City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

22 “One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

-Luke 8:22-25 ESV

Reflection

The lake was the Sea of Galilee, which was a freshwater lake: 33 miles in circumference, 13 miles long, and 8.1 miles wide. They were going east of Galilee towards Gerasenes (Luke 8:26). Why did Jesus want to go to the other side of the lake? There was more work in God’s name to be done (keep reading the Book of Luke to find out).

The boat looked like this:

There was no separate room for Jesus to properly rest. He was very popular and very busy, He is fully God but He was also fully human, and it’s not implausible He had been truly tired to sleep through a such a severe storm. Or was He testing His disciples? Maybe both? We don’t know, at least we won’t know this side of heaven.

In addition to the raging waters and winds, the disciples’ shouts didn’t wake Him. Their boat was filling with water (they may even have ripped the wooden sticks out that were used as seats to bail out the water), no amount of bailing or fisherman experience could save the boat or themselves. This seemed the end for the disciples and for Jesus. They woke up Jesus, not to ask for Him to save them, but to alert Him that they were in deep trouble. Jesus controlled the winds and the waves, like Storm from X-Men or Avatar, and responds, “Where is your faith?” The disciples knew Jesus was the Messiah. They saw Jesus heal the sick and raise the dead (Luke 7:1-17). Did they not know Jesus was the Son of God and that He could do anything?

The disciples were afraid and marveled. Being marveled, completely understandable, but why were they afraid? Jesus declared He is the Son of Man earlier (Luke 6:5). The disciples would have known the meaning of Son of Man who had been given authority, glory, and sovereign power (Daniel 7:13-14). Maybe because they saw with their own eyes that Jesus can command the weather.  

Application

Jesus asks His disciples, “Where is your faith?” This could be interpreted in two different semantic ways. Some have incorrectly interpreted this as “Where is your faith in me [Jesus]?” when going through a tough season. Jesus NEVER promised those who followed Him would have it easy, in fact, He guaranteed we’d have trouble (John 16:33). What He is asking His disciples is “What do you place your faith in?” The disciples’ faith was in the boat, which was about to let them down (literally and figuratively). And they did not alert Jesus to the situation until they were in an emergency. Is Jesus your first response or final resort?

Prayer

Dearest Jesus, I’m sorry for the times I’ve made You my final resort instead of my first response. Help me to place my faith in You entirely. In Your name I pray, amen.