Luke 8:22-25
It Was Their Fear
Do people who walk with Jesus have problems? They certainly do. The
disciples of Jesus will attest to that. In fact, it seems that most
every time they got near the Sea of Galilee and Jesus was around,
something would happen. This case it no different.
What is the worst thing a person who walks with Jesus can do when
Problems arise? Let’s consider that together.
I. Background
A. \\#1\\ "Now it came to pass on a certain day"
1. This phrase does not have any time indicators to it all.
Luke 8:1 And it came to pass afterward….
2. That phrase indicates a time order.
a. This happened sometime after what was being discussed
in Luke 7.
b. Maybe it was immediately after or maybe it was a long
time after but at the least, it was after.
3. However, all we know about the event we are going to talk
about is that it did happen. Maybe it was after the
Jesus’ family came to Him or maybe it was before. The
phrase does not tell us.
B. On this day, the disciples are sailing across the Sea of
Galilee.
1. To leave Cana and travel to "the country of the Gadarenes"
is about 5 miles.
2. There is no schedule as to how long this might take.
a. If they had been in a hurry, they likely would have
walked.
b. The trip could last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few
hours.
3. \\#23\\ Jesus decided to use the time to rest.
4. And as you all know, because the Sea of Galilee is below
sea level causing it to become something of a pot of
either cold or hot water. When the opposite type of air
comes off the Mediterranean Sea, it can cause a violent
storm quickly.
5. As Jesus and the disciples are sailing across the sea,
that is exactly what happened.
II. The Disciples’ Perspective - From the disciples perspective,
there were several problems.
A. The Storm
1. Not many details are given. \\#23\\ simply says, "there
came a storm of wind on the lake."
a. It would seem that it came up so quickly that the
disciples could not get the boat the shore before the
storm hit and that it came on them so strong that
they could not get it to shore even after it hit.
b. That is so even though there were experienced
fishermen on board.
2. Even so, we can deduce somethings.
a. From the disciples perspective, the storm would have
been viewed as a problem.
(1) The disciples were not on the sea storm hunting.
(a) They had not sought for the storm.
(b) They had not prepared for the storm.
(c) They did not like the storm.
(d) So this storm was a hindrance and an
aggravation.
(e) The storm was a problem.
(2) But wait. Were they not traveling with Jesus?
Yes they were, but they had problems any way.
b. How many times have you been on your way to one
place only to run into a storm?
(1) Probably many times.
(2) Let’s look for the worse thing we can do.
B. The Sinking
1. Again, the Bible does not say much of it.
Luke 8:23 …and they were filled with water, and
were in jeopardy.
2. One writer I read indicated that the boat was probably NOT
going to sink.
a. I disagree.
b. The text says the disciples were in jeopardy.
c. That means if something was not done, the boat was
going under.
3. If the disciples saw the hindrance of the storm as a
problem (and I believe they did), they certainly saw the
sinking of the ship as a problem.
a. Floatation devices had not been invented yet.
b. If the ship goes down, it would be logical to suppose
the people on the ship are going to go down too.
C. The Sleeping Savior
1. The Bible says in \\#23\\, "he fell asleep." It adds in
\\#24\\, "they …awoke him."
2. However, Mark recorded something in what they say that
makes me think that they saw Jesus’ sleeping as a
problem.
Mark 4:38 "…Master, carest thou not that we
perish?"
3. I believe they were frustrated, desperate, and aggravated
when they woke Jesus.
4. They probably had the same thoughts that we do in these
situation?
a. Does God not know what is going on?
b. If so, does God not care what is going on?
D. So from the disciples perspective, there were three problems:
the storm, the sinking, and the sleeping Savior.
III. Jesus’ Perspective
A. Jesus awoke, arose, calmed the sea, and then corrected the
disciples:
Luke 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your
faith?
B. Jesus saw only one problem, the disciples lack of faith.
1. To me, that is interesting.
2. What exactly should the disciples have had faith in? I
have both read and even thought up some pretty strange
thoughts over the years.
C. Let’s consider them:
1. Should the disciples have had faith to calm the storm
themselves?
a. Maybe. They will do some pretty impressive miracles
one day.
b. But at this point, it would appear that the disciples
have never seen anything like what Jesus did in
calming the storm.
c. Matthew mentions both times Jesus calmed the waves.
(1) This story is recorded in \\#Matt 8:23-27\\.
(2) Jesus walking on the water and then calming the
storm are recorded in \\#Matt 14:22-33\\.
(3) If we assume Matthew wrote in some kind of order,
this would be the first calming of the sea.
(4) That would also explain their reaction to what
Jesus did.
Luke 8:25 …And they being afraid wondered,
saying one to another, What manner of man is this!
for he commandeth even the winds and water, and
they obey him.
2. Should the disciples have had faith to believe that Jesus
could not die in a storm at sea?
a. I have heard this mentioned several times in my
ministry.
b. And if the disciples did truly believe that Jesus was
the Messiah and completely understood all of the Old
Testament prophecies written about Him, then they
should have known that Messiah would not die by
drowning in the sea.
c. But they did not and the Bible indicates it was
partially because God had not given them the
spiritual ability to understand those kinds of truth.
Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding,
that they might understand the scriptures,
d. But to be honest, the Bible never said the disciples
were concerned that Jesus was going to die. It says
they were concerned that THEY were going to die.
Luke 8:24 "…Master, master, WE perish."
e. There were not prophecies that these men would be
protected if the ship sank and there was no reason
for them to have faith that they would have been.
3. Should the disciples have had faith to wait for Jesus to
wake up and come to them?
a. I suppose that is possible, but does the Bible not
command us to pray and seek Jesus when we have
problems too big for us to handle?
b. The Bible says we need to ask and the disciples asked.
c. I do not believe their asking was a lack of faith but
the opposite.
(1) I believe it was a demonstration of their faith.
(2) Had they not asked, their concerns might indeed
have become a reality.
D. So what about their faith was Jesus rebuking?
1. I believe it was their fear.
a. I do not believe Jesus expected them to calm the
storm.
b. I do not believe that the ship was unsinkable because
Jesus was on it or that the disciples could not have
been swept overboard and drowned.
c. I do not believe it was wrong for the disciples to
wake Jesus or to ask Him to calm the sea.
d. I believe what was wrong was they had more fear than
faith.
Luke 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your
faith? And they being afraid….
2. Fear is a part of life and it is part of our human makeup.
a. Everyone has fear.
b. However, God gives faith and it is supernatural.
c. The supernatural is given to us to compensate and to
conquer the natural.
d. Fear and faith are not to co-exist anymore than light
and darkness co-exist together.
e. One will always conquer the other.
(1) Either our faith will conquer or fear or our fear
will conquer our faith.
(2) Jesus rebuked the disciples for the lack of
faith.
(a) He had been asleep.
(b) How did Jesus know they had no faith?
(c) Because He saw their fear. It was an
instant and a dead giveaway.
IV. We need to build a fearless faith.
A. Read your Bible.
B. Have confidence in God.
1. Have confidence in God’s nature.
2. Have confidence in God’s promises.
3. Have conficence is God’s examples.
C. Close your heart to natural and rely on the supernatural.
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