We continue our daily meditations, examining all the supernatural acts of Jesus during His time among us. Today, we focus on Christ’s miraculous control over the wind and the waves:
The Reality of the Storm (Luke 8:22-25)
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25“Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him” (Luke 8:22-25).
A Fisherman’s Perspective on the Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee lies more than six hundred feet below sea level and is famous for its sudden storms. In 1978, I spent several months in Israel. As a commercial fisherman from England, I had the opportunity to join local fishermen on their diesel-powered boat. I found the experience captivating, and the fishermen appreciated my company, sharing Turkish coffee and discussing different fishing techniques. Despite their modern electronic equipment for locating fish, our catch was minimal. The weather was calm, but they warned me it could turn dangerous if conditions worsened. Nevertheless, I believe the occasional winds faced by these men were no match for the storm experienced by the disciples in the story above.
Spiritual Warfare: Was the Storm a Demonic Attack?
It is possible that the storm was not of natural origin. In Ephesians 2:2, Satan is called "the prince of the power of the air." In another passage, he is called the “prince of this world” (John 12:31). Does Satan have the ability to manipulate the weather? When Satan tempted Job, God responded, “Everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger” (Job 1:12). After receiving permission, we read that fire fell from the sky, consuming the sheep and the servants, followed by a fierce wind that struck the house where his sons and daughters were eating, resulting in their deaths. I am uncertain whether the incident we are examining today was of satanic origin, but we should not underestimate our adversary. He does have power; however, the Holy Spirit within us is greater than the one in this world (1 John 4:4). I propose that Satan used the storm to try to hinder Jesus' attempt to cast out the Legion demon on the other side of Galilee. This is the next Scripture passage following the one we are examining.
The Power of the Rebuking Word (Epitimao)
To support the idea that the storm was demonically inspired, examine the use of the Greek word "epitimao," translated as "rebuked," in verse 24. Jesus rebuked the wind and the waters. It may seem strange to speak directly to the wind. Epitimao includes meanings such as "to blame, censure, chide, rebuke, warn, or berate," indicating a forceful, curt reprimand that clearly expresses disapproval with a sharp tone. In Mark 1:25, this same term describes Jesus casting out a demon in Capernaum: “But Jesus rebuked the spirit and said, ‘Be silent! Come out of him!"” Similarly, in Matthew 17:18, Jesus rebukes a demon from a boy: “Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out; the boy was healed from that moment.” The Lord was not gentle with demons. He used commanding authority, and, surprisingly, He spoke to the wind and the waves with the same force. When He did so, the wind stopped, and a deep calm covered the sea.
Miraculous Peace for Your Life’s Storms
As someone who has spent many years at sea as a commercial fisherman, I can tell you this is unnatural. A strong wind takes time to lose its strength and doesn’t just stop blowing suddenly. Moreover, I have never witnessed a complete calm settle over the sea when the wind ceases. Even if the wind were of natural origin, waves can’t become calm in just seconds. The swell of the waves continues for quite a while after the wind dies down. The experienced fishermen on the boat had never encountered anything like this. Luke tells us they were filled with fear and amazement (v. 25), saying, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” If He can calm the storms on the Sea of Galilee, He can also bring peace to the storms in your life. Keith Thomas
Continue Your Journey…
If you found this meditation meaningful, there is much more to explore about God’s plan in The Gospel of Luke, study 17, Jesus Meets the Legion Demon.
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