TROUBLE AT SEA

LUKE 8:22-25

      Matthew, Mark, and Luke all recorded this account of trouble at sea.

•          Trouble after a busy day

•          Trouble getting away from the crowd

•          Trouble caused by a violent storm

•          Trouble in a sinking ship

•          Trouble over the fear of death

•          Trouble because of doubt

•          Trouble when peace available

•          Trouble raging but Jesus present

•          Trouble allowed by God’s sovereignty

      Situated some (60 miles) north of Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee contains fresh water since it is fed by the cool waters of the Jordan. The lake itself is the deepest part of the northern Jordan Rift and thus the water collects there before it flows on its way. The surface of Galilee is about 700 feet below the Mediterranean Sea. The floor of the lake is another 80 to 160 feet lower. The lake itself is nearly 13 miles long and 8 miles wide at Magdala, the point of its greatest width. The lake is surrounded, except on the southern side, by steep cliffs and sharply rising mountains. On the east these mountains rise to the Golan Heights and the fertile Hauran plateau as high as 2,700 feet. As a result of this formation, cool winds frequently rush down these slopes and unexpectedly stir up violent storms on the warm surface of the lake. (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

      Robertson explained, “Luke’s ‘came down’ shows that the storm fell suddenly from Mount Hermon down into the Jordan Valley and smote the Sea of Galilee violently at its depth of 682 feet below the Mediterranean Sea. The hot air at this depth draws the storm down with sudden power.”

      Robertson wrote, “It had been a busy day.” “They were on the western side and a row over to the eastern shore in the evening would be a delightful change and refreshing to the weary Christ. It was the only way to escape the crowds.”

      The actual historical account also taught the disciples many practical lessons.

•          Jesus’ presence in the boat assured the disciples safe passage to the other side.

•          The disciples launched to sea in obedience to the command of Jesus.

•          The disciples peered at the severity of the storm and its effects instead of gaging the storm by the calmness of Jesus.

•          The disciples only rushed to Jesus in fear of loss.

•          The disciples committed the original sin of doubt in Christ’s love.

•          The disciples spoke to Jesus, but Jesus spoke peace to the storm.

•          The disciples acted amazed that the One who made the sea could command the storm.

  I. Stormy sea

      A. Severe storm

          1. Wind

          2. Waves

      B. Sudden storm

      C. Surprising storm (after mountaintop experience)

      Wiersbe noted, “The storm came because they obeyed the Lord, and not because. . . they disobeyed Him.”

 II. Faltering faith

      A. Source of the storm

      David Jeremiah said, “Don’t ever confuse smooth-sailing with the safe landing.”

      Every storm comes through the filter of divine purposes. Alexander Maclaren said that every affliction comes with a message from the heart of God.

      B. Scared by the storm (fishermen at panic)

      Faith and fear cannot exist at the same time. Jesus rebuked the faithlessness of the disciples stronger than He rebuked the storm.

      C. Silence in the storm (night; God’s apparent silence)

      After the Atlantic storm which claimed the lives of four daughters in 1873, Horatio Spafford still could write, “It is well with my soul.”

III. Caring Christ (1 Pet. 5:7)

      A. Sleeping in the storm

      Edersheim noted, “Indeed, it is characteristic of the History of the Christ, and all the more evidential that it is so evidently undesigned in the structure of the narrative, that every deepest manifestation of His Humanity is immediately attended by highest display of His Divinity, and each special display of His Divine Power followed by some marks of His true Humanity.”

      B. Staying through the storm (Dan. 3:25)

      C. Speaking to the storm

      Edersheim wrote, “Christ’s dominion over the sea was, therefore, only the Second and Unfallen Adam’s real dominion over creation, and the pledge of its restoration, and of our dominion in the future. And this seems also to throw fresh light on Christ’s rebuke, whether of storm, disease, or demoniac possession.”

      Only when the disciples cried out for salvation did Jesus rise and speak. When Jesus saved the disciples’ ship, He also saved all the other little ships.