Jesus Stills the Storms of Life (Luke 8:22-25)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
18 August 2024
We all have storms in our lives. Some are severe; some less so. The disciples of Jesus faced a storm, literally, a huge windstorm. They feared for their lives.
Note that Jesus was with his disciples in the storm. In the storms of your life Jesus is with you. He has promised he is with his people always (Matt.28:20).
The disciples had obeyed the command of Jesus by putting out to sea but obedience did not mean a storm-free life. Consider Jesus who in obeying the Father’s will faced many trials. He was rejected, betrayed, mocked, crucified and died.
While his disciples were in the storm Jesus was seemingly indifferent. He was fast asleep. Jesus slept, that was human. But Jesus never sleeps, that is divine (Psalm 121:3,4).
The disciples are perishing. They cry out to the Lord to awake and arise just as the Psalmist did in Psalm 44:23. The Psalmist’s cry is a foreshadow of the disciples’ cry.
Jesus rises and rebukes the wind and the waters. He rebukes the elements as though they are living beings. The storm was demonically induced. Jesus rebuked the devil whose purpose was to kill Jesus. The devil has no power to destroy Jesus or the church. By His resurrection Jesus rebukes death. Oh death, where is your sting? Jesus has procured victory over death.
The word of Jesus brings calm. On one occasion Jesus cast out a demon and the liberated man was brought back to a right frame of mind (8:35). Jesus brought calm to the waters and to the minds of his disciples.
Jesus asks the disciples “Where is your faith?” They are gently rebuked for their fear and lack of faith. Why fear when Jesus is near? He never forsakes those who obey him.
The disciples were afraid and marveled when they saw what had happened. Fear the Saviour not the storm.
They ask who can this be who commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him? These fishermen had never experienced what they saw. Jesus does more than we can ever ask or think.
The lesson for us is: Jesus stills the storms of life. In your storms rouse the Saviour. Jesus will rise up. Your storms will be put in place and your mind restored to a calm.