One of the first pictures I took during my recent visit to Israel was a sunrise over the Sea of Galilee. My fourth floor hotel room on its shores provided that beautiful view. So calm and peaceful. A great way to enjoy God’s handiwork at the start of a day.
The next day about 60 of us got into a private boat that gently guided us along the shores of towns like Capernaum and Bethsaida, where Jesus walked and worked with his disciples. Ripples of water calmly clapped the sides of the boat as if welcoming us and encouraging us on our faith journey. So calm and peaceful.
But it wasn’t always calm for the disciples was it? Winds pick up quickly on this lake and it can get treacherous. Even for weathered fishermen.
These sudden storms result from differences in temperatures between the waters of Galilee and the mountains around it. The Sea of Galilee lies 680 feet below sea level. It is bounded by hills, especially on the east side where they reach 2,000 feet high. These heights are a source of cool, dry air.
In contrast, directly around the sea, the climate is semi-tropical with warm, moist air. The large difference in height between surrounding land and the water causes large temperature and pressure changes. This results in strong winds dropping to the sea, funneling through the hills.
The Sea of Galilee is small (actually it’s a freshwater lake 13 miles long and 7 miles wide) and shallow (141 feet deep) and these winds may descend directly to the center of the lake with violent results. When the contrasting air masses meet, a storm can arise quickly and without warning. Small boats caught out on the sea are in immediate danger. This happened to the disciples a few times.
And it always seemed to surprise and scare them. Why? Certainly the severity of a storm makes all the difference. Think of people behaving differently whether its a Cat 1 or Cat 5 hurricane. But there’s also this. The most common time for sudden storms on the Sea of Galilee is around 2 or 3 p.m., similar to afternoon rains in Florida like clockwork. However, these doesn’t seem to be the time of day when the Bible tells us the disciples encountered a storm. It was special in some way.
And here’s the way. Jesus commands the winds and waves, not just to cease, but to start. Jesus is the captain of every wave and pilot of every wind gust. They serve him. Only him. Always him.
Jesus used storms on the waters of Galilee as his servants to teach strong, spiritual lessons to his disciples. And to us.
During one storm when the disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus was in the boat, too, but he was sleeping. They thought he didn’t care, didn’t understand, but his care, understanding, and saving grace is so much greater than our faith. That’s why we need him
Because storms brew in our lives, perhaps in least expected or wanted moments. Like getting Covid before your wedding, or fighting cancer instead of flying on vacation, or living the lonely life of identity confusion. Like the storms of sin and guilt swirling in our hearts. Very real. Very troubling.
And in those storms, we doubt that Jesus is there, we make our sins worse by sinking into them instead of swimming away, we distract ourselves with remedies that don’t work. Forgive us, Lord. Save us!
Jesus looks at us, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” He’s not scared or confused. He’s not even surprised. He knows we need him. He wants us to need him. And your storms serve him. He is their Lord. He is your Lord.
The disciples woke Jesus up, and without any frustration or impatience, Jesus commanded the storm to be still. Not just the wind and waves, but the sin in the disciples and us. This is what Jesus does for you. He cares. He calms. “And it was completely calm.” (Matthew 8:26)
Raging waves and pounding winds are always on a leash, led by their master Jesus. Storms will come, but they will never lead. They will only follow Jesus.
PRAYER: Jesus, I can be so surprised and confused about the storms of life. They’re so real, so close, and sometimes you seem so far away. Teach me more about the storms on the Sea of Galilee so that I appreciate you as their Lord, and mine too. Amen.
EVANGELISM ACTION: Do you have a friend who needs Jesus, and they’re struggling with a storm in their life right now? Share this message with them.
