Jesus Calms the Storm

That day when evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side' of the Sea of Galilee. Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat.

Jesus was exhausted from a full day of teaching. He went to the stern, lay down on a cushion, and fell asleep.

Without warning, a furious squall came up. The Sea of Galilee sits in a basin surrounded by hills, and violent storms can descend with terrifying speed as cool air rushes down to meet the warm air over the water. Waves broke over the boat, filling it with water. Several of the disciples were experienced fishermen who had worked these waters all their lives—and they were terrified.

Through it all, Jesus slept.

'Teacher!' they cried, waking Him. 'Don't you care if we drown?'

Jesus got up. He looked at the raging wind and the crashing waves. He spoke three words: 'Peace, be still.'

The wind died down. The waves flattened. It was completely calm—not the gradual settling that follows a storm, but instant, supernatural peace.

Then Jesus turned to His disciples. 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?'

They were terrified—but now with a different kind of fear. They asked each other, 'Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!'

The One who slept in exhaustion was fully human. The One who commanded creation was fully God. In that boat, the disciples were beginning to understand just who was with them—the Lord of heaven and earth, who holds the storms of life in His hands.