One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.”
So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep.
And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger.
And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”
And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.
He said to them, “Where is your faith?”
And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
You know, it’s fun to really sit and pray through these sections of scripture. It gets us past the obvious and easy “Jesus can calm the storms in your life” statements. (Although He can, and don’t hold it against me if we get to that at some point here.)
But first, look at Jesus. He’s the Lord of the universe, the King of kings, and He trusts these fishermen so much that He can fall asleep in the boat on the way across the big lake. Even though storms pop up without notice and the waves are rocking that boat, Jesus is snoozing.
It just goes to show that while the world goes berserk, sometimes it’s ok to just take a nap!
Different Gospels word the disciples’ reaction in different ways. Just like we’d describe what Josh said on a Facebook video and maybe use different words or emphasize different things, Matthew quotes this:
“Master, Master, we are perishing!”
It got Jesus to wake up and save them, but how about that if we look at it as a prayer?
“Master, Master, we are perishing!”
It fits with many of the Psalms.
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.” (Psalm 91:14–15 ESV)
God will be with us in trouble!
“Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly.” (Psalm 56:1–2 ESV)
God, I’m being trampled to death by my proud enemies! Help me!
“When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.” (Psalm 27:2–3 ESV)
This one isn’t about cannibals, but about the army that is against us. I’m not talking about a real army, today, for us, praise God.
Whatever army of discouragement and judgment is fighting against you
Whatever enemy is trampling you and attacking you proudly
Whatever trouble you need protection from
You can call out to Jesus as honest as you feel. Our fear of crying out correctly to Jesus should never stop us from crying out.
“Master, Master, we are perishing!”
Were they wrong? Yep. Did Jesus tell them “Where is your faith? [C’mon guys, do you think I did all of this so we could drown in the Sea of Galilee? Seriously‽] Yep.
Did He wake up and save them anyway? YES.
Never ever let a fear of ‘praying right’ or a self-assessed lack of faith stop you from crying out to Jesus to tell Him the situation you think you are in. Sometimes, He’ll wake up, fix it, and teach you something good.
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