Crises in Believers' Lives (Luke 8:22-25)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
26 July 2020
Every life has its crises. The disciples had a crisis — a life-threatening storm. The astonishing thing was Jesus knowingly sent them into this crisis. He himself was sent into a storm — the storm of coming into a fallen creation. Do not fear the storms of life. Jesus experienced the greatest storm of all and he will help you.
During the storm Jesus was fast asleep. He was not bothered by the storm-crisis. The things that bother us do not bother Jesus. He can handle our storms. Jesus's primary concerns were over other issues.
What were these issues? During his time on earth he wept twice. Once he wept over Jerusalem. There he saw the hardness of people’s hearts and their the unbelief. He saw the error of people relying on good works for salvation. Jesus wept over the state of the human heart. This was his concern.
He also wept over the death of Lazarus. He saw the work of Satan in causing death. He saw the devastation of death.
He wept because of what sin had done for death came through sin. Jesus wept over the ruin of humanity. This was his concern.
In the midst of crisis Jesus awoke. Though he was resting from his labours he was not resting from protecting his people. He awoke and commanded the storm to cease. His word is authoritative and all-powerful. The storm ceased. The disciples fears ceased with it.
The disciples had earlier cried out they were perishing. These sea-hardened men were familiar with storms but this storm was exceptional. The men were fearful of their lives.
Jesus asked the disciples where was their faith? This is a crucial question. In crisis where is your faith? Are your eyes on the Saviour or the storm?
The disciples, seeing what had happened, asked who is this? Just who is Jesus? This is at the heart of the matter. Who is Jesus Christ?
The disciples were given the answer. Jesus is human for he needed sleep. Jesus is divine for he calmed the sea. He is God manifested in the flesh. His sleeping and his taming of the storm demonstrated his humanity and divinity.
The disciples were in a state of awe. This awe would lead to greater assurance about Jesus. The disciples already had an abiding faith. Jesus called them disciples. They called him Master. Through this incident they now had a greater assurance of who Jesus was.
Faith and assurance are to be distinguished. At conversion there is a saving faith and a basic assurance. But there remains greater assurance of faith for Christians. Sometimes this comes after a time of crisis and after the Lord intervenes as was the case with these disciples in the storm.
May we all have an increase in faith. The disciples asked for it (Luke 17:5). They received it when Jesus worked a miracle in their midst.
The lesson from Luke 8:22-25 is Jesus is God and man and that he is able to deliver us from all our crises. Have confidence in him and be continually assured of his love and care for those who trust in him.