Acts. What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him? (Matthew 8:27). Note, Christ will save none but those that are willing to take him for their Lord; for he is a Prince and a Saviour. Very effectual were its first consequences. In this case, what is being saved is the disciples physical lives. Casting-out demons at Gadara. This fact seems to explain much that we read of in this case. Behold the It is always good to pay close attention to the exact words of Jesus in a passage. 23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Martin Buber I and Thou Observe, 4. The journey to the other side would have normally taken a couple of hours. CHARACTERS: Jesus, leper, centurion Matthew 8:2. When Jesus calmed the storm, then, He was demonstrating that He has the power of heaven at His command. And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him. We have already noted how the speeches give us the meaning of the flow of the story. The Winds and the Waves Obey His Will (Matthew 8:23-27) Storms terrify many people. 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?(Matthew 6:25-27). There are three parts, based on the three things that were said. St Mark, as usual, adds some interesting details: "it was GADARENE DEMONIACS Open Matthew 8:23-27. 23 As he boarded the boat, his students followed him. 24 And look! The sea became severely agitated so the boat dipped into the waves, but he was sleeping. 25 They came and roused him saying, Lord, save us! Bible Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25 (2.) Matthew says that Jesus said to them, You of little faith, why are you so afraid? Mark says, Why are you so afraid? been pleased to employ in giving us the apostle Matthew's accou _CHRIST IN THE SHIP_ HIS DISCIPLES - Not merely 6. The message of the passage is rather straightforward: Jesus has authority over nature. And the contrasts in this passage reflect the conflicts in the gospel itself, for Matthew likes to contrast Jesus with the limitations of ordinary people. Lord, save us! Open Matthew 8:23-27. I ask God for the grace to face death peacefully, whether it be close at hand or far in the future. prayer, conversation and reading can all enhance and increase our knowledge That psalm describes a thunderstorm growing in the Mediterranean Sea and sweeping inland over Lebanon, causing damage to the trees and shaking the hills with an earthquake. Sometimes the powerful word of the Lord is described in very vivid pictures, such as in Revelation as the sharp, two-edged sword that comes out of His mouth and will strike the nations (19:15). 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. It is helpful to keep that in the back of your mind. The Lord sits upon the floods, and is mightier than the noise of many waters. You see that particular mention is made of this one special case, and, In fact, archaeologists found a first century fishing boat of this kind a few years ago. I. Christs sleep in the storm.His calm slumber is contrasted with the hurly-burly of the tempest and the fear of the crew. He does not chide them for disturbing him with their prayers, but for disturbing themselves with their fears. The Healing of the He woke at the moment he was really needed, and calmed the waters. A question that may very well have been accompanied by others. One would have expected, that having Christ with them, they should have had a very favourable gale, but it is quite otherwise; for Christ would show that they who are passing with him over the ocean of this world to the other side, must expect storms by the way. _And, behold, a leper,_ &c. This same miracle is He did not rebuke them for waking Him to ask Him to save them, but for waking Him in fear. Christ and his disciples no sooner put forth to sea, When He did, the wind, the waves, the sea, everything became perfectly calm. A vessel making for the East would be especially exposed to that wind; and the waves raised by it would naturally drive over its prow so as to cover the decks of such a boat where it had them, and fill it where it had none (Matthew 8:24; Mark 4:37). 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. call to worship 2. While Jesus sleeps, a violent storm rages and the disciples are fearing for their lives. 8:23-27 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. A storm arose while the disciples were following their Master. Why are things with us thus? Ordinarily, after a storm, there is such a fret of the waters, that it is a good while ere they can settle; but if Christ speak the word, not only the storm ceases, but all the effects of it, all the remains of it. Jesus Calms the Storm. If we assume every sozo means being saved from hell to heaven, we are liable to misread the Bible. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the Mk. But it gives us also a clue that the storm, although only a storm, is a symptom of something else about nature. Mostly our knowledge will grow with our love of him, as both grow people, they would understand and appreciate and love him more. religion The disciples are amazed at this power. Where was our faith? But Jesus was sleeping. act. This is at once one of the We might remember Matthew emphasizes the way Jesus fulfills scriptural prophecies, and structures the narrative around long teaching passages interspersed with narrative sections, which especially emphasize Jesuss authority. Hot air can come up this valley quite suddenly and collide with the cooler air from Mount Hermon in the north of the valley, causing sudden storms on the lake. 'Why are you afraid, you of little faith?' The clearest example is when Jesus took a couple of them to the top of the mountain and let the reality of his God-hood shine out with heavenly brilliance from behind his everyday presence and appearance (a transfiguration which may have been projected back into the narrative from his Easter appearances). The first thing that Jesus did in response to their request was to rebuke their weak faith: O you of little faith, why are you afraid? They were right to ask Jesus to save them--and their request shows that they had faith that He could save them. Great multitudes often count for nothing; it is here or ther Matthew 8:1. and tempests shew the attempts of the wicked spirits to overturn the Jesus was sleepin _aor. With nowhere else to turn, they came to Him and woke Jesus, saying Save us, Lord; we are perishing! Matthew uses the Greek word typically translated save. It is sozo (G4982). Kyrie soson, Lord, save, became a part of the liturgical language of the church. A fishing boat from the first century A.D. that was discovered on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee in 1986 was 27 feet long and 7.5 feet wide. Jesus is the savior people need. THE STORMY SEA. 2. But add the speeches and we see that Jesus calmed the storm at their request for help, but before He did it He rebuked them for their weak faith. The author of The Land and the Book tells us that such tempests are common still in those parts, and that they are caused principally by the sudden rush of the wind down some of the deep gullies on the eastern side of the lake. Matthew mosaic, All Hallows, Allerton, by Rodhullandemu [CC BY-SA] via Wikimedia Commons. Then, after this Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves and they became calm. Could there, indeed, have been greater love consistent with truth? Matthew 8, Wesley's Explanatory Notes, One of over 125 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, produced by John Wesley between 1754 and 1765, has stood the test of time. They had been with Jesus for over a year now (judging from the chronology); they should have had more confidence after hearing all His teachings and seeing all the miracles He did (little faith is also used in 6:30; 14:31; 16:8; 17:20; and Luke 12:28). Psalm 8 had said that God made man a little lower than the angels and gave him dominion over creation. It is how we refer to the first three Gospels that have the same basic presentation of the account of Jesus, although with variations. The disciples ask the Lord to save them in the storm (23, 24). 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. The power and grace of Jesus Christ put forth for their succour: then the Lord Jesus awaked, as one refreshed, Ps 78:65. comparison of these it would seem to follow that the miracle was not 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 importunity. That is, the eastern shore, home of the Decapolis City of Hippos, a Gentile city. hope Similarly, but a little more problematic, Jesus rebuke of the disciples is stated differently in the gospels. The forces of nature respond with a great calm. And now the disciples are astounded, and wonder who they are dealing with, because even wind and waves listen to / pay attention to Jesus. God Matthew continues to present Jesus as the God-man sent from heaven, as Israels Messiah, and as the long-awaited King, the Son of David. Jesus has also given instructions to cross to the other side of the lake, in verse 18. We never read of Christs sleeping but at this time; he was in watchings often, and continued all night in prayer to God: this was a sleep, not of security, like Jonahs in a storm, but of holy serenity, and dependence upon his Father: he slept to show that he was really and truly man, and subject to the sinless infirmities of our nature: his work made him weary and sleepy, and he had no guilt, no fear within, to disturb his repose. says that Jesus crossed the sea on the evening of the day the pa Matthew 8:23. Uniform Series Moses commanded the waters with a rod; Joshua, with the ark of the covenant; Elisha, with the prophets mantle; but Christ with a word. Do you still have no faith? Luke simply says, Where is your faith? This is a little different because they are all reporting what Jesus said, not what different people said. Matthew 8:23-27 Resume Prayer Some thoughts on today's scripture Many of us have often found ourselves swamped by huge waves of apathy, terror, doubt, despair, addiction, and He attacked the cause of their danger; the spring of their fears. It is used usually against things that ought not to be, such as the weak faith of the disciples. Who is Jesus to me? When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Matthew inserts this group of events here; Mark and Luke Lord of wind and sea, the one in whom all was created is the one who creates music 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, Lord, save us! A simple illustration. It was the stillness of wonder; the hush of bewilderment; the silence of awe. Matthew 5:1, JESUS CALMS THE STORM MATTHEW 8:23-27; MARK 4:35-41; LUKE 8:22-25; His presence exempteth not His disciples from trouble and danger.3. But that is a stilted bookish view and totally unrealistic. This is the short episode in Matthews gospel where Jesus stills the storm. [Some questions on the text are here.] StudyLght.org. Learn hence, That the prevalency of fear in a time of great and imminent danger, though it may argue weakness of faith, yet it is no evidence of want of faith: in the midst of the disciples fears they believed Christs power. The boat which probably to their nautical eyes seemed too small for its work. Because people are perishing in spiritual chaos. Mark 4:35-41. I. 1. As that other man we meet in the Gospels, I beseech Jesus, 'Help my little faith, so weak yet so trusting'. Being weary, He falls asleep.4. The men were amazed, and said, What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?. We are perishing! Like with so many other prayers we find in the Gospel, I may find that today this simple prayer resonates in my heart as I look at my family, my community, my country, our world. 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