two different responses…

now there are two different responses to an unexpected storm.  matthew 8.24-25 (niv), without warning a furious storm came up on the lake so that the waves swept over the boat.  but JESUS was sleeping.  the disciples went and woke him up saying, “LORD, save us!  we’re going to drown.”

this shows how serious the reaction was and how serious the storm was.  these disciples were not novices.  they were professional fishermen.  they grew up on this lake.  it wasn’t just a little choppy water.  if they thought they were going to die, this must have been a life-threatening storm because these guys were pros and the pros panicked.  that’s how serious it was. 

the greek word for storm here is the word we get seismograph from.  what does a seismograph do?  it rates earthquakes.  the word literally means “violent shaking”.  it says the waves swept over the boat.  if you’ve ever been in that kind of situation you know that’s scary.  so they panicked.

compare that to JESUS’ reaction to the storm.  HE was filled with peace.  it says a furious storm came up on the lake and the waves swept over the boat and in at the end of verse 24 it says, but JESUS was sleeping.  sleeping!  you talk about a heavy sleeper!  these guys are professionals but the water’s pouring in and JESUS is sawing logs! 

this tells me two things about JESUS:  one, HE’s human.  HE had just taught all day and HE was worn out.  HE was fatigued and HE needed HIS sleep.  JESUS understands when you get tired and fatigued.  HE understands.  HE’s been there. 

but it also tells us that HE wasn't worried.  HE knew the FATHER would take care of HIM.  this is a picture of complete trust in GOD.  HE’s not worried about the storm.  HE’s sleeping through it.  i think HE was giving a visual object lesson.  HE set an example for HIS disciples. 

did you know that sometimes sleeping can be a statement of faith? “i’m not going to worry about it.  i can’t do anything about it. i’m going to bed!  i trust GOD.”  sleeping can be a statement of faith.  it says i’m trusting GOD.  i’m not worried about it. 

isn’t this typical?  ironically, human reaction is the opposite. usually when a crisis occurs we lose sleep.  when a crisis happens, our mind goes into overdrive, we lay awake wide-eyed with our minds going a mile a minute, worrying.  americans spend over a half a billion dollars a year on sleeping aids.  why?  because we live in a very fearful society. 

but the point here is that JESUS could sleep anywhere.  HE’s not afraid.  the boat is crashing in the waves and HE’s sawing logs!

just a thought from the front porch…