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Lessons from Galilee: “What kind of man is this?”

The accounts of Jesus calming the storm on Galilee offer an interesting perspective on faith and perspective (Matt. 8:18-27; Mark 4:35-42; Luke 8:22-25). What was it about these circumstances that allowed one person to sleep and others to feel mortal danger?

Jesus had just finished teaching many parables to the people. As He saw the crowds growing, He commanded that they depart to the other side of the lake by boat—it was evening. As they went, a storm came up on the lake. This was not a storm that men who knew the lake could shrug off. Mark and Luke both record that they were taking on water as wave after wave crashed over the boat. Luke explicitly states that they were in jeopardy (Luke 8:23). We know from studies of the area that storms can come up suddenly on the lake if there is a large temperature drop. The lake itself is 700 feet below sea level. It is surrounded on all sides by hills and mountains, some reaching 2,000 feet above sea level. With that elevation change connected with a storm dropping the temperature, the wind really picks up and the gales begin creating large waves. Add the rain and darkness of night, and it becomes quite disorienting and scary. So, men, who had depended on the lake for their livelihood and knew its secrets, go to Jesus in fear. They wake Jesus, who was sleeping in the stern on a cushion, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing” (Mark 4:38)? They were very afraid. Jesus wakes from the cushion He was sleeping on and rebukes the storm, “Hush, be still” (Mark 4:39). I can almost get the feel that Jesus could have been frustrated. He was finally getting some good sleep and the disciples wake him. This is very reminiscent of a “You’re killin’ me Smalls!” moment. Jesus responds to His disciples, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). They had seen Him perform many miracles by now and had heard Him teach. They should already know that Jesus was different, yet they still ask the question, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him” (Mark 4:41)? Demons and sickness may be one thing, but for fishermen, nature is powerful. Jesus just demonstrated His power even over nature. Their scope of understanding who Jesus really is just got bigger.

Perspective played a huge role in the outcome of these events. What does a carpenter’s son know about fishing? Usually nothing. But the only Son of the Father that had an active role in creation? He might know something. Jesus knew He was not going to die there. He knew the storm was coming when He asked them to go into the water, but He was with them. He knows storms are coming when He said, “Go into all the world…” (Mark 16:15). He provided these words, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).