But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:23–25; NKJV)

As Jesus continued His earthly ministry, He preached throughout all regions of Israel. A large part of His ministry was in the northern part of Israel called Galilee, especially near the Sea of Galilee, which was also known by other names, including the Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1) and the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1).¹

On one occasion, Jesus, after teaching the crowds, got into a boat with His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee. They were heading eastward to what the Bible calls “the country of the Gadarenes” (Luke 8:26). While on the Sea, a storm, which Matthew calls “a great tempest” (Matt 8:26), came upon them, causing high waves that were filling the boat with water, threatening to capsize and tear apart their vessel.

Luke stresses the severity of the storm with at least three details. First, “they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy” (Luke 8:23). Second, the disciples, at least three of whom were experienced fishermen and well-acquainted with the Sea of Galilee by trade (Luke 5:1–11), woke Jesus from his nap, saying, “Master, we are perishing!” (v. 24). Third, when Jesus spoke, He “rebuked the wind and the raging of the water” (v. 24).

It is unclear why the disciples woke Jesus. Surely, because of the severity of the storm, they wanted Him to be ready in case the ship capsized or broke apart. I do wonder if any of them hoped for a miracle. Regardless, their plight and their arousing Jesus, telling Him they were “perishing,” recalls Jonah’s sleeping in a boat during a similar storm and being awoken by the captain of the ship telling him they were about to “perish” (Jonah 1:6).²

The comparison with Jonah has important theological implications. Jonah was running from God’s call on His life. Running from God is a very dangerous thing, threatening our lives and the lives of others. The disciples, in contrast, were living fully in their calling to follow Jesus. Following Jesus is a very dangerous thing, threatening our lives and the lives of others.

If running from God is dangerous, and following Jesus is dangerous, is there any “safe” place where we can rest secure from the dangers of this world?

Yes. The natural dangers of the present, fallen world are certain. But running from Jesus into the storms of life this side of heaven—be they natural or supernatural—will, like Jonah, consume us and bring us to the grave.

Following Jesus is sure to bring us into conflict with the worldly systems of fallen humankind. And it will not always protect us from the natural dangers of this world. But walking with Jesus through the storms of life this side of heaven will carry us into His eternal rest.

One of the hard truths to wrestle with in this life is our appointment to death and judgment (Heb 9:27). Eternity is set in our hearts, but our days are finite and few, barely a breath compared to the history of the universe from Creation to Consummation (Ecc 3:11; Jas 4:14).

The ultimate question each of us must answer is the one the disciples asked themselves when Jesus calmed the storm, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!” (Luke 8:25).

No real historian doubts that there lived an itinerate Jewish Rabbi named Jesus whose hometown was Nazareth. Importantly, none of Jesus’ contemporaries, who were eyewitnesses to His miracles, could doubt the reality of the signs and wonders He performed (Luke 11:15).

As Jesus asked His disciples, so each of us must answer, “who do you say that I am?” (Matt 16:15). Have you settled your answer in your heart, agreeing with Peter, that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v. 16)? If not, that is the call of God on your life—to believe in Jesus, the One God has sent, that you may receive eternal life (John 6:29; 20:31).

Christian, do not be deceived by the call of the world—there is only one truly safe place, and that is with Jesus. There is only one anchor for our souls tethering us to eternal life. That anchor is Jesus, our great High Priest, who gave Himself as the once-for-all payment for our sins (Heb 6:19). Let us hold tightly to Jesus and receive the promise of eternal rest with Him (Heb 4:1–9).

Notes

1. Thomas V. Brisco, Holman Bible Atlas (Nashville, TN: Broad,an & Holman, 1998), 21. Logos Bible Software.
2. James R. Edwards, The Gospel According to Luke, Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2015), 245. Logos Bible Software.