The Storm

The Storm

Q: What was Jesus doing during a storm?

• a. preaching
• b. eating
• c. sleeping

In the summer, many people like to go out on the water on Jet Skis or boats. But if it looks like a storm is moving in, they pull the watercraft out of the water and head home.

One day Jesus and his disciples were out on the Sea of Galilee when a storm moved in too quickly for them to get to shore. Even though some of the disciples were experienced fishermen, they panicked when the storm came up. The waves were breaking over the boat, and they feared for their lives.

Where was Jesus? Sound asleep in the boat. The disciples woke him. “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” they shouted.

Jesus spoke to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” The wind stopped, and the storm ended. Then Jesus turned to his disciples, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Jesus wanted them to have faith that they would be okay even in the midst of a storm.

The storm the disciples were in was a real storm. But Jesus knew the disciples would have other kinds of storms ahead. They would face ridicule and persecution, and some of them would even face death because of their beliefs. Jesus wanted the disciples to be strong in faith so they could face whatever was ahead.

For You

John 16:33 says, “You may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Jesus knew we’d face problems here on earth, but he’s already given us his Holy Spirit, his strength, and his wisdom to handle them.

Answer: c

Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.   Mark 4:38-39

(The Whole Story: Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25)