But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
On a night crossing of the Sea of Galilee after a wearying day of teaching parables of the kingdom, Jesus asleep in the stern awoke to hush a violent tempest with a word, and the men with Him marveled at One whom even wind and sea obey. Their awe confessed absolute authority over nature, revealing divine power and majesty in humiliation and identifying Him as the Son of God. His calm rebuke exposed their fearful distrust in trying to save themselves by skill instead of calling on Him at the first sign of danger. The same command that stills wind and wave frees minds bound by Satan and speaks peace to temptation and inner strife when the cry for help is made. With Him aboard as Commander and pilot, every weary voyager and His whole cause are carried safely through raging billows to harbor, for He never forsakes those who trust Him.
Setting on Sea Galilee
The marvel took place in the evening after an eventful day beside the Sea of Galilee in which Jesus spoke His first parables explaining the nature of His kingdom and the manner in which it was to be established. That day He likened His own work to that of the sower, the development of His kingdom to the growth of the mustard seed and to the effect of leaven in meal, the great final separation of the righteous and the wicked to the wheat and tares and to the fishing-net, the exceeding preciousness of the truths He taught to the hidden treasure and to the pearl of great price, and the way His disciples were to labor as His representatives to the householder.
All day He had taught and healed while crowds still pressed Him, having ministered day after day with scarcely a pause for food or rest under constant malicious criticism and misrepresentation from the Pharisees that made His labors severe and harassing, until He was utterly wearied and determined to seek retirement in a solitary place across the lake. The eastern shore of Gennesaret offered the seclusion He sought, for though dotted with towns it was desolate compared with the western side, more heathen than Jewish in population and with little communication with Galilee. It was a night crossing to that desert side of the sea where He sought rest from labor after dismissing the multitude.
After dismissing the multitude the disciples took Him just as He was into the boat and set off hastily, while other fishing boats crowded with people eager still to see and hear Him followed. The Sea of Galilee was a place where much of His ministry had been spent. It remained as a reminder of Him and His mighty works, and as the disciples looked on the scene their minds were filled with His words and deeds.
Storm, Sleep, and Stillness
The crossing began calm and pleasant in the evening, then after sunset the weather turned to a sudden, violent night tempest with dark clouds and black night upon the water. The angry waves tossed the ship like a plaything from crest to trough, dashing against it and threatening to engulf it. The ship sprang a leak and filled fast with water amid hurry and confusion, until the boat was filling and sinking and only death seemed before them.
Though the fishermen were strong, courageous lifelong seamen skilled in managing their craft, their strength and skill availed nothing in so terrible a gale. They knew not what to do, and hope failed into despair as human strength and skill proved helpless and they saw the boat sinking. Jesus was on board in the stern asleep on the hard plank of the fisherman's boat from weariness after long arduous work and hunger. Absorbed in saving themselves, the disciples had forgotten Him until labor was vain.
Then they remembered they had set out at His command and He was their only hope. They cried Master, Master, but dense darkness hid Him and the roaring tempest drowned their voices with no reply. Doubt and fear assailed them whether He had forsaken them and was unmindful of them in distress, and whether He who had conquered disease and demons and even death was powerless to help His disciples now.
Jesus stood in divine majesty in the humble boat amid raging waves with calm and fearless countenance, lifted His hand and commanded the angry sea to rest. He rebuked the disciples for being fearful and having no faith. His word hushed the tempest into instant quiet where danger and despair had been, with rolling clouds, shining stars, and a motionless boat.
Awe of the Witnesses
After the rebuke the sea became calm, and the disciples marveled that even the winds and the sea obeyed Him, recognizing His authority over wind and sea and over the forces that had threatened them. Their helplessness before the tempest had shown that human strength and skill had failed, and that He was their only hope. The calming of the angry waters revealed His authority and His power over nature, and supported their belief that His power extends over the elements. The miracle revealed His divine majesty and inspired reverence and awe in those who witnessed it.
The boats that had set out with Him had been in the same peril and despair, and the fury of the storm had driven them close together so that all on board beheld the miracle. When His command turned tumult to calm, terror and fear were forgotten and allayed, a sudden hush fell, and even impulsive Peter fell silent. Fear gave way to quiet where danger and despair had been, as instant quiet replaced the raging tumult.
In that hush the disciples and the occupants of the following boats whispered among themselves in reverential awe at His authority, asking what manner of man commands even wind and sea to obey Him. The question was spoken only in whispers, with all silenced by awe at what they had seen. The scene revealed His wonderful majesty, was never forgotten by its witnesses, and keeps inspiring the children of God with reverence and awe.
Divine Authority Revealed
Christ has absolute control over the winds and the waves, whom He commands and they obey, and nothing can baffle His skill, for His voice makes the loud tempest be still even when the thundering hurricane rolls, and glory and majesty surround Him in all His ways. The disciples marveled at this power over nature, for even the winds and sea obeyed Him, revealing His authority over the forces that threatened them. Even in His humiliation the elements obeyed Him, revealing His divine power and divine authority over the forces of nature. That obedience bore witness to His divine authority and identified Him as the Son of God, giving evidence by His command stilling the tempest and the sea obeying Him. The disciples remembered this miracle with His other works as evidence He was the Son of God, which strengthened their faith and hope that He would use His power to escape His trial and defeat His enemies, though He did not do so and they could not believe He would die.
Awake He was in perfect peace with no fear in heart or word or look. He rested not in possession of almighty power as Master of earth and sea and sky, which He had laid down and could do nothing of Himself, but trusted in the Father's might and rested in faith in God's love and care, so the power of the word that stilled wind and sea was the power of God. His majesty as God in Christ holds the winds in His hand and controls the waters, beholding the highest heavens and the midst of the sea at one glance. He sends angels from excellent glory to guard the little boat careening over the waves, showing how small finite beings are as mere specks upon broad deep waters buffeting the waves. His wonderful works on the ocean are far above human comprehension and fill the heart with awe.
The same authority by which He controls the elements by the lifting of His finger frees men possessed of demons by a word or the touch of His hand. He who stilled the tempest and calmed the troubled sea beckoned the waves to rest and then calmly faced demons and delivered men, standing calmly where others fled in terror and raising the hand that calmed the waves so the demon-possessed men rushing forward could come no nearer but stood raging and helpless before Him. This proved He had met Satan before and conquered him, showing supremacy over Satan and that the Prince of Light is supreme over the Prince of Darkness. The obedience of inanimate nature to His command stands in contrast to the priests and rulers who rejected the evidence of His divinity. The same Jesus who stilled the waves and walked on the billows willingly offered Himself on the cross out of love for humanity, bearing guilt and opening the way to Paradise.
The sequence of nature is under God's jurisdiction, for the Lord is ruler of nations and a God of order working by His own laws. The same power that held back the impatient winds, controlled the tempests, and calmed the angry sea rolled up the mighty deep, piled walls of water to make a path delivering more than a million from Egyptian slavery, then at His word let the held-back waters rush back so Pharaoh and all his host were slain. Those who had crossed the lake saw the peril and the stilling and told it to the Gadarenes. Yet the Gadarenes, blinded by worldliness and concern over property after the destruction of the swine and fearing further loss, let property outweigh the benefit of having such a One among them and begged Him to depart despite visible proof with the healing of the demoniacs.
Rebuke of Fearful Unbelief
When rudely awakened, Jesus Himself had no fear for His own safety, but He was anxious for His disciples because their fear in danger showed distrust, unbelief and self-confidence. They had forgotten He was on board and tried to save themselves by their own strength and skill, when they should have called on Him at the first appearance and first sign of danger and He would have relieved them. So it is in the trying scenes of life, amid perplexity and danger and the storms of adversity, that people fight alone, forgetting the One who can help them and trusting their own strength and skill until baffled and discouraged they remember Jesus and humbly call on Him to save them. Though He sorrowfully reproves their unbelief and self-confidence, He never fails to hear their earnest, humble cry and give the help they need.
The disciples remembered this miracle of wind and sea obeying Him, along with His other works, as evidence that He was the Son of God. That remembrance strengthened their faith and hope that He would use His power to escape His trial and to defeat His enemies. Yet He did not so use His power, and they could not believe He would die.
Present Help and Mission
The same power that commanded the terrible storm to cease and saved faithful followers in deadly peril on the sea stands ready for every weary voyager tossed on raging billows. When waves break over the sinking bark and destruction threatens, those in peril may remember that Jesus is on board with them, that He hears their agonizing cry, and that He never forsakes those who put their trust in Him. His authority by which winds and waves obey His voice proves Him worthy of trust and dependence, for He holds the waters and can keep His people through a tempest. Weak, burdened people are therefore to look to Him and go to Him for help instead of laying their burdens on finite minds and human hearts, for His power to help with glory and majesty surrounding Him in all His ways is present now.
With Jesus aboard, the vessel may be rocked by the winds, but He can bring calm and carry it safely through. He is Commander and pilot who controls both the winds and the waves, whom nothing can baffle in skill, whose voice makes even the thundering hurricane and loud tempest be still, who stills storms and guides safely through life's dangers even to final rest, and who stands by His followers to comfort and save when high heaving billows and mountainous waves break fearfully overhead. Whether on land or sea, sleeping or waking, with the Saviour in the heart there is no need for fear, for the call of faith will always meet with response. He always answers even when sought late, after believers are wearied in their own efforts to save themselves.
He sorrowfully reproves unbelief and self-confidence because they did not seek Him at the very beginning of trial but tried to save themselves and forgot He was on board, fighting the storms of adversity alone by their own strength and skill until baffled and discouraged. Yet He never fails to hear the earnest, humble cry and to give the help needed, accepting humble petitions, smoothing the sea of life by living faith in the Redeemer, and delivering from danger in the way He knows to be best. The storm pictures the tempests of temptation with flashing lightnings and sweeping waves, and the storm of unruly passions, when believers battle alone, forget the One who can help, and trust their own strength until hope is lost and they are ready to perish. Remembering Jesus and calling on Him to save never cries in vain.
He who stilled the tempest and calmed the troubled sea, having absolute control over winds and waves and over men possessed of demons, speaks peace to minds distracted and overborne by Satan and delivers them from Satan's power. People helpless before inner strife and the storm of unruly passions find deliverance when they turn to Him, and His grace reconciles them to God and quiets them. Through Him men enter into rest so that heaven begins here. Responding to His invitation Come, learn of Me begins eternal life as a ceaseless approaching to God with ever more glory opened, ever more knowledge of God, and ever more intense happiness, walking with Jesus in this life filled with His love and satisfied with His presence up to all human nature can bear here, which is small compared with serving day and night before the throne of God hereafter where hunger and thirst cease, the Lamb feeds and leads to living fountains of waters, and God wipes away all tears.
He is on board the ship of His cause as chief director, able to command the winds and the waves, and He will guide His work safely into port and His people to harbor. His workers are only to obey His orders and do what He says, trusting God with no worry, anxiety, or trouble. The same power still mercifully shields from accident, causes lightning and tempest to pass by unharmed, and commands mighty angels to hold back winds and waves from destroying. Thus vessels faced with death are lost while the one bringing His people to harbor is preserved, which calls for bowing in gratitude and thanks to God.
On a night crossing of the Sea of Galilee after a wearying day of teaching parables of the kingdom, Jesus asleep in the stern awoke to hush a violent tempest with a word, and the men with Him marveled at One whom even wind and sea obey. Their awe confessed absolute authority over nature, revealing divine power and majesty in humiliation and identifying Him as the Son of God. His calm rebuke exposed their fearful distrust in trying to save themselves by skill instead of calling on Him at the first sign of danger. The same command that stills wind and wave frees minds bound by Satan and speaks peace to temptation and inner strife when the cry for help is made. With Him aboard as Commander and pilot, every weary voyager and His whole cause are carried safely through raging billows to harbor, for He never forsakes those who trust Him.
Setting on Sea Galilee
The marvel took place in the evening after an eventful day beside the Sea of Galilee in which Jesus spoke His first parables explaining the nature of His kingdom and the manner in which it was to be established. That day He likened His own work to that of the sower, the development of His kingdom to the growth of the mustard seed and to the effect of leaven in meal, the great final separation of the righteous and the wicked to the wheat and tares and to the fishing-net, the exceeding preciousness of the truths He taught to the hidden treasure and to the pearl of great price, and the way His disciples were to labor as His representatives to the householder.
All day He had taught and healed while crowds still pressed Him, having ministered day after day with scarcely a pause for food or rest under constant malicious criticism and misrepresentation from the Pharisees that made His labors severe and harassing, until He was utterly wearied and determined to seek retirement in a solitary place across the lake. The eastern shore of Gennesaret offered the seclusion He sought, for though dotted with towns it was desolate compared with the western side, more heathen than Jewish in population and with little communication with Galilee. It was a night crossing to that desert side of the sea where He sought rest from labor after dismissing the multitude.
After dismissing the multitude the disciples took Him just as He was into the boat and set off hastily, while other fishing boats crowded with people eager still to see and hear Him followed. The Sea of Galilee was a place where much of His ministry had been spent. It remained as a reminder of Him and His mighty works, and as the disciples looked on the scene their minds were filled with His words and deeds.
Storm, Sleep, and Stillness
The crossing began calm and pleasant in the evening, then after sunset the weather turned to a sudden, violent night tempest with dark clouds and black night upon the water. The angry waves tossed the ship like a plaything from crest to trough, dashing against it and threatening to engulf it. The ship sprang a leak and filled fast with water amid hurry and confusion, until the boat was filling and sinking and only death seemed before them.
Though the fishermen were strong, courageous lifelong seamen skilled in managing their craft, their strength and skill availed nothing in so terrible a gale. They knew not what to do, and hope failed into despair as human strength and skill proved helpless and they saw the boat sinking. Jesus was on board in the stern asleep on the hard plank of the fisherman's boat from weariness after long arduous work and hunger. Absorbed in saving themselves, the disciples had forgotten Him until labor was vain.
Then they remembered they had set out at His command and He was their only hope. They cried Master, Master, but dense darkness hid Him and the roaring tempest drowned their voices with no reply. Doubt and fear assailed them whether He had forsaken them and was unmindful of them in distress, and whether He who had conquered disease and demons and even death was powerless to help His disciples now.
Jesus stood in divine majesty in the humble boat amid raging waves with calm and fearless countenance, lifted His hand and commanded the angry sea to rest. He rebuked the disciples for being fearful and having no faith. His word hushed the tempest into instant quiet where danger and despair had been, with rolling clouds, shining stars, and a motionless boat.
Awe of the Witnesses
After the rebuke the sea became calm, and the disciples marveled that even the winds and the sea obeyed Him, recognizing His authority over wind and sea and over the forces that had threatened them. Their helplessness before the tempest had shown that human strength and skill had failed, and that He was their only hope. The calming of the angry waters revealed His authority and His power over nature, and supported their belief that His power extends over the elements. The miracle revealed His divine majesty and inspired reverence and awe in those who witnessed it.
The boats that had set out with Him had been in the same peril and despair, and the fury of the storm had driven them close together so that all on board beheld the miracle. When His command turned tumult to calm, terror and fear were forgotten and allayed, a sudden hush fell, and even impulsive Peter fell silent. Fear gave way to quiet where danger and despair had been, as instant quiet replaced the raging tumult.
In that hush the disciples and the occupants of the following boats whispered among themselves in reverential awe at His authority, asking what manner of man commands even wind and sea to obey Him. The question was spoken only in whispers, with all silenced by awe at what they had seen. The scene revealed His wonderful majesty, was never forgotten by its witnesses, and keeps inspiring the children of God with reverence and awe.
Divine Authority Revealed
Christ has absolute control over the winds and the waves, whom He commands and they obey, and nothing can baffle His skill, for His voice makes the loud tempest be still even when the thundering hurricane rolls, and glory and majesty surround Him in all His ways. The disciples marveled at this power over nature, for even the winds and sea obeyed Him, revealing His authority over the forces that threatened them. Even in His humiliation the elements obeyed Him, revealing His divine power and divine authority over the forces of nature. That obedience bore witness to His divine authority and identified Him as the Son of God, giving evidence by His command stilling the tempest and the sea obeying Him. The disciples remembered this miracle with His other works as evidence He was the Son of God, which strengthened their faith and hope that He would use His power to escape His trial and defeat His enemies, though He did not do so and they could not believe He would die.
Awake He was in perfect peace with no fear in heart or word or look. He rested not in possession of almighty power as Master of earth and sea and sky, which He had laid down and could do nothing of Himself, but trusted in the Father's might and rested in faith in God's love and care, so the power of the word that stilled wind and sea was the power of God. His majesty as God in Christ holds the winds in His hand and controls the waters, beholding the highest heavens and the midst of the sea at one glance. He sends angels from excellent glory to guard the little boat careening over the waves, showing how small finite beings are as mere specks upon broad deep waters buffeting the waves. His wonderful works on the ocean are far above human comprehension and fill the heart with awe.
The same authority by which He controls the elements by the lifting of His finger frees men possessed of demons by a word or the touch of His hand. He who stilled the tempest and calmed the troubled sea beckoned the waves to rest and then calmly faced demons and delivered men, standing calmly where others fled in terror and raising the hand that calmed the waves so the demon-possessed men rushing forward could come no nearer but stood raging and helpless before Him. This proved He had met Satan before and conquered him, showing supremacy over Satan and that the Prince of Light is supreme over the Prince of Darkness. The obedience of inanimate nature to His command stands in contrast to the priests and rulers who rejected the evidence of His divinity. The same Jesus who stilled the waves and walked on the billows willingly offered Himself on the cross out of love for humanity, bearing guilt and opening the way to Paradise.
The sequence of nature is under God's jurisdiction, for the Lord is ruler of nations and a God of order working by His own laws. The same power that held back the impatient winds, controlled the tempests, and calmed the angry sea rolled up the mighty deep, piled walls of water to make a path delivering more than a million from Egyptian slavery, then at His word let the held-back waters rush back so Pharaoh and all his host were slain. Those who had crossed the lake saw the peril and the stilling and told it to the Gadarenes. Yet the Gadarenes, blinded by worldliness and concern over property after the destruction of the swine and fearing further loss, let property outweigh the benefit of having such a One among them and begged Him to depart despite visible proof with the healing of the demoniacs.
Rebuke of Fearful Unbelief
When rudely awakened, Jesus Himself had no fear for His own safety, but He was anxious for His disciples because their fear in danger showed distrust, unbelief and self-confidence. They had forgotten He was on board and tried to save themselves by their own strength and skill, when they should have called on Him at the first appearance and first sign of danger and He would have relieved them. So it is in the trying scenes of life, amid perplexity and danger and the storms of adversity, that people fight alone, forgetting the One who can help them and trusting their own strength and skill until baffled and discouraged they remember Jesus and humbly call on Him to save them. Though He sorrowfully reproves their unbelief and self-confidence, He never fails to hear their earnest, humble cry and give the help they need.
The disciples remembered this miracle of wind and sea obeying Him, along with His other works, as evidence that He was the Son of God. That remembrance strengthened their faith and hope that He would use His power to escape His trial and to defeat His enemies. Yet He did not so use His power, and they could not believe He would die.
Present Help and Mission
The same power that commanded the terrible storm to cease and saved faithful followers in deadly peril on the sea stands ready for every weary voyager tossed on raging billows. When waves break over the sinking bark and destruction threatens, those in peril may remember that Jesus is on board with them, that He hears their agonizing cry, and that He never forsakes those who put their trust in Him. His authority by which winds and waves obey His voice proves Him worthy of trust and dependence, for He holds the waters and can keep His people through a tempest. Weak, burdened people are therefore to look to Him and go to Him for help instead of laying their burdens on finite minds and human hearts, for His power to help with glory and majesty surrounding Him in all His ways is present now.
With Jesus aboard, the vessel may be rocked by the winds, but He can bring calm and carry it safely through. He is Commander and pilot who controls both the winds and the waves, whom nothing can baffle in skill, whose voice makes even the thundering hurricane and loud tempest be still, who stills storms and guides safely through life's dangers even to final rest, and who stands by His followers to comfort and save when high heaving billows and mountainous waves break fearfully overhead. Whether on land or sea, sleeping or waking, with the Saviour in the heart there is no need for fear, for the call of faith will always meet with response. He always answers even when sought late, after believers are wearied in their own efforts to save themselves.
He sorrowfully reproves unbelief and self-confidence because they did not seek Him at the very beginning of trial but tried to save themselves and forgot He was on board, fighting the storms of adversity alone by their own strength and skill until baffled and discouraged. Yet He never fails to hear the earnest, humble cry and to give the help needed, accepting humble petitions, smoothing the sea of life by living faith in the Redeemer, and delivering from danger in the way He knows to be best. The storm pictures the tempests of temptation with flashing lightnings and sweeping waves, and the storm of unruly passions, when believers battle alone, forget the One who can help, and trust their own strength until hope is lost and they are ready to perish. Remembering Jesus and calling on Him to save never cries in vain.
He who stilled the tempest and calmed the troubled sea, having absolute control over winds and waves and over men possessed of demons, speaks peace to minds distracted and overborne by Satan and delivers them from Satan's power. People helpless before inner strife and the storm of unruly passions find deliverance when they turn to Him, and His grace reconciles them to God and quiets them. Through Him men enter into rest so that heaven begins here. Responding to His invitation Come, learn of Me begins eternal life as a ceaseless approaching to God with ever more glory opened, ever more knowledge of God, and ever more intense happiness, walking with Jesus in this life filled with His love and satisfied with His presence up to all human nature can bear here, which is small compared with serving day and night before the throne of God hereafter where hunger and thirst cease, the Lamb feeds and leads to living fountains of waters, and God wipes away all tears.
He is on board the ship of His cause as chief director, able to command the winds and the waves, and He will guide His work safely into port and His people to harbor. His workers are only to obey His orders and do what He says, trusting God with no worry, anxiety, or trouble. The same power still mercifully shields from accident, causes lightning and tempest to pass by unharmed, and commands mighty angels to hold back winds and waves from destroying. Thus vessels faced with death are lost while the one bringing His people to harbor is preserved, which calls for bowing in gratitude and thanks to God.