Jesus Meets Us in the Storm

After Jesus fed the 5,000 in Matthew 14, He made the disciples get into a boat and go ahead of Him to Bethsaida. He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. It was evening, and a storm came up on the lake, which was called the Sea of Galilee. The boat was already a few miles from land, and Jesus was still on the mountainside alone. Matthew tells us the boat was “buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it” (Matthew 14:24). The disciples were struggling with the storm.

During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the water! What an incredible sight that must have been! The disciples did not realize it was Jesus, and they were afraid, thinking He was a ghost. He said to them, “‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid’” (Matthew 14:27).

He came to them so unexpectedly and supernaturally; they didn’t recognize Him. His words commanded them not to be afraid. Jesus met them in the midst of their trouble, climbed into the boat with them, and Matthew tells us, “the wind died down” (Matthew 14:32). This was an incredible lesson for the disciples. Jesus came to them in an unexpected way, and it showed them His power and glory. He was with them, and He had the power to calm the storm. Those on the boat worshiped him, saying, “‘Truly you are the Son of God’” (Matthew 14:33).

What does this incredible moment on the Sea of Galilee teach us? It is the repeated command of Scripture: “‘For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you’” (Isaiah 41:13). God’s word repeatedly commands us not to be afraid. The Lord is always with us, and He is able to meet our needs with all power and might, even in the midst of a storm!

It is also worth noting, the time Jesus came to them. He came during the fourth watch of the night. This would have been during the very early hours of the morning. Although the disciples had been struggling against the wind and the waves all night, Jesus came in the early hours of the morning. According to Mark’s gospel account, Jesus “saw the disciples straining at the oars” (Mark 6:48). Even when Jesus was on the mountainside alone, praying to the Father, He saw the disciples and knew their struggle. Mark explains that after Jesus went out to them and the wind died down, “They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened” (Mark 6:51-52).

In that moment of fear and wrestling with the wind and the waves, the disciples, who did not understand what had happened when Jesus broke five loaves and two fish and fed a multitude, witnessed His coming to their rescue in a miraculous way. He came to them walking on the water, then climbed into their boat and the wind died down. He had authority over the storm, and the power to meet them right where they were. John’s gospel tells us, when Jesus said to them, “‘It is I; don’t be afraid,’” (John 6:20) they were willing to take Him into the boat “and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading” (John 6:21). Jesus went to them, calmed the storm and took them safely to the other side. This was an incredible moment for the disciples and an incredible opportunity for them to know Jesus better.

Jesus said, “‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid’” (Matthew 14:27). Jesus is calling us to live our lives without fear. This means we trust Him even in the storms because we know He sees us, and He will come to us. He has the power to not only meet our needs, but to calm every storm and bring peace. His authority is over all things because He is Lord of all. With Him there is comfort and peace, and we can be assured, He will carry us safely to the other side.

-Jennifer