"Teacher, do you care that we are perishing?"

Jesus Calms the Storm -- Matthew 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25 Luke 8:22-25

It all started off as an average day in the life of the disciples. All twelve of them awoke from their beds, got up, and met with Jesus, once again, that he might teach them. But what they did not know what that today was a special day. They were about to learn a special lesson--one that they had never learned before, but after today would never forget.

Still, the day continued to be normal. In the morning, crowds gathered around for Jesus to teach them. He spoke some parables, and he may have even miraculously supplied for their lunch. Nothing out of the ordinary. At some point in the afternoon, Jesus suggested they take a trip over the Sea of Galilee that they might minister to those on the other side. This was not unusual for Jesus and his disciples, so the crew probably thought nothing of it.

Climbing into the boat, Jesus lays his head on a cushion for the short journey across the lake. He ends up falling asleep, but the disciples are wide awake. And as they lie awake, their worst fears come to pass: the low altitude of the Sea of Galilee and the desert dust around them combine to form one of the Sea's infamous storms--and they are right in the middle of it. But this isn't just any normal storm. This storm is a raging storm, so much that they could not take the water out of their boat as fast as it was coming in. Quickly, the disciples fear for their lives. They don't know if they'll ever see dry land again.

Meanwhile, Jesus is fast asleep. With complete confidence, peace, and rest in the Father's hand, Jesus is able to remain asleep while the storms in his own life raged on. But the disciples don't see it that way. They see Christ's slumber as his apathy towards their condition. So in their ignorance, the disciples ask Jesus a question that perhaps has not been uttered by the words of men since creation, "Teacher, do you care that we are perishing?" (Mark 11:38).

Now, let us take a moment to think critically about the disciples' question here. In their anxious and chaotic minds, this question made perfect sense. A storm was raging, and Jesus was doing nothing about it. He was fast asleep. Likewise, in our own lives, we often have circumstances like this, do we not? Storms rage around us: the cancer diagnosis comes through, the midterm studying is more than we can bear, the thoughts and pains of missing home and those we love come barrelling through. We pray for God for peace, but it seems as if he does not answer. And so we cry out: "Teacher, do you care that we are perishing?"

But the truth about this story is nothing but the opposite. It is not as if Jesus didn't care. On the flipside, Jesus cared all the more. He had taken on human flesh and was born in a manger in order that he might save them (Phil. 2:1-11). Furthermore, he daily dealt with their complaints, questions, and anxieties. And more than that, he would soon give up his life for the sake of their salvation. Jesus surely cared about them. But the question remained: why was he asleep?

I believe that the key to Jesus being fast asleep in this story is as follows: it is not as if Jesus didn't care about the disciples' condition; rather, he was not worried about it. There is a big difference here--one we ought not to miss. The disciples were, in fact, in the midst of a storm. Danger was a real threat, so much that they feared death (Luke 8:24). But Jesus was not worried. He was 100%, completely at peace in the Father's plan. He knew that this storm would not be their end, and thus he rested--both physically and spiritually. It is not as if he didn't care, but he was not worried. He knew that God would save them, and he rested in the Father's sovereign hand.

The rest of the story goes like this: Jesus wakes up, rebukes them for their lack of faith, and calms the storm. In response, though the disciples once feared the storm, they now feared the One who had calmed the storm (Luke 8:25, Mark 4:40-41), and their faith had increased (Luke 8:25). Only through a trial such as this could their faith be strengthened. And thus, Jesus brought them through the storm that they might better enjoy the place of peace, and most importantly, the Peacegiver himself.

Perhaps your life feels like the perfect storm today. The boat is filling up with water quicker than you can pour it out. You've called to the LORD, but he has been silent. In response this story, let me encourage you to rest, like Jesus, in the Father's plan. He knows exactly what he is doing, and perhaps he is bringing you through a trial that you might trust him more when it is complete. Though it may not feel great in the moment, I guarantee you that the disciples thanked Jesus for his calming of the storm. And I guarantee you as well, that when you get through the storm in your own life, resting in the Father's sovereign plan, and you see him more for who he is on the other side--you will thank him for it as well. Amen.