Faith and Storms

A boat with the twelve disciples and Jesus are crossing the sea of Galilee. A number of other boats are following along in a flotilla of sorts after a long day of extended teaching by our Lord. At this time we are well into Christ's public ministry and this event happens following many miracles of Jesus such as; healing the sick, raising the dead, restoring withered hands, restoring the useless limbs of the paralyzed, cleansing lepers and casting out demons. In other words the Lord Jesus has up to this point in time expressed his power and character in both word and deed quite thoroughly. Our Lord is tired and sleeping soundly in the boat. A storm hits the sea. It is the kind of storm for which the sea of Galilee was famous. Treacherous squalls could come seemingly out of the blue. As the boat is about to be overrun by the sea the Savior still sleeps. These fisherman by trade, who made their living on this sea, have lost control not only of the boat but of themselves and they cry out in fear. "Lord don't you care that we are all about to perish." Jesus awakes rebukes the wind and waves "Be quiet!" Interestingly it is the same command he gives in Mark to the demons possessing a man in Mark 1:25 before "be quiet and come out of him." Now he speaks to the killer storm with just the same authority. "Be quiet!" All is calm. Now Jesus turns and he gently scolds the disciples, "Where is your faith?" or as Mark's account implies, "How is it your faith has not shown up here?"