Matthew 8:24 – 27

Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

REFLECTION

The disciples had seen death with their own eyes. The storm was very furious, it called for alarm. Jesus was busy sleeping, can you imagine? When the disciples needed Him most. I am sure He knew a storm would be coming even before they got in the boat. Could it be He was testing them?

I don’t know what was in the mind of our Lord Jesus when the disciples were freaking and at what point He had decided to come to their aid. I love what they disciples did; they woke Him up. I don’t know the circumstances you are in, but I want to encourage you not keep silent, awaken Jesus. Call unto His name.

When they woke Jesus up, the first thing He did was to rebuke them. “You of little faith why are you so afraid?” You cannot exercise spiritual authority when afraid. A man in authority is never afraid. I am thinking Jesus could afford sleep because He knew He carries authority. He had even walked on water when Peter was asking Him to bid him to come. The authority he carries could not allow water to drown Him.

Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves, and it was completely calm. What manner of authority is this? The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus not only had authority over evil spirits and demons but over the nature. Wow! This is the exact power He gave to His disciples in Matthew 10:1. The same one we carry. May God open our eyes to know what we carry as believers.

We subject ourselves to fear, manipulation, oppression and other vices just because we do not understand who we are in Christ Jesus. The disciples were devastated yet the creator of the universe was in their midst. Today the creator of the universe is not only in our midst but inside us (those who are born again).

Jesus did not rebuke them because He did not want to help them but because he saw unbelief in them. They had seen Him heal, deliver, raise the dead but not Him calming the storm. Maybe they woke Him up for lack of an alternative. There is a version that says the disciples asked Jesus, “Don’t you care we are perishing?”

I imagine a child trying to lift an object and it is too heavy on the and the mum is seated watching. That child wonders, “Does mum really care?” as a mother you leave them to learn except when it is endangering their lives.

Fear and faith can never be on the same sentence. If you have faith fear is nowhere near you and the reverse is true. To exercise authority, you need faith.

The disciples did not act in faith, they acted in fear. That’s why Jesus rebuked them.

Today when I was picking my children from school it started raining after I had picked up my daughter, I wondered should I go back to the house before I can go for the boy? It hit me to pray. I said a small prayer “Oh Lord please hold the rain I pick up your child from school and get to the house, so that we are not rained on. In Jesus name I pray, amen.” My daughter laughed at me because I said my son is a child of God and because of asking Him to stop the rain. The amazing thing it didn’t rain until I got to the entrance of our building. I picked the boy, we went to a convenient store, bought milk and walked back home. Our God is well able.

PRAYER

Oh Lord God almighty, I come before your throne to ask for mercy and grace. Enable me to realize the treasures of your kingdom and to walk in the authority that you have given me. This I pray in Jesus name, amen.