Calming the Storm on Galilee: Jesus Christ’s Authority over Nature

Scripture reading: That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along in the boat just as he was. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:35-41 NIV). Parallel readings-- Matthew 18:23-27 and Luke 8:22-25.

Jesus' authority over nature

The calming of the storm on the Lake of Galilee is a classic example of a nature miracle. Miracles of this kind seem to present the greatest problem to people today. The New Testament, however, makes clear that Jesus Christ is not only Lord over his church but also Lord of all creation.

“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16 & 17)

Tired and in search of rest

It has been a long day for Jesus. Since early morning he had been teaching the people and disputing with the Pharisees who were always around trying to make trouble. Jesus was tired and needed rest. So he asked his disciples to get a boat ready to cross the seven-mile stretch of water to the other side of the Lake of Galilee.

The whole length of the eastern side lies in barren hills and precipitous gorges. There was no level ground to establish any large town. Here Jesus could hope to find a quiet retreat for rest.

So weary was Jesus that as soon as the boat was on its way, he fell fast asleep. This human touch is surely recorded to remind us that Jesus was subject to all the frailties of human flesh. Jesus is fully God and became fully man. He knew what it was to feel utterly exhausted, and sleep was as sweet to him as to any weary toiler.

Storm on Galilee

When they were well out on the lake, suddenly a violent storm broke upon them. Storms are by no means unusual on Galilee. The geographic features around the Lake of Galilee bring about storms like that just after sundown and turn the quiet waters into a seething cauldron. These sudden storms are always the worst in the winter. It offers clues as to how violent that particular storm must have been. Peter and his companions were hardened sailors. But the storm terrified the fishermen who had seen a lifetime of storms on that lake. It was the worst storm they had ever encountered.

"Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

Realising that their lives were in jeopardy, the disciples remembered Jesus who still lay sleeping peacefully amid the clash of the elements. Shaking him they shouted above the roar of the tempest, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

What a question to ask Jesus! How it revealed the weakness of their faith. Jesus calmly rose without haste or fear. Then stretching out a hand toward the tumultuous sea, he said, "Quiet! Be still!" In an instant, the wind dropped and the waves sank back.

Turning to the frightened disciples Jesus said simply, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were awestruck at the miracle. They began to whisper excitedly among themselves, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Creation recognised the Creator

In Mark’s account of the storm, there is a significant sentence, “There were also other boats with him.” Evidently, many who saw Jesus departing crowded into the boats and followed him. How amazed they must have been when the wind suddenly abated and the sea became calm. To their lips came the same question which the disciples voiced, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" God allowed the fierce storm to break over Galilee to reveal his absolute power over the forces of nature. Creation recognised the voice of its Creator. The sovereign Lord spoke and his creation immediately responded.

Jesus has not forgotten us

God has never promised his children that their path will always be rosy. They never promised us that we would always sail in smooth seas. Sometimes, when dire extremity comes to us, we may feel that he has forgotten us. But he is as near to us as he was with the disciples on the stormy lake. And while he is at hand, no harm can come to us. Even if he delays his help and all hopes seem lost, it is only to help us more, and when we have learned our lesson, deliverance comes.

In the prophetic scripture wind and stormy sea are used to represent the strife of nations in the last days. Jesus declared that, "There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea (Luke 21:25). On that day, he said, “Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken (Luke 21:26). But amid the storms of the last days, Jesus is still the security of his people. He will once again calm the storms of time in the calm of his eternal kingdom of peace.

Selie Visa