Jesus Calms the Storm

After the woman at the Pharisee’s house washed Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:36-50; see “Walk as He Walked” in the January/February 2025 Discern), He continued attracting and teaching large crowds. While in Capernaum (Matthew 13:1), Jesus went out to the shore of the Sea of Galilee, perhaps seeking a moment to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

As He sat there, “great multitudes were gathered together to Him” (verse 2). What may have begun as some time for rest quickly turned into a teaching opportunity. To better address the large crowd, Jesus got into a boat, pulled out a little way and taught them while they gathered along the shore. This prevented the crowd from pressing in on Him and allowed everyone to see and hear Him more clearly.

Jesus’ approach in this teaching session was quite different from His approach in the Sermon on the Mount. While He presented that message in a clear and direct style, Jesus primarily used parables to teach this audience. (To learn why Jesus sometimes taught in parables, read “Parables of Jesus.”)

The synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) record that He shared at least nine parables during this teaching session. Since the Gospel writers likely condensed His words for brevity, Jesus may have taught this crowd continuously for two to three hours, or maybe even longer.

By the time He finished, Jesus was physically exhausted.

Jesus and the disciples set sail

Afterward, Jesus and the disciples set sail for the other side of the sea, giving Jesus a much-needed break from the persistent crowds.

Exhausted, Jesus quickly fell asleep on a cushion in the back of the boat (Mark 4:38), possibly the cushioned rower’s seat at the stern. This detail reminds us that while in the flesh, Jesus fully experienced humanity, including the physical and mental exhaustion that comes after a long, demanding day.

What happened next makes this one of the most dramatic stories in the Gospels.

A violent storm descends on the Sea of Galilee

After Jesus fell asleep, a powerful windstorm unexpectedly struck the small sea—technically a lake—causing violent gale-force winds. The waves grew so strong that water began pouring into the boat faster than the men could bail it, making capsizing or sinking a serious danger.

Sudden storms are not unusual there. Because the Sea of Galilee is surrounded by mountains and hills, cool air from the mountains can collide with warm air rising from the sea, causing sudden turbulent storms. This storm seems to have brewed without warning because at least four of these men were commercial fishermen and would have discerned signs of the storm if there had been any.

The disciples genuinely feared for their lives. Perhaps it was the most dangerous storm they had ever experienced.

Despite the howling winds, pounding waves, violent rocking of the boat and screaming men on board, Jesus continued sleeping peacefully in the stern—as if nothing were happening.

“Don’t you care that we are drowning?”

The men, realizing they were helpless to stop the boat from sinking, finally aroused Jesus from His slumber.

“Teacher,” they desperately cried, “don’t you care that we are drowning!” (Mark 4:38, New Century Version). The Moffatt translation captures their attitude a bit more sharply: “Teacher, are we to drown, for all you care?”

Moments of fear and panic can expose our weaknesses. Though no one would fault the disciples for being frightened, their approach revealed two significant issues.

1. They questioned Christ’s concern for them. They had already experienced multiple circumstances in which Jesus showed immense compassion and concern for all kinds of people. They had seen Him travel great distances to heal strangers at a single request. His example was always characterized by selfless concern for others.

These were His closest friends—men He literally handpicked from the multitudes to be specially trained as His pupils and emissaries.

Though He was patient with them, they should not have doubted His concern for them.

2. They should have found security in Christ’s presence. If those in the boat with Jesus had truly internalized who He was—the Son of God and God’s Anointed—they would have known with absolute certainty that He could easily save them.

Even a basic understanding of the messianic prophecies would have been enough for them to know that the Christ was not going to perish in a tragic boating accident.

This should have made them feel secure, knowing that as long as they were in the boat with the Messiah, they were safe. Trusting and obeying God involves more than emotion—it requires thoughtful and well-reasoned faith. In this case: He is the Messiah prophesied to save His people from their sins, so there is no way His life will end in a random tragedy. He will not die here, and we can safely trust in Him.

Jesus, staying composed and calm, “stood up and commanded the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’” (verse 39, NCV).

In an instant, both the winds and waves obeyed His directive. In the blink of an eye, the raging waters went from fierce and turbulent to calm and peaceful.

Trusting in God’s unwavering care and limitless power, especially in moments of intense anxiety, is one of the central lessons of this remarkable event. The experienced fishermen among them knew that no storm ends this abruptly. They would have instantly recognized this was a miracle, not the natural passing of a tempest.

Just as the centurion had recognized weeks earlier, this wasn’t simply about performing a miracle—it was about authority. Jesus possessed authority over the demonic realm, sickness and, as this clearly demonstrated, even the forces of nature.

But the disciples were still trying to fully come to terms with exactly who Jesus was (verse 41).

Lessons from the story of Jesus calming the storm

After calming the waters and observing the fear, awe and confusion on their faces, Jesus calmly asked: “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (verse 40).

Jesus’ two questions were designed to prompt them to think.

They had already witnessed many awesome miracles. He had changed the chemical composition of water, healed diseases, raised the dead and commanded demons to flee. In essence, Jesus was urging them to consider why they still assumed His power and authority had limits.

Why were they still limiting Him?

Even a gentile centurion, who may have known little about the messianic prophecies, had enough faith to believe Jesus’ authority had no limits. Why hadn’t this group, His own disciples, fully grasped that yet?

As we reflect on this two millennia later, the real issue isn’t the disciples’ slowness to grasp Jesus’ power—it’s whether we fully comprehend it today. Do we internalize and fully trust His authority and power, especially now that He reigns enthroned at God the Father’s right hand in the third heaven (1 Peter 3:22)?

Do we fully trust His unwavering concern for us? Have we placed our security squarely in His hands? Do we truly understand that He cannot be limited?

Many years later, a wiser and more mature Peter encouraged Christians to “cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7, Revised Standard Version). Having likely been one of the men in that boat with Jesus, perhaps Peter reflected on that stormy night as he penned these words.

Trusting in God’s unwavering care and limitless power, especially in moments of intense anxiety, is one of the central lessons of this remarkable event. (For help in dealing with doubt and uncertainty, read “‘You of Little Faith.’”)

Be prepared for the storms

This account reminds us that God doesn’t always shield us from the storms of life. The disciples followed Christ out onto the water but still encountered a life-threatening storm.

It reminded them—as it should remind us today—that genuine Christianity does not guarantee a lifetime of perpetually smooth waters.

Anchoring our faith in His power and authority will help us confidently face life’s storms as we . . .

Walk as He walked.