PEACE BE STILL

MATTHEW 8: 23 - 27
King James Version (KJV)

 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

27 But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

WORD RICHES

8:26 little faith.  ″faith″ describing a faith that lacks confidence or trust too little. Jesus used the word in various situations as a tender rebuke or corrective chiding (6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Luke 12:28). Another way to term it is ″underdeveloped faith″ as opposed to outright unbelief or distrust.

Kingdom Dynamics

Christ had given sailing commands to his disciples (Matt. 8:18), that they should depart to the other side of the sea of Tiberias, into the country of Gadara, in the tribe of Gad, which lay east of Jordan; there he would go to rescue a humble creature that was possessed with a legion of devils, though he foresaw how he should be disrespected there.

Footnote: Jesus chose to cross the lake, that he might have occasion to manifest himself the God of the sea as well as of the dry land, and to show that all power is HIS, both in heaven and in earth.

His disciples followed him; the twelve kept close to him, when others stayed behind upon the ground, where there was sure footing.

      Now notice here,

a)   The danger and confusion of the disciples in this voyage; and in this appeared the truth of what Christ had just now said that those who follow him must count upon difficulties, Matt. 8:20.

b)   Understand that Christ could have prevented the storm, and have ordered them a pleasant passage, but that would not have been counted for His glory and the confirmation of their faith as their deliverance was: this storm was for their sakes, as John 11:4.

c)   Jesus Christ was asleep in this storm. We never read of Christ’s sleeping but at this one time; he was in watching often, and continued all night in prayer to God: this was a sleep of holy serenity, and dependence upon his Father.  Those of us who can lay our heads upon the pillow of a clear conscience, may sleep quietly and sweetly in a storm (Ps. 4:8), as Peter, Acts 12:6.

d)   Jesus slept at this time, to try the faith of HIS disciples, whether they could trust him when he seemed to slight them. He slept not so much with a desire to be refreshed, as with a design to be awaked.

8:24-25. Matthew contrasts Jesus physical state of peaceful sleep with the great tempest of nature and the disciples’ fearful cry.

8:25. We perish. “Lord, save us: we perish”. It was the language of their fervency; they pray as men in earnest, that beg for their lives; it becomes us thus to strive and wrestle in prayer; therefore Christ slept, that he might draw out this opportunity. 

8:26. Rebuked…sea demonstrates Jesus authoritative reign over the entire Earth, including inclement elements that might find their source in the destructive power of the Evil One.

      Jesus rebuked the disciples “ Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? He does not chide them for disturbing him with their prayers, but for disturbing themselves with their fears. Christ reproved them first, and then delivered them; this is HIS method, to prepare us for a mercy, and then to give it us.

      Notice: His dislike of their fears; “Why are ye fearful? Ye, my disciples? The fearfulness of Christ’s disciples in a storm, and their unbelief...the cause of it, are very displeasing to the Lord Jesus, for they reflect dishonor upon Him, and create disturbance to themselves.

      He rebukes the wind; the former he did as the God of grace, and the Sovereign of the heart, who can do what he pleases in us; this He did as the God of nature, the Sovereign of the world, who can do what he pleases for us. It is the same power that stills the noise of the sea, and the tumult of fear, Psalm. 65:7.

a)   Oh, Glory to God, how effectually it was done? Christ spoke the WORD, not only the storm ceases, but all the effects of it, all the remains of it. Great storms of doubt, and fear in the soul, under the power of the spirit of bondage, sometimes end in a wonderful calm, created and spoken by the Spirit of adoption.

b)   Their admiration of Christ; What manner of man is this! Even the winds and the sea obey him. Upon this account, Christ is to be admired, that he has a commanding power even over winds and seas. We know not the way of the wind (John 3:8), much less can we control it; but HE that ″bringeth forth the wind out of his treasury″ (Ps. 135:7), ″when it is out, gathers it into his fists″, Prov. 30:4. He that can do this, can do anything, can do enough to encourage our confidence and comfort in Him, in the stormiest day, within or without, Isa. 26:4. The Lord sits upon the floods, and is mightier than the noise of many waters. Christ, by commanding the seas, showed Himself to be the same that made the world, when, at His rebuke, the waters fled (Ps. 104:7, 8), as now, at His rebuke, they fell.

D

ear Friends, in closing, remember, they, and they only, will be found the true disciples of Christ, that are willing to go to sea with him, to follow him into dangers and difficulties. Many would be content to go the land-way to heaven, and those that will rather stand still, or go back, than venture upon a dangerous sea; but oh, Glory to God, those that would rest with Christ hereafter. We, as believers must follow HIM now wherever He leads them, into a ship or into a prison, as well as into a palace.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts