ALL AT SEA.
Matthew 8:23-34.
1. The Storm Stilled.
Matthew 8:23-27.
It was ‘when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him’ that He ‘gave commandment to depart unto the other side’ (cf. Matthew 8:18). The clamour of crowds was not about to keep Him from His true work. Even then, the divine Jesus KNEW that there were people in greater need on ‘the other side’
MATTHEW 8:23. So, at last, Jesus “entered into a ship” and “His disciples followed Him.”
To the Jews of Jesus’ day, the sea represented the realm of chaos: the element from which monsters arose (cf. Daniel 7:2-3). However, the thrones of such beasts are cast down, and brought under the dominion of the Son of man (cf. Daniel 7:11-14).
Sea is also seen, when taken in a negative light, as an element of separation. The first distinctive mark of the new heavens and the new earth is: ‘and there was no more sea’ (cf. Revelation 21:1).
MATTHEW 8:24. A great storm arose, and even these hardy fishermen were at their wits end. Such storms are not uncommon on this particular inland sea. Surrounded by hills, and lying low in the land, a storm can whip up at hardly a minute’s notice.
The fishermen were in their element, and within familiar waters, but this was one bad storm. Their ship was soon “covered with the waves,” and they were in jeopardy. Fear, disorder and panic had taken hold upon them.
"But He was asleep.” Jesus was no doubt physically exhausted: it is not surprising that He had fallen asleep. This, incidentally, proves that Jesus is truly man.
MATTHEW 8:25. The disciples woke Jesus, pleading, “Lord, save us: we perish.” All their skill and human resources left them with nothing but frustration and confusion. Yet our God is not a God of confusion, but of peace (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:33).
MATTHEW 8:26. Jesus asked, “Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith?” The disciples had a fair idea who Jesus is, but had not sufficient faith to recognise that having their Master in the ship was, for them, enough.
The opposite of faith is fear, and if we have small faith it is because we are fearful. Even with what they had seen so far of Jesus’ power to heal, the disciples still doubted that He would have power over the elements. Yet Jesus is the One who created all these things, and the winds and the waves that toss our lives hither and thither must obey Him.
Jesus spoke with the voice and authority of God to still the storm and calm the sea. The inland sea which separated Galilee from the country of the Gergesenes had to obey the command of the Lord. By which we may conclude that Jesus is truly God.
MATTHEW 8:27. “But the men marvelled.” Perhaps the disciples still did not understand. Perhaps the light was beginning to dawn. “What manner of man is this,” they wondered, “that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
For us, too, there might be times when chaos, fear, disorder, panic and confusion seem to have taken hold of our lives. It seems that the ship of our lives is being tossed about in the storm, and is already being swamped. Where is God in all of this?
Yet if we have any idea of just who Jesus is - and who He is to us - we must know that He is with us, even in the storms of life. He speaks to the storm; He speaks to the disorder in your life; He speaks to the evil which threatens to overwhelm you. He speaks over you the word of His power and authority.
That, for us, is enough.
2. Devils Cast Out.
Matthew 8:28-34.
The account of the two men possessed with devils is a dramatic demonstration of the kind of spiritual warfare which is going on for the bodies, minds and souls of mankind.
We notice, first of all, that it was Jesus who initiated this particular confrontation. ‘Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave commandment to depart unto the other side’ (cf. Matthew 8:18). The journey turned out to involve life-threatening hazards to all in the boat, but ‘He rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm’ (cf. Matthew 8:26).
MATTHEW 8:28. Jesus stepped ashore in the Gentile territory opposite Galilee. Two people possessed with devils were the first to meet Him. They came “out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass that way.”
MATTHEW 8:29. It seems, sometimes, that defeated foes have the loudest voice. As on a previous occasion, the devils recognised Jesus, and sought to deter Him from His purpose (cf. Mark 1:23-24). Even the devils believe, and tremble (cf. James 2:19)!
Incidentally, the religious authorities who were later plotting to kill Jesus also knew what they were doing, and to whom (cf. Luke 20:14; Luke 20:19). Unbelief is not an option: we need to find out who this God is in whom we refuse to believe.
MATTHEW 8:30-31. Jesus had previously proved Himself stronger than the devil (cf. Mark 1:25), so now the devil gathered his minions – but even a multitude cannot stand against our Lord. They asked permission to enter the “many swine” feeding on the mountain.
Notice that Satan cannot do anything without the Lord’s permission (cf. Job 1:12; Job 2:6). The devil may be like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (cf. 1 Peter 5:8) - but he is lion on a chain (cf. 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6).
MATTHEW 8:32. Jesus gave them permission to enter the swine - no doubt knowing what the outcome would be.
In the Old Testament, swine are listed as unclean animals (cf. Leviticus 11:7; Deuteronomy 14:8). At Jesus’ command and permission, the devils left the man and entered the swine. In an ironic twist within the narrative, the whole herd ran headlong down a steep ravine into the sea, “and perished in the waters.”
MATTHEW 8:33. The keepers of the swine “fled,” and “went” into the city and “told everything” – including what had “befallen” the possessed of the devils. The demon-possessed had been healed. There is every reason to believe that the men had been restored, the devils had been cast out, and that their souls had been saved.
MATTHEW 8:34. Wonder of wonders, a whole city came out to meet Jesus: but only to use their democratic voice to reject Him! The good citizens asked Jesus to leave their borders, as many a supposedly good person has done since.
