Back to the Bible: Matthew 8:23-34

Jesus and His disciples got in a boat to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. A terrible storm blew up. Even the fishermen, who had experience on the sea, feared for their lives. Jesus was asleep. They woke Him in a panic. He rebuked them for their lack of faith. He had said they were going to the other side. Where was their confidence in Him? Calmly and confidently, He rebuked the wind and the sea. The wind stopped and the waves calmed.

The disciples marveled. Jesus spoke with such authority. They wondered, who could this be? The answer: “Yahweh made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed” (Psalm 107:28-31; see also Ps.65:5-7; 89:8-9; 93:4).

On the southeast side of the Sea, Jesus encountered two demon-possessed men. The demons recognized Jesus’ power and their eventual torment. So, they requested to be cast into a herd of nearby pigs. Jesus granted their request. The pigs promptly ran off a cliff and drowned in the Sea. Herdsmen saw and reported what happened. Perhaps due to what the loss of these pigs cost the herdsmen, and the fear of what else Jesus might do, the people of the area asked Jesus to leave.

Lessons to Learn:

Jesus’ power certifies His identity and His authority. Jesus demonstrated power over every aspect of existence.

First, He shows His control over the forces of nature. The disciples’ question about the identity of a man like this makes us reflect. The Psalms described God as the One who had such power. That points to who Jesus is– God in the flesh (Mt. 1:23).
Then, He showed His power over the spiritual realm. The demon possessed men were coming out of the tombs and they were surrounded by unclean animals. But, the demons, even in an unclean environment, were no match for Jesus. This was a preview of His ultimate defeat of Satan and His forces (see Col. 2:13-15).

These events demonstrated His right to speak with such authority. 

Jesus has power over what seem to be impossible situations. The disciples were afraid for their lives. No one was able to go in the direction of the demon possessed man. But Jesus, by His word, demonstrated total control. If we are with Jesus, we have nothing, ultimately, to fear. To be sure, the storms we face may not be stilled. Satan still prowls like a lion seeking to devour. But, if we are in Christ we can be at peace no matter what the storms bring (Ps. 107:25; Phil. 4:6-7). And, if we will stand with Jesus, Satan will flee from us (Js. 4:7; I Pet. 5:8-9).

Tune in to 100.7 WGOL Sunday at 8:30am for our Back to the Bible Radio Program.

Reach out with your questions, comments, or requests for personal Bible study at backtothebiblepodcast.com or at info@backtothebiblepodcast.com