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Jesus-Calming the Sea
April 18 2020

This last week, finished observing the Christian Feast of Unleavened Bread and last week as we continued our study on the life of Jesus Christ, we closely looked at what is called the Sermon on the Mount. After Jesus finished the sermon, he went back to Capernaum. Stationed at Capernaum was a Roman centurion. Centurions were officers of the military with dozens of men under their command, with eighty to one hundred soldiers common numbers. This centurion who lived in Capernaum, like many officers of the time lived in a house staffed by servants, and the centurion’s closest servant had become ill and close to death. He immediately approached the local leaders of the Jewish people, who then went and approached Jesus on his behalf. They explained to Jesus how this centurion was different. He cared for the people and even helped them continue with their religious faith and traditions, even building a synagogue. As Jesus and the Jewish leaders approached the centurion’s house, the centurion sent a welcoming delegation of trusted friends to meet Jesus, a sign of respect. These friends conveyed a message to Jesus that the centurion understood that of himself he was not worthy to have any request of his heard, and he asked the request not for himself, but for his servant, so that his servant would be healed. They also explained that the centurion felt so unworthy to make a request of Jesus, that he thought it better to send his request than to make the request in person. When these people returned to the centurion’s house, the servant had already been healed.

Luke 7:1-10
Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Jesus continued his ministry and continued to do things that confounded the Pharisees, because the Pharisees considered themselves to be worthy and everyone else unworthy. One day, Jesus had brought to him a man who was both blind and unable to speak, who also was possessed by a demon. Not only was the demon cast out, but the man could see and speak. Just about everyone who saw this was amazed except for the Pharisees who attributed what Jesus did not the divine nature of Jesus, but to Satan, and Jesus knew they thought this way because he knew Pharisees saw themselves as worthy and everyone else as unworthy. They were hypocrites. Jesus explained to them that a house divided against itself will not stand, and that it would make no sense for Satan to cast out a demon because it would lead to the destruction of the Kingdom of Satan.

Matthew 12:22-30
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Later after teaching by the shore of a lake, Jesus told the disciples it was time to board the boat to travel to the other shore. While they were out in the middle of the lake, a great storm came and tossed the boat around while Jesus slept. The disciples awoke Jesus wondering why He wasn’t worried that they might die. By using words, Jesus quieted the sea and the people with Him were amazed that even the sea would listen to Him.

Mark 4:35-41
And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

In studying the life of Jesus, we must be more like the centurion who did not see himself even worthy to talk with Jesus, yet had faith that Jesus would heal his servant. We need to avoid being like the Pharisees who saw themselves as worthy and questioned Jesus Christ. During our life, we must be calm during the turbulent seasons of life knowing that just like Jesus calmed the stormy waters of the lake, he can calm all that is stormy around us.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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