A Great Calm
Today’s Verse:
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. ~Matthew 8:26
A hurricane is a major storm that is categorized from levels 1 to 5. A storm is classified as a hurricane when the winds reach 74 miles per hour or more. The highest category of hurricane is a level 5 where winds are more than 157 miles per hour. We are told that Jesus and the disciples experienced a great tempest on the sea. In this passage of scripture, we see how a great tempest became a great calm.
We see the cultivation.
“And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.” The disciples were in the early days of training. They were following Him in everything. Following Jesus demands an absolute commitment. There can be no half-heartedness when it comes to following Him. Following Jesus demands an absolute confidence. Faith in Jesus means we trust Him without reservation or second thought. Following Jesus demands an absolute contentment. We must be content with whatever state we are in and He allows us to experience.
We see the commotion.
“And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.” Storms on the Sea of Galilee were expected due to the sea being below sea level and the temperature. However, the storm they encountered was a great tempest. The word for “tempest” is also translated as “earthquake.” It was a commotion, a storm unlike anything these burly men had previously encountered. Sometimes, our Lord allows a “commotion” to come into our training to test our courage and our ability to commit the calamity to Him.
We see the consternation.
“And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.” The disciples were scared out of their wits. They believed they were at the point of perishing as water quickly flooded their vessel. Then they went down below and found Jesus sleeping. Now, we must remember that no storm bothers Jesus. However, it bothered these men so much they awoke Jesus out of sleep! It’s amazing how a major problem will compel us to get a hold of the Lord when we need Him.
We see the command.
“And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” Before Jesus rebuked the fierce winds, He first rebuked His fearful followers. His description of their little faith must have burned deeply into their hearts. Then, He rebuked the winds and the sea. Jesus, as Creator God, took back control of the situation and with the spoken word told the winds and sea to cease. Jesus demonstrated His power as God in a time of major commotion.
We see the calm.
“And there was a great calm.” This was a tranquil calm. The wind ceased. The waves did not ripple. What once was a storm of great proportion became a gentle motion. With this calm, the Lord was teaching these followers unforgettable lessons. As followers, we must not be quick to allow our emotions to affect our decisions. As followers, we must be ready to have faith in God’s remedy for our storm. As followers, we must be convinced of God’s power and experienced in seeing God’s power in our life. As followers, we must be thankful for seasons of great calm that God gives us.
A great calm is God’s mastery over the commotions that we go through. Be of good cheer: Jesus always overcomes!
Have an overcoming God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Numbers 5-6