Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:23-27)

The Winds And The Sea Obey Him But Not Men

Jesus proved He was the Son of God through the miracles, signs, and wonders He did in the presence of the people. There was never a doubt a miracle happened with the harshest critics of Jesus acknowledging a miracle had taken place. The variety of wonders performed by the hand of the Lord established His dominion over nature, time, distance, quantity, disease, and death. Jesus was not limited by His miracles. He took five loaves of bread to two fishes and fed more than five thousand people. His rising from the dead exalted His place as a divine being sent from the Father. Walking on water was natural for the One who created the seas.

It was a challenge for the peers of Jesus to see Him as anything but a man. Even the disciples of Jesus, while witnessing the power of Jesus to heal lepers, a centurion’s servant (long distance), the mother-in-law of Peter, demon-possessed people, and all who were sick could not grasp the enormity of His power. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were seasoned sailors accustomed to the dangers of the open water. Leaving the multitudes and seeking solitude on the sea, Jesus and the twelve find themselves in a great tempest with waves covering the boat. The Lord is exhausted from His work and has taken refuge on the boat, falling fast asleep. As the storm rages, the Lord sleeps but not so with the twelve. The violence of the storm brought great fear to their hearts believing they would perish. They are so fearful; they wake Jesus to warn Him of the impending doom.

Rising from sleep, Jesus is frustrated with the faith of His disciples. If they had seen the miracles by His hand earlier, what reason would there be to fear a storm? Miracles, signs, and wonders confirm deity, and if Jesus could do all manner of signs, what fear would there be for the disciples who saw Jesus sleeping in the storm. They may not have been able to sleep but looking at Jesus asleep in such a violent storm should have assured them that nothing would happen to them. Jesus arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and immediately, all was calm. That must have been an incredibly powerful moment from terrifying chaos and impending death to the Sun shining, calm seas, and safety. The twelve stood in awe at the power of Jesus. Why should they wonder who the man before them was, but they did? Who else could calm a storm but the Son of God?

The faith of the disciples had a long process to understand the power of Jesus. Eleven of those terrified men would go on to preach the gospel to the world, and ten would die a martyr’s death. They were unsure how powerful Jesus was, but they learned there were no limitations to His power. Belief overwhelmed them when they saw the miracles. Jesus performed many miracles, but eventually, most men denied the Lord and refused to walk with Him. The winds and the waves obeyed the voice of the Lord because they understood who held dominion over them. Sadly, most men today hear the voice of Jesus and refuse to acknowledge Him. The miracles of Jesus proved Him to be the Son of God, instilling faith in honest hearts to obey Him. Nature cries forth with obedience from its Creator and Maker, and the one creature made in the image of God denies Him. When the Lord returns, the winds and the waves will be destroyed. Man will not. He will stand before the judgment bar of God to answer for how he accepted or rejected the power of Jesus. Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him? Jesus Christ is His name.