22-23 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger.  24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” 25 And they were afraid, and they  marvelled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” Luke 8:22-25 English Standard Version

Today's short reading is part of a section where Luke describes four powerful miracles Jesus did. Verses 22-25 tell how he stilled a stormy sea, but the chapter goes on to tell how he cast out a crowd of demons from a tormented man, cured a woman who was beyond medical help, and then raised a little girl to life and brought comfort to her father who'd been in despair. This is the sort of person Jesus is. The miracles showed both his compassion and his power. Apart from telling us about Jesus, can you think of another reason why Luke described these amazing things Jesus did? (vs 24-25)

I think it may have been to encourage all who would read his gospel to have faith in Jesus, and to trust Christ completely even in the darkest situations we go through. The disciples thought Jesus was unaware of their danger. (vs 24) The gospel of Mark tells us they even said “Do you not care that we are perishing?” And so it was that, having stilled the storm, Jesus asks them “Where is your faith?” I think there was an element of rebuke in that. What do you think is a big reason for weak faith, and the fears we often have in dark times?

No easy answer to that – but I'd suggest that our faith is weak when we forget how awesome and strong God is. The man named Job reminds us of many things about God's awesomeness (which helped him to not give up on God when his life was absolutely shattered). In one place he says: “God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing. He wraps the rain in his thick clouds, and the clouds don’t burst with the weight.” Job 26:7-8.

The solution to the disciples fears is actually found in the thoughts that went through their minds after this miracle. (vs 25) What was the obvious answer to their question?

What Jesus did that day ought to have taken them back to an incident we are told of in Psalm 107 which speaks of God's mighty power and how he helped people in distress. Verses 23-30 of that Psalm go like this: “Some people went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. They, too, observed the  Lord’s power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas. He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror. They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end. 'Lord, help!' they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbour!”

Jesus Christ demonstrated the same authority and power over the stormy waves, and the same compassion for those who cried out to him in distress, as Almighty God! And that's what we need to keep in mind as we journey through this world with all its perils. Faith is sure to falter if we look at the storm and our helplessness, and forget how awesome and strong our God is. And what was said of the sailors who cried out to God in the storm will be true of us too if our trust is in Him - “He brought them safely into harbour!”