Matthew 8:18-27
When Jesus saw that a curious crowd was growing by the minute, he told his disciples to get him out of there to the other side of the lake. As they left, a religion scholar asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said.
Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.”
Another follower said, “Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father’s funeral to take care of.”
Jesus refused. “First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life.”
Then he got in the boat, his disciples with him. The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat—and he was sound asleep! They roused him, pleading, “Master, save us! We’re going down!”
Jesus reprimanded them. “Why are you such cowards, such faint-hearts?” Then he stood up and told the wind to be silent, the sea to quiet down: “Silence!” The sea became smooth as glass.
The men rubbed their eyes, astonished. “What’s going on here? Wind and sea come to heel at his command!”
January 18th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
How topical to have this passage today when the weather outside is so wild!
Jesus reprimanded his disciples yet I have to admit to feeling some sympathy for them. Like them I can also respond with fear when bad things happen (storms) and ………… when will I stop being astonished at the miracles that happen too?
January 18th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Wow! Does anyone else picture Jesus as a kind of Bruce Willis character here? The height of being a cool customer- sleeping in gales, and wondering what the fuss is when he’s woken up. Though i don’t think Bruce has ever commanded the elements…
For me, the remark to the man who wants to go to his funeral adds to the later miracle to totally demolish what most people’s perceptions of Jesus are. Hardly the gentle sissy that so often He’s labelled as.