#59 Stilling The Storm

#59 Stilling The Storm

Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25

Apostle James E. Talmage:

It is at Jesus’ direction that he and his disciples launch the boat and head for the other side of the lake. “Jesus found a resting place near the stern of the ship and soon fell asleep. A great storm arose and still he slept. He was subject to fatigue and bodily exhaustion from other causes as are all men; without food he grew hungry; without drink he thirsted; by labor he became weary. He was in a good state of health. No where do we find record of Jesus having been ill. He lived according to the laws of health, yet never allowed the body to rule the spirit. Sleep after toil is necessary. The day’s work done, Jesus slept.

“The disciples were terror stricken; yet through it all Jesus rested peacefully. In their extremity of fear, the disciples awakened him, crying out, according to the several independent accounts, ‘Master, Master, we perish;’ ‘Lord save us: we perish’; and, ‘Master, carest thou not we perish?’ They were abjectly frightened, and at least partly forgetful that there was with them One whose voice even death had to obey. Their terrified appeal was not wholly devoid of hope nor barren of faith. ‘Lord save us’ they cried. Calmly he responded to their piteous call, ‘Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie:

“The Sea of Galilee is thirteen miles by seven miles wide. It is a lake of fresh, fish-filled water, 695 feet below sea level, at a base of rugged hills and mountains. This combination causes sudden atmospheric downdrafts and tempestuous winds resulting in sudden and violent storms on the lake. This storm was unusually fierce. Waters beating over the ship. The danger of sinking is very real.”

In Jesus’ chastising words is the feeling of an unspoken message, that if their faith had been strong enough they would have, could have, stilled the storm themselves. (Perhaps by praying in Jesus name.) Jesus was a God before coming to this earth. He was a God while on the earth and continues a God throughout all eternity. Notwithstanding this, he partook in full the experiences of mortality, and to a degree beyond our comprehension.     

The disciples knew Jesus had divine powers and could save them even from the raging tempest. Because of their fear they were themselves devoid of that confidence and assurance which could have enabled them to still the storm; yet, almost instinctively, they knew their Master would do what they hesitated to attempt.

            “As with almost all men in their divers walks, greater faith should have been evidenced by the disciples as their ship struggled in the surging waves of the Galilean sea. “O ye of little faith,” and “Where is your faith?” [the Master challenged.]

            “Implicit therein is the assurance that by faith they also could have commanded the elements and had them obey. By faith all things are possible, and when the Lord’s servants rise in the full majesty of their callings, they have “power to command the waters.”” (D&C 61:27)

                                          

Thoughts of Interest from Other Writers:

In spite of all the miracles of healing, including restoration of life itself, the disciples seem unable to accept the fact that Jesus has control of all the elements. They say, “What manner of man is this? For he commands even the winds and water and they obey him!” However, they still refer to him as ‘man.’ (Geikie)

There seems to be some connection between the miracle of healing, the teachings of that day and the miracle of rescue from the storms of that evening. Jesus has done much healing, has rebuked fever (Luke 4:39) and the paroxysm of the demonized (Mark 9:25) and now rebukes the winds of the sea as the Jehovah of old. (Psalms 106:9) Awake or asleep, Jesus is Master. (Edersheim)

Always after a storm and the winds die down there is a period of time before the sea swells become quiet. This time however they stop immediately. (Shepherd)

Travelers are often endangered by these sudden fierce storms that seem to spring up almost from nowhere. (Farrar)

In the common Greek language in use in that day, when Jesus told the elements, “Peace! Be Still!” It was a command to ‘muzzle,’ literally, “I Muzzle You.” (Farrar)

The Apostles reaction to these events testifies that they believed they did happen. The three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and John testify of their truth and agree on their description and details. (Howick)

Jesus and his disciples would be heading to the opposite (northeast) side of the lake. There would be a small town where they could get food and a place to rest. (Pentecost)

In the close circle around Jesus were those fishermen whose families made their living from the sea of Galilee. They would be well experienced in gauging the seriousness of a storm at sea and speak accordingly. Luke writes, “they were in grave danger.” (Luke 8:23) (Pentecost)

Dr. Thompson (The Land and the Book) gives a description founded on his personal experience on the shores of the lake: “I spent a night in that Wady Shukaiyif, some three miles up it, to the left of us. The sun had scarcely set when the wind began to rush down toward the lake, and it continued all night long with constantly increasing violence, so that when we reached the shore next morning the face of the lake was a huge boiling cauldron. The wind howled down every wady from the northeast to the east with such fury that no efforts of rowers could have brought a boat to shore at any point along that coast. . . . To understand the causes of these sudden and violent tempests, we must remember that the lake lies low – six hundred feet lower than the ocean; that the vast and naked plateaus of the Jaulan rise to a great height, spreading backward to the wilds of the Hauran, and upward to snowy Hermon; and the water-courses have cut out profound ravines and wild gorges converging to the head of this lake, and that these act like gigantic funnels to draw down the cold winds from the mountains.”

Glenn R. McGettigan

March 2019

References

“Miracles of Jesus the Messiah.” Howick

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie

“The Mortal Messiah.” Volume 2. McConkie

“The Life of Christ.” Farrar

“The Words and Works of Jesus Christ.” Pentecost

“The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Volume 1. Edersheim

“The Christ of the Gospels.” Shephard

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“The Life and Words of Christ.” Geikie

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“Scriptural Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.” Smith