Jesus Calms the Storm - Bible Story Meaning
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The story of how Jesus calms the storm is a popular one in the Bible, but it is also often misinterpreted to mean that Jesus will always calm our storms if we are living right. The truth is that this world is full of storms. There is a saying that you are either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or about to go into a storm. It is part of life in a broken world, but a closer look at the scripture and its context points to a more powerful lesson about the presence of Jesus in the storm that he was trying to teach his disciples.
Where Is the Story of Jesus Calming the Storm in the Bible?
The story of Jesus calming the storm is found in three of the Gospels:
- Matthew 8:23-27 - “And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing.'” (ESV)
- Luke 8:22-25 - “And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’" (ESV)
- Mark 4:35-41 - “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?’” (ESV)
The full Scripture passage reads as follows:
And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?" (Matthew 8:23-27)
This is the only place in Scripture where we read of Jesus sleeping. The detail highlights His true humanity, but the moment also served as a test of the disciples’ faith. All three Synoptic Gospels record the event in nearly identical words, yet Mark adds the striking phrase, “Don’t you care?” The disciples knew Jesus was their only hope, so they went to Him for help—and Mark captures the very question that was likely in all their hearts. In reality, Jesus’ calm rest in the midst of the storm was the example they themselves should have followed, based on all they had already witnessed Him do.
Where/When Did The Story of Jesus Calming the Storm Take Place?
Jesus calming the storm comes near the beginning of his ministry after he had been tempted in the desert and then called the twelve disciples. Jesus started his ministry by teaching and performing miracles. One of the most famous teachings is known as the Sermon on the Mount, which explains how we should behave as followers of God. Then he performed many miracles which the disciples saw firsthand: healed a leper, healed a centurion’s servant, healed Peter’s mother-in-law, and many more with various illnesses or who were possessed by devils. They had heard him speak with authority and perform miracles.
Just before the incident on the water, Jesus had taught about the cost of following him (Matt 8:18-23). So, when Jesus went into the ship, the disciples followed him even after being warned that the path would be difficult at times. The Sea of Galilee was known for sudden and dangerous storms, so even though Jesus had a divine appointment with a man possessed by a legion of demons on the other side of the lake, he could have gone by land. Instead, he chose the sea route even knowing that a dangerous storm was heading their way.
Why Did Jesus Say, “Why Are You Afraid?”
When the disciples woke Jesus up, they were earnestly in fear for their lives. Some of these men were fishermen who had sailed the Sea of Galilee their whole lives. They knew how to work a boat through a storm. This storm had to have been extremely dangerous for them to be at their wits’ end. The boat was taking on water and in danger of sinking, so it’s understandable that they would be afraid from a purely human standpoint.
According to Matthew Henry’s commentary, Jesus rebuked their fear because it was due to a lack of faith, and he wanted them to know that they needn't be afraid because they were with the one who had control over the wind and waves. After all, he was there when they were created. Despite all of the time they had spent with Jesus watching him perform miracles, they still lacked faith. Jesus took them into the storm to test their faith because he knew that even harsher storms were coming. He wanted them to see where they needed growth, but he also wanted them to learn to focus on him and not their circumstances. It’s a lesson we all need to learn.
What Is the Significance of the Miracle of Jesus Calming the Storm?
Jesus calming the storm proved he was the Messiah because only God has power over the wind and the waves (Ps. 89:9, Job 38, Isaiah 51:5, and Jeremiah 5:22). Yet, it wasn’t just a display of power because he had been performing miracles in front of them before he even got on the boat that day.
Danielle Bernock’s article on the significance of Jesus calming the storm focuses on faith over fear. Jesus was rebuking them because of their lack of faith. They were looking at their circumstances instead of who they were with. Christ was present with them in the storm even before he calmed the storm. Jesus was giving them an example of peace in the chaos/storm by sleeping peacefully, totally at rest in His Father’s will. The same truth applies in every circumstance in which we find ourselves. God is with us just as he was with the disciples in the storm, so we can have peace no matter the situation in our own lives.
Sophia Bricker makes a good point in her article "Does Jesus Calm our Storms in Life?" Jesus can calm the storm, she says, but sometimes he just calms us as we go through the storm. In this instance, Jesus calmed the storm to show his power and to teach a lesson. Sometimes the storm is the lesson, and the only way out is through. Romans 5:3-5 tells us that suffering leads to hope and helps our character and faith grow more like Christ. If our faith is never tested, it will never grow.
Amanda Idleman gives four lessons we can learn from this scripture:
- A storm doesn’t mean you’ve taken a wrong turn
- The storm is a lesson
- God calls us to overcome our fear
- We are not alone in the storm
Despite what many want to believe, the Christian walk is not a bed of roses. Even roses have thorns. There will be difficulties. Jesus told his followers time and again that storms and trials would come, but that he would be with them, and they would have the Holy Spirit to help them and comfort them. The enemy would try to use these trials to harm them, but God would use them for the furtherance of the Gospel and to help them grow.
Conclusion
Storms are a given in this world, and we will all face them at various times in our lives. Some will be small inconveniences that seem large in the moment, and others will truly test our faith. Sometimes Jesus will calm the storm, and sometimes Jesus will merely calm you in the storm. Either way, the truth remains the same: Jesus is always with us, so we are never alone. Even if the storm means the final battle where we cross over into eternity, Jesus will go with us there and welcome us into his loving arms.
Storms cannot be avoided forever. That is a fact that we cannot change; however, how we react to the storms can be a witness to a world without Christ. So, when storms come your way, remember to look up to God and not at your circumstances so that the peace of God can calm your spirit and show a lost world that our only true hope is in Christ alone.
Photo credit: Pexels/Johannes Plenio