Victory Over Danger Series

• With a word of command Jesus calms the storm;

• “Quiet! Be still!”

• It is an authoritative order meaning literally “Be muzzled!”

• Notice the effect is immediate as the storm is stilled!

Ill:

David Telford on hearing his Dad preach on this passage laughed out loud;

• Later when his dad asked him why he laughed out loud during the sermon,

• He replied because you told a joke;

• His dad said, “I tell lots of jokes but not a the moment you laughed”.

• “Yes you did!” said David, “You said Jesus spoke to the sea and it obeyed him.

• David was spot on in his understanding:

• Either these miracles of Jesus are pure fantasy, made up nonsense;

• Or they are incredible events, miracles performed for a reason!

Ill:

• King Canute (1065-1035AD);

• Was the King of England, Norway & Denmark.

• Canute’s reign was a strong and effective one.

• He brought with him security from foreign invasion and he ruled justly and well.

• He was considered a friend of the English church and was generous toward it.

• At his death, he was buried in Winchester Cathedral.

His claim to fame or what most people know about him is:

• He was the king who sat on his throne at the waters edge;

• Commanding the sea to go back. And of course the sea doesn’t take any notice of him!

• Most people who know or read the story;

• Think what a fool! I could have told him that would happen.

Ill:

• In English history the story of King Canute has been greatly misunderstood:

• He was not some egocentric fool trying to hold back the sea by his command,

• But was in fact a very modest.

• King Canute lived in an age;

• When it was traditional for people to be "subjects" and to pay homage to the monarch,

• And his followers worshipped him and would say things like

• "Oh great majesty, the very sea obeys your mighty command".

• He was a humble man who wanted to prove to his courtiers;

• That even though he was a powerful king, the sea would NOT obey his commands.

• King Canute stayed on the beach until his courtiers admitted that fact!.

• He risked himself & his court being drowned rather than allow the nonsense to continue.

Quote:

• A twelfth-century manuscript (Henry Huntingdon’s Historia Anglorum);

• Records King Canute’s words:

“Know all inhabitants of earth, that vain and trivial is the power of kings, nor as anyone worthy of the name king save Him whose nod heaven and earth and sea obey under laws eternal”.

Canute was wise enough to know:

• That only God has the power to control nature;

• Only God has the authority to still the sea!

• Therefore if Jesus is able to do it then he must be…

• That leads us on to our third and final point.

(3). His person (vs 40-41).

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this?

Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

• The disciples are awe-struck with the person of Jesus,

• Before they were terrified of the storm,

• But now they are terrified, petrified, scared stiff;

• By the person who is with them inside the boat!

What this passage shows us are the two natures of Jesus: