The Church of Eleven22 - Lent Devo Episode 17: Calming the Storm

Episode Date: March 20, 2020

Luke 8:22-25; Mark 4:35-41

What is it to be? Some of the miracles. The Church of 1122 is a movement for all people to discover and deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ. Welcome to our Lent podcast. Hey, my name is Greg Nat. This Lent season, we are working through some of the miracles of Jesus shared with us across the gospel accounts. We're looking at how each of these miracles points us to the greatest of all miracles, which is the resurrection of Jesus.

Christ from the dead. The miracle of Jesus we are focused on today is found in Luke 8 22 through 25 and Mark 4 35 through 41, calming the storm. Luke 8 22 through 25. One day he got into a boat with his disciples and he said to them, let us go across to the other side of the lake. So they set out and as they sailed he fell asleep and a windstorm came down on the lake and they were filling with water and were in danger and they went and woke him saying master master we are perishing

and he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves and they ceased and there was a calm he said to them where's your faith and they were afraid and they marveled saying to one another who then is this

that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him. And in Mark 4, 35 through 41, on that day, when evening had come, he said to them, let us go across to the other side. And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was,

and other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea,

Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him so jesus was very tired for ministering to a big crowd of people all day and he preached from a boat to keep the multitudes from overwhelming him

as they were pressing in on him and jesus was so tired that he was able to sleep in the stern of a boat and it was probably a little skiff where he could put his head on a hard seat or cushion and stretch his body out in the bottom of the boat now if you've ever slept in a boat, the only way that's comfortable is if you're exhausted. And it's a great reminder that Jesus was fully human as well as fully divine. And the storm that arose really must have been pretty bad because you got to remember many of the disciples were old hands on a boat. But this storm had them taking on water and they were fearful for their lives.

They couldn't believe Jesus was sleeping through it all. and they felt like he wasn't in it with them and he didn't even seem to care about them. Now remember, the disciples had seen Jesus perform miracles. They'd heard his preaching, they'd been traveling and living with him, and they still were scared to death of this storm and worried that Jesus might not be able to handle this, and they would die. But before we get too hard on them,

how often do we feel the same way when the storms of our lives rise up? And just like the disciples, no matter how hard we try, we can't control the storms. So the good news is the disciples did what we need to do. They turned to Jesus. Then Jesus calms the storm with his voice. Peace, be still. It's a great reminder for what we need to do when we get fearful. The disciples let their fear be greater than their faith, and Jesus calls them out on it.

Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? but that didn't stop Jesus from coming to their rescue. And he will do the same for us. The disciples were rightly awestruck by the divine power of Jesus. I mean, imagine how that must have impacted their faith and their lives. This miracle also points us to his resurrection. Even though Jesus was in the boat, he was asleep.

That's a common metaphor for death. But he's awakened, comes to life, and rescues his death. disciples from death to life. Jesus died and was resurrected to rescue us from death to life. Please pray with me. Jesus, thank you for always being with us when the storms of our life get rough. Help us turn to you with our fears and put our trust and faith in you. Let us be still in your presence and let the peace that passes all understanding wash over us. Help us remember the power and sovereignty that you have over everything. And when we have doubts creep in,

help us look back on our lives and see all the ways you've been with us and helped us before. Thank you for dying on the cross for our sins. Thank you for rising again to save us from certain death. and thank you for bringing us to abundant life. We love you. We trust you. We believe in you. Please help us believe more, and please help us be more like you.

Amen. Thanks for listening. Our prayer is that this podcast will help you deepen your relationship with Jesus. For more resources, go to C-O-E-22.com forward slash lent.