from people. In danger and helplessness anyone weak and unworthy may cry to Christ for rescue, recognizing that without His help they will perish, and will receive strength and wisdom from Him.
The helpless sinner seeking pardon and entire surrender feels a needy, helpless condition as never before and cries from the heart for help and rescue. Such entreating is earnest and unceasing in temptation and weakness, looking to Jesus in faith until prayer is heard and sins are forgiven, and it will not be in vain. This dependence does not distract from confessing sin and seeking forgiveness but expresses need for God's help. Jesus draws very near to such prayer, receiving griefs, misfortunes, trials and peculiar trials with sympathy and pitying tenderness even toward one unworthy of notice, leaving the burden gone and the heart light and joyous with peace and new knowledge of His divine character.
Coming to Jesus for rescue brings entry into rest where heaven begins here. Responding to His invitation to come and learn begins eternal life as a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ with ever-opening glory, ever-growing knowledge and happiness. It is walking with Jesus filled with His love and satisfied with His presence, receiving all human nature can now bear. That present portion is small compared with the hereafter before God's throne serving day and night in His temple with God dwelling among them, hungering and thirsting no more nor struck by sun or heat, fed and led by the Lamb to living fountains with every tear wiped away.
The cry was uttered on a sinking boat at night, when skilled fishermen had exhausted their own efforts against a furious storm and turned to Jesus aboard as their only hope of rescue from perishing. It was forced from them by helplessness and despair, yet it manifested distrust and self-confidence because they had battled alone and forgotten Him until death was before them instead of calling at the first appearance of danger. He awoke and by His word commanded wind and sea to cease, saving His followers and showing absolute authority over nature. Though He reproves such unbelief, He never fails to hear the earnest cry of faith and give the help needed, whether on land or sea. The same pattern belongs to believers in life's tempests and to the soul in danger, for the brief sincere plea for rescue from perishing brings deliverance from danger, peace with God, and entry into rest.
Night Crossing and Storm
The cry, Lord, save us: we perish, was uttered in the evening after a full day of teaching parables beside the Sea of Galilee and healing, when Jesus, utterly wearied from ministering with scarcely food or rest, sought retirement across the lake to the more desolate and heathen eastern shore. The disciples took Him just as He was into the boat, with other fishing boats following, to find rest from fatigue away from the dwellings of men. That shore they left for was desert compared to the shore they left, chosen for retirement away from men.
That day He had spoken His first parables explaining the nature of His kingdom and the manner in which it was to be established. He likened His own work to that of the sower, the development of His kingdom to the growth of the mustard seed and the effect of leaven in the measure of meal, the great final separation of the righteous and the wicked to the wheat and tares and the fishing-net, and the exceeding preciousness of the truths He taught to the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, while in the householder He taught His disciples how they were to labor as His representatives.
Weather that had been calm and pleasant changed after sunset, when clouds gathered darkly and black night settled on the water into one of the furious storms that frequently visited those parts. Angry waves dashed against the ship threatening to engulf it, tossing it on mountain billows then plunging it into the trough, until it sprang a leak and fast filled with water amid hurry and confusion and roaring waves. It was a little boat buffeted by high running waves, tossed up and down with spray dashing over it. Finite beings on such waters are mere specks upon the broad deep, yet watched over even there.
Though strong and courageous, hardy fishermen who had spent their lives on the lake and guided their craft through many storms, skilled in managing their craft and experienced with the moods of the sea, the disciples knew not what to do. Their strength and skill availed nothing in the gale, and hope failed as the waves filled the leaking vessel and threatened to engulf it. Their hearts filled with despair as they saw the boat sinking.
Jesus lay asleep from weariness on the hard plank of the fisherman's boat, undisturbed amid noise and confusion and tumult. Absorbed in efforts to save themselves, the disciples had forgotten for a time that He was on board. Only when labor was vain and death was before them, able to do no more to save themselves, did they remember at whose command they had set out to cross the sea and that He had before saved them in like peril, even walking upon the water to rescue them from death, and saw in Jesus aboard their only hope.
The peril belongs to the night crossing that ended when Jesus stilled the tempest with word and beckoning hand and brought them safely to shore, showing authority over wind and waves that remains unchanged on land and sea. It was the night before He landed on the shore of Gadara among the demon-possessed men from the tombs. Those who had crossed the lake with Him told the people of that region about that danger and the miracle by which He stilled the tempest.
Desperate Cry for Rescue
The cry is forced from the disciples by complete helplessness and despair on the sinking boat at night, a plea to the Lord to rescue them from perishing. Their own efforts to save the boat have failed and the storm has overwhelmed them, and when they remember Jesus is aboard they turn to Him as their only hope. Though experienced fishermen, they are helpless in the gale as the vessel fills and threatens to go down.
Their first appeal meets dense darkness that hides Him, with voices drowned by the roaring tempest and no reply. In agony of fear lest He has deserted them and left them to destruction, they rush to His prostrate form and cry again reproachfully as if He cares not for their perishing. Doubt and fear question whether He who has conquered disease and demons and even death is now powerless to help and unmindful in their distress. The sinking boat stands a moment from being swallowed by the hungry waters while they grasp their oars for a last effort.
A flash of lightning reveals Him asleep undisturbed by the tumult, with the peace of heaven in His face and self-forgetful tender love in His glance, and their hearts turn to Him. Their agonized cry reaches His heart. He awakes from refreshing sleep and rises to stand in divine majesty in the midst of His disciples while the tempest still rages and the waves break over them.
Christ Hears and Delivers
Jesus commanded the terrible storm to cease, and the angry elements obeyed His voice, so wind and sea were calmed and His followers crying to Him for rescue in danger on the sea were saved. He has absolute control over the winds and waves and authority over nature, and He came to their aid both by walking on the waves and by calming the storm with His word to bring them safely to shore. When they thought they were about to perish in the storm He heard their call to save them and did not forsake them.
That same power exercises God's rule over nations and over nature, holding back the impatient winds, controlling the tempests and calming the angry sea. The sequence of nature is under God's jurisdiction, for God works by His own laws as a God of order who holds the winds in His hand and controls the waters, beholding at one glance the highest heavens and the midst of the sea. The same power rolled up the mighty deep and piled up walls of water to make a path to deliver more than a million of His people from Egyptian slavery, then released the held-back waters to destroy Pharaoh and his host. Still mighty angels at His bidding hold back winds and waves from destroying, guarding the little boat careening over the waves and bringing the ship sailed to harbor when lightning and tempest pass by and death-threatening waves sink proud vessels.
In peril those who put their trust in Jesus may call to Him, for when waves break over a sinking bark and destruction threatens He hears the agonizing cry of those in danger and never forsakes them. He is by His followers' side to comfort and save them even when high heaving billows and mountainous waves break fearfully overhead, and He can speak calm and steadiness to those with Him in the storm. The weary voyager tossed on raging billows should remember this deliverance and trust Him, for trusting Him is safety through every gale.
He stilled the tempest by word or by the lifting of His finger or the beckoning of His hand, and joined with walking on the sea to still it, showing authority over wind and waves with fearless power that remains unchanged on land and sea. That was a visible display of supremacy over Satan and victory over him, meant to convince the people He was the Son of God. Finite beings are mere specks upon the broad deep waters, yet He who controls them sends help from His excellent glory to guard them.
That calming of wind and sea became one of the miracles the disciples remembered as evidence that He was the Son of God, though they later could not believe He would die and hoped He would use His power to free Himself from His enemies. Those who had crossed the lake with Him told the people of that danger and miracle on reaching the shore, but eyes blinded by worldliness saw only loss of property, feared additional loss, refused to consider the advantage of having Him among them, and begged Him to depart.
Unbelief and Self-Confidence
The terrified cry, Lord, save us, we perish, exposed distrust, unbelief and self-confidence, for the disciples rudely woke Him only after exhausting their own efforts to save themselves and forgetting He was on board. Their panic in the face of the sinking boat showed they had no faith, and had they trusted Him they would have been kept in peace. Jesus Himself had no fear for His own safety, and His anxiety was wholly for them, which He sorrowfully reproved.
They should have called upon Him at the first appearance of danger, and He would have relieved their anxiety and helped them. Instead they battled alone in self-dependence until, despairing of self, they at last turned to Him so He could help them.
Though He reproves unbelief and self-confidence and rebukes them for not seeking Him at the very beginning of trial, He never fails to hear their earnest, agonizing cry of faith and gives the help they need.
Help in Life's Trials
The same pattern belongs to believers in the trying scenes of life, when tempests of temptation gather with flashing lightning and sweeping waves and people fight the storms of adversity alone, trusting their own strength and skill and battling while forgetting the One who can help until baffled and discouraged and ready to perish. The miracle was wrought for believers now as well as for the disciples then, who remembered Jesus only when despairing of self and hope was lost. They should have called upon Him at the first appearance of danger and He would have relieved their anxiety and helped them, instead of forgetting Him until labor was vain.
Calling upon Him to save never cries in vain, for the call of faith always meets a response. Whether on land or sea, sleeping or waking, if the Saviour is in the heart there is no need of fear, because living faith in the Redeemer smooths the sea of life and delivers from danger in the way He knows to be best. He hears those who put their trust in Him and will never forsake them, but accepts their humble petitions even when they are wearied by their own efforts to save themselves.
He is present with His people in the storm and can speak calm and steadiness to them, and trusting Him is safety through every gale. He can protect His followers and calm their fears because the waters obey Him. In danger and helplessness the weak and unworthy may come to Christ for help and receive strength and wisdom from Him.
The plea also expresses a desperate appeal to God for deliverance when life seems in danger amid severe physical distress and fear of death.
Cry for Spiritual Salvation
The cry is a model of brief, sincere prayer for a soul in danger, in which one sorrowful for sin and seeing that without Christ there is no hope asks Jesus for rescue from perishing. It is the helpless appeal of one who feels close to perishing and in desperate dependence looks to Him to save and forgive through simple, earnest faith. Jesus removes the crushing burden of sin and gives His peace in answer to that plea. He does so from assured understanding of personal trials, responding with pity and tenderness.
As the disciples were helpless before the raging storm, so people cannot by human power control or quiet the storm of sinful passions and uncontrolled passion within. Those who turn to Jesus for deliverance and help find rescue, for His grace reconciles them to God and quiets the struggle within and brings peace to the heart.
Applied to the soul, the cry calls a person to turn from mortal concerns and come to Christ in personal unworthiness and helplessness, trusting Him rather than seeking wisdom and help from people. In danger and helplessness anyone weak and unworthy may cry to Christ for rescue, recognizing that without His help they will perish, and will receive strength and wisdom from Him.
The helpless sinner seeking pardon and entire surrender feels a needy, helpless condition as never before and cries from the heart for help and rescue. Such entreating is earnest and unceasing in temptation and weakness, looking to Jesus in faith until prayer is heard and sins are forgiven, and it will not be in vain. This dependence does not distract from confessing sin and seeking forgiveness but expresses need for God's help. Jesus draws very near to such prayer, receiving griefs, misfortunes, trials and peculiar trials with sympathy and pitying tenderness even toward one unworthy of notice, leaving the burden gone and the heart light and joyous with peace and new knowledge of His divine character.
Coming to Jesus for rescue brings entry into rest where heaven begins here. Responding to His invitation to come and learn begins eternal life as a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ with ever-opening glory, ever-growing knowledge and happiness. It is walking with Jesus filled with His love and satisfied with His presence, receiving all human nature can now bear. That present portion is small compared with the hereafter before God's throne serving day and night in His temple with God dwelling among them, hungering and thirsting no more nor struck by sun or heat, fed and led by the Lamb to living fountains with every tear wiped away.