Stilling The Storm Series

About 100 years ago an English clergyman named Whiting was sailing in the Mediterranean when

a storm broke of unusual fury, and hurricane winds. The waves were like mountains, and they came

crashing against the ship, and all on board felt doomed, for the life boats were useless in such a

storm. Whiting continued in fervent prayer, and by the special providence of God the storm lost it's

power, and they made it to port. Whiting wrote the hymn, "For Those In Peril On The Sea." It is

also called, "Eternal Father Strong To Save." It became the most beloved hymn of American Naval

men, and at one time every worship service in the Annapolis Naval Academy was concluded with

the entire congregation kneeling and singing this hymn. The second stanza goes like this:

O Savior, whose almighty Word

The winds and waves submissive heard,

Who walked upon the foaming deep,

And calm amidst its rage did sleep:

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee

For those in peril on the sea!

The wind and the sea are mighty forces, and they have taken many lives-so many that the Bible

says when the dead are raised the sea also shall give up the dead in it. The sea of Galilee is

especially treacherous, for it is low and cliffs around it have valley's going to the sea. This draws

down cold air which can produce a storm in a matter of minutes. Even today, one can look upon it

when it is smooth as glass, and ten minutes later there can be a raging storm. We want to look at the

experience of the disciples as they are caught in one of these sudden storms. We want to see it in

three pictures which deal with the three persons involved in this event.

I. THE PICTURE OF JESUS.

Verse 35 says the same day, and this means the day that Jesus spoke to the multitudes, and was

so concerned that His mother and brothers tried to restrain Him. This was the day that He debated

with the Pharisees and warned them about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. This was the day that Hetaught the parables as recorded in Matt. 13. It was after a busy day like this that He was exhausted,

and verse 36 says He was so tired that He slept.

We see the humanity of Jesus. He lived for men before He died for them. He filled His days full

with service to man. Sometimes He worked all day, and then prayed all night. He gave His life in

service before He gave it in sacrifice. Why should He tire Himself to help and teach men? He was

going to the cross in a few years, and He knew it, but it was not enough that He should die for their

sin, and make salvation possible. Jesus said by His life of service that a full and satisfying human

life consists in fellowship with God, and compassion for men in their sin, sickness, suffering, and

sorrow. Meeting temporal needs was important to Jesus even though He came primarily to meet

eternal needs.

Jesus lay exhausted in that boat because He could not stand to see the masses in ignorance of

God's mercy and love. While He had breath He had to teach, heal, and preach. What sweet sleep

have they who are exhausted in giving their lives in service. He was so exhausted that even a storm

did not awaken Him. His very sleep rebukes us, for though He had greater wisdom and compassion,

He had the same body as you and I. It hungered and thirsted and became weary, but He used it to its

capacity. His body was a living sacrifice, and this sleeping Christ is the greatest example anywhere

of presenting one's body as such a sacrifice.

In this sleep we see also the trust of His humanity. Jesus did not fear the storm, for He knew His

life was in the Father's hands. I read of a group getting eagles eggs where they had to hang down

over the cliff, and someone had to hold the rope. One boy said, "I will go down if my father holds the

rope." You need to have trust in the one holding the rope when your life depends on it.

In verse 39 we see the deity of Christ. Only God can rebuke the wind and calm the sea. The

only reason Bible writers could put such contrasting pictures of Jesus side by side is because they

were true. He was truly man, and truly God. When He said to the winds, "Be still," the word He

used means to be gagged or muzzled, as if it were a maniac to be bound and gagged. Some feel this