IN GREAT DANGER

As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” —Luke 8:23, 24

A few years ago, I had the privilege of taking a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Conveniently designed to accommodate a coachload of tourists, the boat was larger than the first-century fishing boats in which Jesus and His disciples would have sailed on these waters. It was a perfect afternoon, warm but with an occasional breeze.

When the captain switched off the engine and allowed the boat to drift for a few minutes, we could hear the gentle slap of the small waves against the hull and smell the freshness of the water. Enjoying such a tranquil and reflective moment, it was inevitable that one of our tour group would ask the captain about the reality of storms on the lake.

It was probably not a unique question, and the captain responded by showing us a video on his phone of waves breaking over the boat as this larger vessel was tossed about by wind and water. In contrast to our experience, we could easily imagine the fear of the disciples on a dark and stormy night as the wind whipped across the lake and their smaller boat filled with water. Amid that danger, Jesus was asleep, and the disciples woke Him with real fear in their voices. While Jesus would chide them for their seeming lack of faith, it wasn’t until after He had addressed the threat. “He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples” (Luke 8:24, 25). The obvious answer: their faith was in Jesus. While their faith seemed weak, it was not misdirected. In turning to Jesus, they were turning to the One who could answer their cries for help.