"Safe with Jesus"

“And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.”- Matthew 8:24

Jesus had been ministering on the Sabbath. He had been preaching and teaching in the synagogue, casting out demons, healing Peter’s mother-in-Law and others. He had been confronted by two “would be disciples” who found out following Jesus would not be convenient for them. In order to find rest, and solace, Jesus gets into a boat to get away from the crowds and some disciples tag along with him.

However, these disciples did not fully understand what getting into the boat with Jesus would mean for them. It was while they were crossing the Sea of Galilee that these men encountered a violent storm. This storm was like no other. Matthew called it a “megas seismos” in the Greek meaning a “great storm..” The word seismos is where we get our English word “seismic” in measuring earthquakes. This was no ordinary storm these men were in. I refer to it as a hurricane mixed with a tornado and an earthquake all at once.

The storm was so severe that the boat was “swamped” with water. In other words, the boat was overcome and sinking due to the water it was taking on. All the while, Jesus was “sound asleep.” Remember, Jesus was fully human and fully God. So, Jesus in his humanity was tired and sleeping while these men were scurrying for their lives.

There’s a few things we can learn from this boat ride with Jesus:

1. Following Jesus may turn out to be more than you bargain for. I imagine these disciples thought they were in the boat safe and secure with Jesus, while all the crowds were left looking on from the shore. These men probably never thought they would be in such a storm, especially with Jesus.
2. We are helpless and hopeless without Jesus. These men were experienced seamen, yet they find themselves in a desperate situation. These men had no control over their situation. Regardless of how much we think we are in control of our situations, we will all find ourselves one day helpless and hopeless if we don’t have Christ.
3. Some storms in our lives are worse than others. One man has said, “you are either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or headed for a storm.” It doesn’t take long of being in the boat with Jesus to realize the storms come. Some are stronger. Some are more severe, nonetheless they are painful and sometimes unbearable. But, there is good news....
4. Jesus makes the storms in life bearable. Jesus gives us the grace to persevere in the storms of life. Jesus was sound asleep. He was not afraid. He was not nervous. He was not fretting over the disciples situation. He was resting and trusting in the Father knowing that no harm will befall the disciple who is resting in Him.

So, I ask us all; what storm or storms in life are you? Remember, if you are in Christ, you need not worry, fret, or lose sleep over your situation (Matthew 6:25-34). Rather, we should rest and trust in Christ. For He is in control over the storm!

Have a blessed week. SDG!