One day he got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So they set sail, 23 and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A squall blew over the lake, and they were taking in water and were in danger. 24 They came and woke him saying, “Master, master, we are perishing!” He awakened, rebuked the wind and the waves, and they subsided and there was a calm. 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” But they were filled with awe and amazed and said to one another, “Who then is this, who commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey him?”
Jesus got into a boat and told his disciples to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee also known as Lake Gennesaret or Lake Tiberias. They were most likely on the western side of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus performed a significant portion of his public ministry in towns like Capernaum, often referred to as Jesus’ home base. They were about to cross over to the Eastern side of the lake into mostly Gentile territory.
Jesus’ followers included several prominent female disciples (Lk. 8:1-3), and some scholars suggest that some of those women, who were significant followers and supporters of Jesus, might have been among the disciples who accompanied him. However, specific teaching events like this one traditionally involved only the Twelve Apostles who accompanied Jesus.
Sudden bad weather often occurred on the Sea of Galilee and the churning water threatened to capsize the boat. Storms in the Bible often symbolize chaos (Gen. 1:2) and are a common metaphor for moments of spiritual or emotional turbulence. In early Christian symbolism, a boat was often used as a metaphor for the Church which guides its members through persecutions and hardships, similar to Noah’s family being saved by the ark during the flood (1 Pt. 3:20-21). Jesus sleeping through the storm contrasts with the disciples' panic. This could be interpreted as the divine calm true believers experience while facing challenges beyond their control.
The disciples cry out to Jesus in despair, for help and he rose and stilled the wind and water (Ps. 107:23-30). Jesus’ divine power and authority over nature addressed the immediate danger but also taught his disciples that he had control over the physical and metaphorical storms in life. This strengthened their belief in him. In Biblical exegesis, many Gospel stories are interpreted in the Christian tradition as teaching stories with spiritual implications for the believers. The early Christian community interpreted the disciples’ cry for help as a prayer to the risen Lord for aid.
Jesus challenged his disciples' faith. Jesus again revealed his true nature and identity through his actions. His disciples reacted with awe and amazement as they began to grasp the nature of Jesus' divine authority.
Almighty God, grant us the grace to persevere in faith during times of chaos and the belief that you will still the spiritual, physical, and emotional storms in our lives. Help us to trust in your divine care and bring us safely to the harbor of your love. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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Sources:
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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