Jesus Calms the Storm (Explanation And Bible Study)

This event, where Jesus calms the storm, appears in all three Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25.

In this account, we can see that Jesus has the power to save us from all of life's sudden storms, bringing us safety, calm, and peace.

Summary of the event where Jesus calmed the storm

Jesus’ ministry was growing in popularity. One day, after performing many miracles and teaching the people in the region of Capernaum, as evening came, Jesus called His disciples to go with Him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. The eastern side of the “lake,” as some call it, was sparsely populated. Perhaps Jesus wanted to get away from the crowds to rest and talk with His disciples.

So, Jesus said goodbye to the people, got into the boat, and the disciples followed Him. According to Mark’s account, other boats were also following them.

Suddenly, a strong wind began to blow, and a great storm stirred up the sea, so much so that the waves started to cover the boat.

The sea was so rough and violent that even experienced fishermen like Peter, Andrew, James, and John—who worked in that place and knew those waters well—were terrified.

The waves were crashing so forcefully over the boat that it was already filling with water, and everyone was in danger.

Jesus sleeps during the storm

Surprisingly, while they were crossing the sea, Jesus was sleeping in the stern (the back part of the boat), on a cushion. This cushion may have been a kind of padding for someone or for the pilot to sit on. Jesus used this piece of equipment from the boat to rest.

This is the only passage in the Gospels that describes Jesus sleeping.

Jesus was subject to human limitations. The exhaustion from the intensity of His ministry had physically drained Him. This text clearly shows us that Jesus not only appeared human—He was fully human, experiencing sleep, fatigue, hunger, thirst, and pain.

Another aspect we need to consider about the fact that Jesus was able to sleep in the midst of the storm is the awareness He had of Himself and His mission. Jesus was able to rest during the storm because He had a clear understanding of His identity and the Father's purpose for Him. Jesus knew that His time had not yet come and that He would not die in that storm.

When we have a clear awareness of who we are in Christ and of God’s purpose for our lives, we are able to find rest, even in the midst of life's storms.

The disciples' reaction

The disciples came near Him and woke Him up, saying: "Master, Master, we are going to die!" (Luke 8:24). Mark's Gospel adds another detail to the disciples’ words: "Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?" (Mark 4:38). There is a tone of complaint and accusation here. The disciples were overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. Their lack of trust in Jesus led them to despair.

Many times, when we are hit by a "storm" in life, and our trust in the Lord is not strong, we also tend to ask the same question: "Don’t You care, God?"

When this happens, it’s important to remember that the Lord is in control of everything. And everything that is happening may be working together for our good, even if we don’t understand it at the moment (Romans 8:28).

Jesus’ Command

Then Jesus got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea: "Quiet! Be still!" (Mark 4:39). The wind died down, and everything became completely calm.

The command Jesus gave to the storm produced an immediate effect. There was no need to repeat the command, as it resulted in instant obedience. The command literally meant: "Be quiet, shut up!"

An ancient belief held that storms could be caused by demons, who also had power to provoke other effects on nature.

Someone might think, then, that the sudden calming of the wind and the waters happened because Jesus rebuked a demonic force behind the storm.

However, although this is a possibility, it does not seem to be the case here. The fact that Jesus rebuked the wind and the sea, as if addressing a person, is not enough of a basis for us to affirm this idea.

The Power of the Messiah Explained

This event shows us that Jesus had power over the elements of nature, which was something even greater than control over demonic powers.

Jesus is the Creator of the universe and naturally could control the forces of nature. Jesus’ power over nature serves as proof that He was the Messiah. This story also illustrates that Jesus was fully divine, as later taught by Paul in the Letter to the Colossians:

After rebuking the wind and the sea, Jesus also rebukes the disciples: "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40)

The disciples were amazed and filled with "fear." The Greek term used in Mark 4:41 to describe the disciples’ fear in front of Jesus is not the same as the one used to describe their fear of the storm in verse 40. The word describing their fear before Jesus can mean "fear or reverent and respectful awe." The storm brought fear, but Jesus inspired awe in the disciples.

Who is this man that even the wind and the sea obey Him?

Despite all the great works the disciples had already witnessed, this miracle was so spectacular that they began questioning who Jesus really was.

So, our story ends with the disciples saying to one another: "Who is this man that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" (Mark 4:41)

In order to trust the Lord, we need to know the Lord. If the disciples had understood that the Creator of the heavens, the earth, and the sea was right there with them in the boat, surely, their attitude would have been different. They reacted the way they did because they did not truly know Jesus, which is clear from their final question.

If we want to overcome all the sudden storms that often arise against us, we need to truly know Jesus and invite Him to be part of our lives. If Jesus is in the "boat," no matter how difficult or frightening things may seem, everything is under control.

The Probable Cause of the Storm

Even today, storms on the Sea of Galilee are very common. The lake is located 213 meters (around 700 feet) below sea level and is surrounded by mountains. Toward the end of the day, when the atmosphere at the top of the hills cools down, the warm air mass above the sea begins to rise, and the cold air from the mountain tops starts to descend toward the sea.

The clash of the cold air currents with the warm air mass over the waters causes the sea to become turbulent and produces strong, sudden storms, sometimes even creating dangerous whirlwinds. To this day, even motorized boats avoid sailing on the Sea of Galilee when there are winds or storms.

The word used in the original text of Matthew’s Gospel for "storm" is the same word typically used for "earthquake."

The use of this term may be an allusion to the intense agitation of the Sea of Galilee due to atmospheric changes.

See also: The 40 Miracles of Jesus in the Bible (With Scriptures)

Bibliographical References:

CHAMPLIN, Russel Norman. The Old Testament Interpreted. São Paulo: Editora Hagnos, vol. 1 and 2, 2001.
PFEIFFER, Charles F.; HARRISON, Everett Falconer. Moody Bible Commentary. Imprensa Batista Regular, 1983.
THOMSON, William M. The Land and the Book: The Holy Land. 1883.