Matthew 8:23-27 | Mark 4:35-41 | Luke 8:22-25
He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. Matthew 8:26
This episode recorded in all the three synoptic gospels (Gr-synoptikos- seeing together) offer a complementary, and fuller understanding of the whole counsel of God. There is some debate as to whether the 3 accounts talk about 2 different episodes. On closer examination note the uniform response of the disciples across all the 3 gospels as being “who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey Him”. Their amazement and shock is the same, they can’t be shocked a second time, so it is unlikely there are 2 separate occasions.
As the disciples journeyed across the sea with Jesus, a violent storm arose. Within this single episode, Scripture paints for us a picture of four kinds of disciples. Four kinds of responses to life’s storms. Four kinds of faith.
First, The Panicked Sailors. The disciples themselves in that moment were terrified. Overwhelmed by the waves. Convinced they were going to die. Their hearts filled with fear. Their minds with anxiety. Remember they are not new to the sea, in fact some of them had to be out there everyday, day in and day out in these seas, fishing, facing storms. Storms couldn’t have been new to them. But somehow this one in particular was a violent one causing them to panic to such an extent they thought they were going to die. Their cry is desperate: “Lord, save us!” They are afraid. Their fear drives them to cry out. They seek help. They run to Jesus. This is not the deepest faith, but it is not the worst either.
Then came the Accusing Critics. The gospel of Mark reveals them clearly. They are those who not only fear the storm but turn their fear into accusation. Their cry is not merely “Save us,” but “Don’t You even care? Where are You? Why aren’t You helping?” They question God’s goodness. They doubt His love. They blame Him for the storms that shake their lives. This is the most dangerous place. Because fear has turned to doubt and bitterness. Anxiety has turned to resentment. The storm outside has created a storm inside, a storm of suspicion and doubt, hidden anger uncovered and even resentment toward God. The question is why all this? This is not meant to happen!
In stark contrast stands the Restful Sleeper. Jesus Himself. Asleep in perfect peace in the midst of the chaos. Fully assured of the Father’s love. Utterly secure. Untouched by anxiety. He doesn’t panic. He doesn’t accuse. His heart is anchored in God so deeply that even violent waves cannot shake it. This is the life of genuine faith. Not the absence of storms. But the presence of such deep trust in the Father’s love, that storms cannot disturb the soul’s peace. The kind of peace only He can give, not like the one the world gives which is fragile and temporal we see in John 14:27. It is deeper and beyond our understanding which is what Philippians 4:7 tells us.
And finally, there is the rarest and the smallest group: the Storm-Calmers. These are those who not only rest in God’s love but rise up, like Jesus, and bring calm to others. Their faith is active. Their spirit is empowered. Their lives bring peace, strength, and comfort to those around them. This is what genuine, anointed, God-rooted ministry looks like. Not noise. Not titles. Not impressive words or impressive works. But the ability to still storms in the hearts of others. To bring peace to the anxious. To bring strength to the weak. To bring hope to the despairing. The ones who can feed others, rescue others and build others. Those who live on meat. They are the “spiritual man” we see in 1Corinthians 2:15-16.
Among these four, we must ask: Who are we? Are we the Panicked Sailor? Afraid, yet still calling out to Jesus. This is better than the next category, but we remain enslaved by fear. Always needing but never able to help others. Always need feeding but not feeding others. Always on milk and not moved onto meat. Always child like and never growing. Always being helped but never able to reach out and help others in need. Church is always-“what can I get?” not “what can I give”. Never making disciples, never helping others grow. Always spiritually bankrupt, tired, weary, burdened and eyes fixed on the storm, never able to see clearly, paralysed, inactive, unable, unproductive, without fruit. Notice this, they cannot help anyone else for they themselves are in a tight spot. They are the “carnal man” in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 and Hebrews 5:11-14. On milk and not moving on to meat.
Are we the Accusing Critic? Afraid and angry? Doubting God’s goodness? This is the most dangerous place. We have let the storm outside create a storm inside our souls. Or are we the Restful Sleeper? Secure in the Father’s love. At peace in the midst of chaos. This is a great place to be. We have found what many never find, true rest in God. Or even better, are we a Storm-Calmer? Not only resting ourselves, but rising up to bring God’s peace to others. Not only secure, but a source of security. Not only calm, but a calming presence.
So let us ask ourselves: Have we found rest in God’s love? Or are we still panicked, still accusing, still drowning in fear? And if we have found rest, are we content to rest alone? Or are we willing to rise up and calm the storms in others’ lives? Because the world is full of disciples in storms. And they need to see us, resting like Jesus, peaceful like Jesus, bringing calm like Jesus. That is the call. Not to panic. Not to accuse. Not merely to rest. But to rise and calm the storm.
Prayer
Father, help us to see ourselves clearly in this story. Deliver us from fear, from insecurity, and from any hidden accusation we hold against You. Make us secure in Your love, restful like Jesus in every storm. But don’t let us stop there, make us Storm-Calmers, someone who brings Your peace, comfort, and strength into the lives of others. Transform us from the inside so that our lives reflect Your presence to the world around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Quote
Fear panics, doubt accuses, faith rests, but love rises to calm the storm.
