Baptist Catechism 111

Q. 111. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

A. In the fourth petition, which is, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we pray that of God’s free gift, we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life and enjoy His blessing with them. (Matt. 6:11; Prov. 30:8,9; 1 Tim. 6:6-8; 4:4,5)

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 30:7–9

“Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:7–9, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

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When those who have faith in Christ pray to God they are invited to pray to him as “Father”. And to distinguish him from earthly fathers we say, our Father in heaven. God is not confined to heaven, of course. He is in all places at all times. But heaven is a realm that God created in the beginning where he manifests his glory before the angels. When we pray, we are praying to our heavenly Father.    

And our first and leading petition is that God’s name would be hallowed, honored, or glorified on earth just as it is in heaven. In heaven, God is praised day and night by his angels. And we are praying that God’s name would be praised here on earth too. 

In the second petition, we pray that God’s kingdom will come. God is king over all. He sits enthroned in heaven. But we know that in this world there are two kingdoms – a kingdom of darkness and a kingdom of light. When we pray that God’s kingdom come we are praying that things would be on earth as they are in heaven – that all on earth would come to honor God as King. This will happen progressively in this age through the preaching of the Gospel, and fully in the age to come. 

The third petition is “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. Again, we find a distinction between heaven and earth. In heaven, the angels obey and submit to God’s will perfectly. And we are to pray that we would do the same on earth. 

Now, here is what I want you to recognize about the fourth petition. The fourth petition is about our earthly needs. In the fourth petition, we are praying, not for spiritual things, nor eternal things, but that the God of heaven would provide us with the things that we need to live here on earth. These are earthly things that we are to pray for under this petition.

One general observation that we can make from the outset is that God is concerned with providing for his children. Sometimes we talk as if earthy things are bad, and heavenly things are good. And yes, sometimes the scriptures do speak of “earthly” or “worldly” things in a negative way. But the scriptures do not portray the world and the things of this world as inherently evil. God created this world, brothers and sisters. This world was created good. The things of this earth are to be used and enjoyed to the glory of God. What makes worldly things worldly in a sinful sense? We make them sinful… when we misuse them. For example, money is not evil… but the love of money is. Food is not evil… but gluttony is. Alcohol is not evil… but drunkenness is. And sex is not evil… but fornication is. The point is this: when Christ taught his disciples to pray, “give us this day our daily bread”, he made it clear that God is concerned with providing for his children’s earthly needs.

The fourth petition is, “give us this day our daily bread”. Stated by itself it sounds kind of like a demand, but really it is a humble request. 

“Bread”, as I have already suggested, stands for the basic things that we need to live in this world. What do we need to live physically speaking? We need food, water, and shelter. And these are the kinds of things that we are to pray for under the fourth petition. 

And notice that this bread is called daily bread. This indicates two things: one, that we are to pray daily. And two, that we are to live in daily dependence upon God.  We are not to pray weekly for weekly bread, nor monthly for monthly bread, but daily for daily bread. The Christian is to constantly look to God’s hand for provision. 

When we pray “give us this day our daily bread” we are praying “that of God’s free gift, we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life and enjoy His blessing with them.” That is what our catechism teaches. I think this is very good. Let us consider each portion.

The phrase, “that of God’s free gift” reminds us that “daily bread” is a gift from God. Yes, he provides us with “daily bread” through natural means. Farmers farm, bakers bake, grocers sell, and we buy and eat. But behind all of that is God’s hand. He upholds the natural order. He sends the rain. He preserves societies. All of this is a gift from God. I wonder, do you think about that when you eat something as simple as a piece of bread? Do you recognize God’s grace in the bread? We should! And we should give him thanks.

The phrase, that “we may receive a competent portion” reminds us to pray, not for riches nor for luxury, but that God would give us what we need. If God has determined to give us more than we need – if he blesses us with wealth and with luxury – then that is a gift from him, but Christ did not teach us to pray for it. He taught us to pray for basic provision – “a competent [or adequate] portion” – “daily bread”. 

The phrase, “of the good things of this life”, helps us to remember that the things of this life are good, for God made them. Paul wrote to Timothy, saying, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5, ESV).

And the phrase, “and enjoy His blessing with them” reminds us that it is right for us to take pleasure in the things of this world. Food and drink should be enjoyed. But how can we enjoy food and drink without becoming gluttons or drunkards? Two things: we are to enjoy food and drink in moderation, and I think this is key, we are to enjoy food and drink to the glory of God. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV).

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Conclusion

You know, it is interesting that in Matthew 6 we find the Lord’s Prayer, and immediately after that, we find instructions regarding fasting, laying up treasures in heaven, and anxiety over the cares of this world – what we will eat and drink and put on. I see those topics in Matthew 6:166ff. as being a kind of expansion on what Jesus said regarding the fourth petition of pray, give us this day our daily bread. The most succinct way for me to say it is this: the prayer, “give us this day our daily bread”, is a remedy to a gloomy approach to the blessing of this world (don’t fast in a gloomy way), to an idolatrous love of the things of this world (store up treasures in heaven), and to anxiety (do not be anxious about your life). It is truly amazing what these little model petitions can do for the soul of the Christian when they are properly understood and faithfully prayed. In other words, this little model prayer, “give us this day our daily bread”, is a remedy to really big soul problems. It is a remedy to ungodly asceticism, to the idolatrous love of the things of this earth, and to anxiousness regarding a lack of earthly provision. 

Are you anxious? Pray to your Father in heaven for daily bread. Are you struggling to enjoy the things of this life that God intends for you to enjoy to the glory of his name? Pray to your Father in heaven for daily bread, and thank him for it. Are you struggling against an ungodly and idolatrous love for the world and the things of this world? Pray to your Father in heaven for daily bread. 

Q. 111. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

A. In the fourth petition, which is, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we pray that of God’s free gift, we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life and enjoy His blessing with them. (Matt. 6:11; Prov. 30:8,9; 1 Tim. 6:6-8; 4:4,5)

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 65

“TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID. A SONG. Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come. When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions. Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy. You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.” (Psalm 65, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 8:26–39

“Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.’ For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Legion,’ for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.” (Luke 8:26–39, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

Do not forget the question that the disciples of Jesus asked after he calmed the wind and the raging sea with the power of his authoritative word. In Luke 8:25 we are told that the disciples said to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” Who then is this, was their question, and I do believe we are to carry that question with us into the passage we are considering today, and into the next one also. Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him? Who then is this, that he commands even a Legion of demons, and they obey him? Who then is this, who has power and authority over sickness and death? You see, Jesus did not only tell his disciples about who he was, he also showed them – he shows us who he is by the miraculous deeds he performed. 

Who then is Jesus? The answer is that he is the God-man. He is the Word of God, the second person of the Triune God, incarnate.  He is Immanuel, which means, God with us. When Christ woke from his sleep in the boat, commanded the wind and waves, and they obeyed him, he showed himself to be a true man and true God. And he demonstrates the same in the passage before us today wherein he displays his authority even over the demons. Notice he did not cast them out in the name of God but by his own authority. And even the demons knew who he was. They cried out through the man they oppressed, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” (Luke 8:28, ESV). You see, the demons knew who Jesus was. They knew he was the Son of the Most High God incarnate.

Brothers and sisters, you need to know who Jesus is. What is he? What is his nature? He is fully God and he is fully man. Who is he? He is the person of the eternal Son of God. Is Christ your Savior? Is Christ your Lord? Do you trust in him for the forgiveness of sins? Then you must grow in your knowledge of him. And the Gospel of Luke is a great help to us, for it answers the question, who then is this Jesus?   

Let us go now to our text for today. I have a few observations to make which will lead us to consider Jesus’ true identity.

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There Is A Spiritual Realm

First, the passage that is open before us today does remind us that there is a spiritual and heavenly realm. We who live in the West today are prone to forget this. Many in our culture live as if the natural world is all there is. But the first words of the Bible reveal otherwise. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”  As the Scriptures unfold it becomes clear that “earth” refers to all that is visible (yes, even the microscopic), and “heavens” refers to the realm that is presently (and typically) invisible to us, which God created in the beginning (see Colossians 1:16). God manifests his radiant glory in the heavenly realm. The angels are spiritual beings who were created by God to dwell in the heavenly realm and to worship and serve him always. As you probably know, the Bible teaches that there was a rebellion in the heavenly realm. Some angels kept their place by submitting themselves to God. But many rebelled and were cast down. Satan is the chief of these fallen angels but he is not the only one. Under him are demons who do his bidding. And so, in the heavenly, spiritual realm, there is a kingdom of darkness and a kingdom of light. 

We are reminded of the spiritual realm, of the fallen angels, and of their dark work when we read in verses 26-27: “Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time, he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs.” So then, it should be clear to all that the heavenly realm and the earthly realm – though distinct – do interact. God relates to his creation. His elect angels are ministering spirits. And Satan and his demons do also seek to exercise control or dominion on earth and over man. These truths permeate the entirety of the Holy Scriptures, and they are certainly present in the passage that is before us today. 

The country of the Gerasenes (also called the Gadarenes) was located on the east side of the Sea of Galilee. Most of the commentators that I have read say this was Gentile territory. One claimed that it was Jewish. I’ve always believed that it was Gentile, one reason being the heard of pigs mentioned near the end of this passage. Pigs, as you know, under the Old Covenant law of Moses were deemed to be unclean animals. 

We are told, when Jesus stepped out on the land “there met him a man from the city who had demons”. When Matthew tells this story in chapter 8 of his Gospel, he mentions two men who were demon-possessed. Luke and Mark (chapter 5) focus their attention only on this one man. Luke says that he “had demons”. Later, we are told that “many demons had entered him” (verse 30). When Jesus asked the demon to reveal its name, the man said, “Legion”. In the Roman army, a legion was a group of about 6,000 soldiers. So, this man had many demons. In verse 36 this man is referred to as one who had been “demon-possessed”, or we might translate the Greek as, demon-oppressed, or demonized.

Four questions come to mind. 

One, what is demon possession or oppression? Really, I do not think it matters what term you use so long as you have in mind a man or woman coming under the strong influence or control of demons. The text that we are considering today says that “many demons had entered” this man. The text also says, at times, he would be “driven by the demon into the desert.” So then, demon possession is a very particular and extreme thing. All who not do belong to Christ do indeed belong to the Evil One. The Scriptures teach that all people are either in Christ’s kingdom or Satan’s. Satan tempts all men. He deceives men. He seeks to destroy men. But this does not always (or often) result in demon possession or oppression. Clearly, there is a difference between the non-believing Jews to whom Jesus spoke in John 8:44, saying, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires” and this demon-possessed man of the Gerasenes. Both were in a state of bondage to the Evil One but not in the same way. Clearly,  not everyone who is deceived by Satan is possessed by demons.  

A second question that comes to mind is, how did this man come to be demon-possessed? The text does not say. If we were to consider other texts of Scripture, I think it is safe to assume that he opened himself up to the demonic through sin, the worship of idols, which is sometimes called the worship of demons (see Leviticus 17:7, Deuteronomy 32:16, Psalm 106:36-37) or through sorcery or witchcraft (see Galatians 5:20 and Deuteronomy 18:10). The biblical perspective on demons, demon-worship, sorcery and witchcraft, is not that they are not real, but that they are to be avoided, rejected, and ultimately rebuked in Jesus name, lest men and women open themselves up to that which is dark and evil. 

A third question that comes to mind is this: though it is clear that men and women were sometimes demon-possessed in Jesus’ day, can men and women be demon-possessed today? I believe the answer is yes, but we tend not to see it as frequently in our society. And I can think of three possible reasons for this. One, I do wonder if demon possession is more limited now that Christ has accomplished our redemption having defeated the Evil One through his life, death, and resurrection. Christ won the decisive victory over Satan at the cross. Christ bound Satan then (see Matthew 12:29, Mark 3:27, and Revelation 20). He cast down the accuser of the brethren then. Mind you, this does not mean that Satan and his minions are no longer active. The Scriptures warn those living under the New Covenant era that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (see 1 Peter 5:8). But there was some kind of binding or restraining that occurred at Christ’s first coming nonetheless. Perhaps demonic possession is less prevalent in the world as a result. Secondly, it may be that demonic possession occurs less frequently in our naturalistic and radically secular society. Satan has won the victory over the minds of many in our culture by blinding them to the reality of the spiritual realm. He has duped millions into believing that the material world is all that exists, and so they think little of angels, demons, and God. Given the success of this tactic, why would the Evil One, disturb men and women from their spiritual slumber by troubling them with demons? Connected to this, it may be that demon possession occurs more frequently today in societies where men and women open themselves up to dark spiritual forces as they engage in idolatrous worship, sorcery, and witchcraft. Thirdly, it may be that demon possession is more prevalent in our society than we realize given our tendency to explain every ailment and malady in naturalistic, scientific, and medical terms. Now, please do not misunderstand me. I am not at all proposing that every ailment of body and mind should be blamed on demons. No, even Christ distinguished between those who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. He touched many who were ill to heal them of their physical maladies. And neither am I proposing that mental illness is not real. Certainly, it is. There are oftentimes physiological explanations for the mental and emotional troubles that we face. Here I am simply acknowledging that in our modern, secular, and naturalistic society, we tend to err on the extreme of blaming every ailment and problem we face on the physiological. Many have forgotten, it seems, that we are spiritual beings, that there is a spiritual realm, and that there is a spiritual battle that rages over the hearts and minds of men and women.

A fourth question that comes to mind is, can a true Christian be demon-possessed? The answer is, certainly not. Those united to Christ by faith have their sins forgiven (Acts 10:43). They are filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52). They have been “delivered… from the domain of darkness and transferred… to the kingdom of [God’s] beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13, ESV). And so true Christians walk in the light, not the darkness. They are to walk by the Spirit, not the flesh. Though a true believer can never be demon-possessed or oppressed, the Devil and his minions are still our advisory. He tempts. He seeks to discourage. He utters lies. He seeks to divide and conquer. But we have the victory in Jesus’ name. 

Those four questions came immediately to my mind. Perhaps you can think of others. But here is something I want you to notice about our text. Notice how very cruel Satan and his demons are. Notice where they lead those who come under their power. Satan is a very cruel and harsh taskmaster. Following after him will lead only to darkness, despair, and death. The Scriptures tell us that this demon-possessed man wore no clothes but went around exposed to the elements. He was driven by these demons from his home. The text tells us, “he had not lived in a house but among the tombs.” In this way, the demons robbed this man of life and caused him to dwell in a place of darkness and death. From time to time the man would be bound by the people of the town but with superhuman strength, he would break the chains and be driven into the desert by the demon.  

Look at where following after Satan leads. Those who have been demons possessed in the past or the present are a testimony to where following after Satan will lead you. Satan is a cruel master. Spiritually speaking, he will leave all who follow after him unclothed, naked, and exposed. He will drive those who follow after him further and further away from their home with God. He will rob them of their sanity as he leads them further and further down the path of darkness and death. 

Friends, there are only two options. We are either following after God or we are following after Satan. Granted, not all who follow after Satan are demon-possessed, but some are. Perhaps the Lord has permitted this to show his people how cruel a taskmaster the Evil One truly is so that they would turn from their sin and to Christ. And Christ is a very kind master, as we will see. 

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Jesus Has Authority Over The Forces Of Darkness And Death

So, we have been reminded of the spiritual realm. More than this, we have been reminded of the dark forces that exist there.  Now let us consider Jesus and the authority that he possesses over the forces of darkness and death. 

Verse 27 tells us, “When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons.” You almost get the impression that Jesus traveled across the Sea for the purpose of meeting this man and confronting these demons. Indeed, I think this is the case. 

In verse 28 we read, “When [the man] saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.’” It was the man who spoke, but I think we are to see that it was the demon – perhaps the chief of the Legion of Demons –  who spoke through him. 

Notice this – the demons knew who Jesus was. When on the sea, the disciples asked, who then is this that the wind and waves obey him? When they get to shore, demons answer the question. Again, we are told that the man “cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” Who is Jesus? He is the Son of the Most High God. In other words, he is the eternal Son of God, the second Person of the Triune God. 

How did they know him? Well, let’s just say they have a history. It was through the eternal Son that these angels who fell were created. It was against the eternal Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that they rebelled. And it will be the eternal Son incarnate who will crush them under his feet. The incarnation was a new thing. These demons did not have much of a history with the man Jesus. But the Son of the Most High God – him they knew. And they knew what he was up to. He became incarnate to defeat them, to crush them, to judge them eternally, and so they cried out. “What have you to do with me” and “I beg you, do not torment me.”

It was after Jesus asked for the name of the demon and received the answer, Legion, that “they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss”. What is the abyss? 

To understand what the abyss is, you must first know what Sheol (or Hades) is. Sheol (or Hades) is a spiritual place of punishment and torment filled with the souls of sinners. When men and women die, their bodies go into the grave, and their souls go either into the blessed presence of God in heaven or to the torments of Sheol (or Hades). What makes the difference? It is Christ who makes the difference. Those who in this life turn from their sins and trust in Christ will go to heaven when they die. Those who die apart from Christ and in their sins will go to Sheol (or Hades). On the last day, there will be a great resurrection. Bodies will be raised from the graves and Hades will give up the souls imprisoned within to be reunited with the body. And these whole persons will stand before God Almighty to be judged. This is what Revelation 20:11-15 describes, saying,  

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11–15, ESV)

Sheol (or Hades) is the temporary place of punishment where the souls of the wicked go when they die. But it is also a place of imprisonment and torment for the demons. The Abyss is the deepest pit of Sheol or Hades. It is where Satan is bound now so that he might not deceive the nations any longer. This is what Revelation 20:1-3 says: 

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit [ἄβυσσος – the Abyss] and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit [ἄβυσσος – the Abyss], and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while” (Revelation 20:1–3, ESV).

The Abyss is a place of temporary imprisonment and torment for Satan and his demons. In 2 Peter 2:4, this place is called Tartarus. There we read, “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell [ταρταρόω – Tartarus] and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment”, etc.  Jude 1:6 teaches the same, saying,  “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day…” (Jude 6, ESV). 

The final place of punishment for all of God’s enemies, of angels and of men, will be the lake of fire. Sheol (or Hades) is the temporary place of punishment for the souls of men who pass from this earth apart from Christ. Fallen angels are imprisoned there too. They have been cast into the Abyss, that is to say, into the pit, which is called Tartarus, a place of gloomy darkness. 

I can hear the critics now. But Satan is still active! He prowls around like a roaring lion! Yes, this is true. But we must account for all of the passages that speak of the binding of Satan at Christ’s first coming, and of the imprisonment of demons in the abyss before and during Christ’s earthy ministry. 2 Peter 2:4 says that demons were cast into Tartarus when the sinned. Jude 6 also speaks of a binding of demons that took place long ago. And notice this: the demons who revealed themselves to Jesus as Legion clearly thought that the abyss was a place that Jesus Christ could cast them into at that very moment. “[T]hey begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss” (Luke 8:31). They were not yet bound in the abyss. They knew of the abyss. And they thought that Christ could cast them into the abyss at that very moment.  

I will admit, there are mysteries here that I do not fully understand. But when all that Scriptures have to say on this subject are considered, one is left with the impression that the overthrow of Satan’s kingdom has been and will continue to be progressive. It seems that with the passing of time, and with every advancement in the accomplishment of our redemption, there is more damage done to the kingdom of Satan. There is more ground taken, if you will. There is more conquering and binding of the kingdom of darkness by the kingdom of light. Certainly, the greatest advancements were made at Christ’s first coming through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. And the Apostle reminds us that the end will one day come “when [Christ] delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:24–26, ESV).

In verse 31 we are told that the demons “begged [Jesus] not to command them to depart into the abyss.” And in verse 32 we learn that the demons made a strange request. “Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission.” I cannot say that I fully understand what is going on here. It seems that these demons needed somewhere to go. They knew that Christ was evicting them from the man of the Gareasenes. They did not want to go to the abyss. And so they requested that Christ allow them to enter the filthy and unclean swine. And Christ gave them permission. Matthew 12:43-45  is also mysterious, but it seems to agree with this text. There Christ says, “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation” (Matthew 12:43–45, ESV). 

What happened next got everyone’s attention. Verse 33 says, “Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.” What a strange and frightening scene! Mark tells us in his gospel there were about 2,000 pigs in this herd. Can you imagine it? The question we must ask is, why? Why did Christ permit the demons to enter these pigs? And why did they rush down the hillside into the water and drown?

The commentaries I read all seem to assume that it was the demons who drove the pigs into the sea. As it pertains to the question of why, they suggest that it was because the demons were very cruel and only wished to do damage to God’s creation. I didn’t find that explanation to be very satisfying. As I reflected on this text the thought occurred to me that it was not the demons that drove the swine into the sea, but Christ himself. And if it was Christ who drove these demon-possessed pigs into the sea, the answer to the question of why becomes more clear. The demons begged to not be cast into the abyss. It seems to me that their request was denied. 

The depths of the sea have always symbolized the abyss. The depths of the sea in the story of Jonah symbolized Sheol! After Jonah was cast into the stormy sea and swallowed by that great fish, “Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying, ‘I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me”, etc. (Jonah 2:1–3, ESV). In the Scriptures, the sea signifies Sheol and the deep pit of the abyss. 

Not long before this encounter with the demoniac on land, Jesus saved his disciple from the abyss by calming the wind and the waves with his word. “Master, Master, we are perishing!”, they said.  “And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.” (Luke 8:24, ESV). Christ saved his disciples who were with him in that little ark from perishing in the abyss of the sea! And once on land, Christ demonstrated his power and authority even over the demons. They begged to be spared from the abyss. As I have said, it appears to me that their request was denied, and Christ wanted everyone to know it. He permitted those filthy demons to enter those filthy pigs, and he drove them into the depths of the sea in order to demonstrate to all that he has the power and the authority to cast Satan and his demons into the abyss of Sheol now, and into the lake of fire on the day of judgment, to bind them there to be justly punished forever and ever. When the demons entered the swine, and when the swine rushed into the sea, it was a visible demonstration of the power of Christ over Satan and his demons. He has the power to cast them out and into the abyss.      Is this not a picture of the redemption that Christ has accomplished? He came to save those who trust in him from the abyss of hell, and to conquer every evil principality and power. 

Let us briefly return to the man out of whom these demons were driven. Verse 34: “When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.” The description of this man who had been delivered from such terrible oppression is marvelous. Notice, he is no longer fighting or fleeing, he is sitting at the feet of Jesus. The demons are no longer his lord – Christ is, and he is finally at peace. Furthermore, the text says that he is clothed. Yes, Christ does clothe and cover all who come to him by faith. Finally, the text says that he was in his right mind. So here we have a picture of what Christ does for all of his redeemed. He frees them from bondage to sin and Satan, he subdues them so that they honor him as Lord, he reconciles them to God through himself, so that they are at peace, he clothes them with his righteousness, and he renews their minds so that they might think rightly about God and their relationship to him in this world. 

It is no wonder that the man begged to go with Jesus when Jesus got into the boat to return. Those who have been delivered from the domain of darkness by Jesus want nothing more than to be with him. But Christ sent him away saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.” And so we see that even at this early point in Jesus’ ministry, the gospel of the kingdom began to spread out from Jerusalem and Judea to far-off places. 

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Conclusion

Who then is this who commands the wind and the waves and they obey him? Who then is this who has the power to cast even a Legion of demons out of a man and into the abyss? His name is Jesus. And he is no ordinary man, but is the person of the eternal Son of God incarnate. He is the Messiah. He is the Savior. He is the only mediator between God and man. To be delivered from the domain of darkness, and to be saved from the abyss of hell, one must turn from their sins and trust in him. Have you? 

And if you have, can you see what Christ has saved you from? Can you see his deliverance? Granted, the condition of this man of the Gerasenes was very extreme. Not many have been as opposed by demons to the degree that he was. But all who are not in Christ do in fact belong to the kingdom of Satan. And those in Christ have been delivered. Thanks be to God, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13–14, ESV)

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 77

“TO THE CHOIRMASTER: ACCORDING TO JEDUTHUN. A PSALM OF ASAPH. I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I consider the days of old, the years long ago. I said, ‘Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.’ Then my spirit made a diligent search: ‘Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?’ Selah Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled. The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side. The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” (Psalm 77, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 8:22-25

“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. 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?’ And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, ‘Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?’” (Luke 8:22–25, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

There are two questions that I would like to ask concerning this text that is open before us today. Firstly, what does this story about the calming of the stormy sea teach us about Jesus? Secondly, what does this story about the calming of the stormy sea teach us about being a disciple of Jesus? 

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What Does The Story Of The Calming Of The Sea Teach Us About Jesus? 

That this story is meant to teach us something about Jesus is made clear by the question asked at the end. The disciples “marveled, saying to one another, ‘Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” Who is this man? That is a great question, don’t you think?

And I will have you notice that three more stories follow this one in Luke’s Gospel that prompt us to ask the same question, who is this man? In Luke 8:26-39 we learn that Jesus cast demons out of a man. In Luke 8:40-48 we learn that he healed a woman of chronic illness. In Luke 8:49-56 we learn that Jesus raised a twelve-year-old girl from the dead. Each one of these stories should prompt us to ask the question, who then is this? Who is this who has authority over the wind and the waves of the sea, demons, sickness, and even death? Who is this Jesus?

Well, let’s focus our attention on the story of Jesus calming the stormy sea. What does this story teach us about who Jesus is? Two things: First, it shows us that Jesus is truly human. Secondly, it shows us that Jesus is God. 

That Jesus is truly human is evident throughout this story. He used his human mind and his human will to choose to take his disciples to the other side of the lake to the gentile land of Gerasenes. And he carried out the decision made with his human mind and will through his human body – he walked as you and I would walk and he got into a boat, and then he used his human voice, powered by human lunges and shaped by a human tongue to speak in a human language to other human beings, saying, “‘Let us go across to the other side of the lake.’ So they set out…” (Luke 8:22, ESV). And as they journeyed across the lake, Jesus’ human body (and soul) grew tired – he was physically (and probably mentally) exhausted from all of the travel and teaching – and so “as they sailed he fell asleep” (Luke 8:23a, ESV). So then, the first thing that we must say about Jesus in answer to the question, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”, is that he is a man. He possesses a true human body and a true human soul.   

You might be tempted to think that this is a throwaway observation – one so obvious that it is hardly worth mentioning – but you would be mistaken. First of all, many throughout history have errored by denying that Jesus is truly human. These errors take many different forms. Some have denied that he has a true human body. Others have denied that he has a true human soul – a human mind, a human will, and human affections. These errors must be avoided. Christ was and is truly human in every respect. Secondly, this is no throwaway observation because our salvation depends upon the true humanity of Christ. While it is true that no mere man could earn the salvation of sinners, it is also true that a man had to do it. Though Christ is no mere man, he truly is a man, and for this reason, he is qualified to be our Redeemer and Savior.  A true son of Adam had to live an obedient life and die a sacrificial death to bring many sons and daughters of Adam to glory, and this is what Jesus Christ has done.  The Scriptures speak of the necessity of the true humanity of Christ for our salvation in many places. Hebrews 2 is very beautiful. It says, among other things, that Christ “had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:17–18, ESV). And something similar is said about Christ in Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15–16, ESV)

“Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” First, he is Jesus the Messiah, a true man. Secondly, he is Jesus the Messiah, one who is more than a man. Indeed, he is the eternal Son or Word of God, the second person of the Triune God, incarnate. This is demonstrated by the authority that Jesus exercised even over the wind and the waves of the sea. In verse 23b we read, “And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 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” (Luke 8:23–24, ESV). 

That this was a miracle should be clear to all. The storm that came upon Jesus and his disciples in that boat was large and furious, so much so that the disciples (some of whom were fishermen, mind you) were convinced that were dead men. Yet, the wind immediately died down and the sea became calm at the moment that Christ sent forth his word. This was a miracle. It was a demonstration that Jesus was no ordinary man. And so it is no wonder that the disciples marveled and asked, “Who then is this..?”

But the true meaning or significance of this miracle becomes clear when we look back upon the Old Testament Scriptures to think about the theme of stormy waters that threaten the lives of God’s people and God’s power and authority over those waters. Let me briefly remind you of this biblical theme. 

First, do not forget about the turbulent waters that covered the earth at the beginning of the first day of creation and before God formed and fashioned the earth into a place suitable for human habitation. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters…” (Genesis 1:1–3, ESV). Verse 6: “And God said, ‘Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.’” Verse 9: “And God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so” (Genesis 1:9, ESV). The earthly realm that was created by God in the beginning was, at first, not a place for humans to dwell. We might say that waters threatened our very existence. But God subdued the waters. And how did he do it? By the Word of his power. So, when Christ calmed the stormy sea with his voice he did it to show his disciples who he truly was. He is no mere man. He is the eternal Word of the Father – the one through whom the heavens and earth were created in the beginning and the one through whom the primordial waters were separated and subdued – incarnate. The Apostles John states this truth at the very beginning of his gospel. He speaks of Jesus Christ when he says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1–3, ESV). Verse 14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, ESV). When Jesus Christ commanded the wind and the waves of the sea and they listened, we are to think of the Father creating through the Word and by the Spirit in the beginning. Jesus Christ is the Word. 

Secondly, I will (very briefly) remind you of the story of the flood. It was God who commanded the flood waters to rise and fall. 

Thirdly, I will remind you of the parting of the waters of the Red Sea by the hand of Moses at the time of the Exodus. Granted, the waters of the sea parted when Moses lifted up his staff (Exodus 14:16) but the story is very clear, it was the God who parted the waters of the sea. Moses was simply his instrument (“The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Exodus 14:14, ESV)). Things were very different with Jesus Christ. He spoke with an authority all his own when he calmed the wind and the waves. 

Fourthly, I will (very briefly) remind you of the story of the stopping up of teh waters of the Jordan River in the days of Joshua and at the time of the conquest (Joshua 3). God did that for Isarel. Joshua and especially the priests were his instruments. Jesus here demonstrates that he is greater than Joshua and the priests of Aaron for he commanded the wind and the waves with his own authoritative word. 

The fifth and last Old Testament text I would like to remind you of is the story of Jonah. This, I think, is a very interesting connection. As a bit of a side note, I read the book of Jonah in my morning devotions on the same day that I started preparation for this sermon. The similarities and differences between Jonah 1 and this story in Luke 8 are very interesting. Jonah was a rebellious prophet who abhorred the thought of ministering to the Gentiles in Ninavah. Jesus was happy to go to the Gentiles. A storm arose and threatened Jonah’s life as a judgment from God. Jonah 1:4 says, “But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up” (Jonah 1:4, ESV). The storm of Luke 8 was not sent by God to judge Jesus and his disciples but it was permitted by him to be used for his glory. Both of the stories are similar in that Jesus and Jonah are said to have been fast asleep. Jonah 1:5-6 says, “But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, ‘What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish’” (Jonah 1:5–6, ESV). Jonah could not calm the storm, for he was a mere man. In fact, his prayers would do no good, for he was in rebellion against God. The relief came to the people in Jonah’s boat only after Jonah – that rebellious prophet – was thrown overboard. After that the LORD caused the storm to cease.  The text tells us that these pagans who were spared “feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows” (Jonah 1:16, ESV). On the most basic level, we are to see that in the story of Jonah, God himself commanded the wind and sea to make it rage and to make it calm again, and here in our passage for today Christ demonstrates that he possesses this same power and authority, for he is no mere man, but is the eternal Word of God incarnate. On a bit deeper level, I do believe that we are to compare and contrast Jesus and Jonah. Both were prophets called to bring light to the Gentiles. Both calmed the stormy sea. Both spent three days in Sheol and in a tomb and were resurrected, Jonah in a typological way (I think) and Christ in reality. But Jesus is a far greater Prophet. He was obedient to the Father. He cared for the nations. And he did not merely carry within him the word of God, he is the Word of God incarnate, and he demonstrated this when he calmed the stormy sea with his voice.    

“Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” He is the eternal Word of God, the Creator of heaven and earth, God Almighty, the second person of the Triune God incarnate. He is the one who has authority even over the wind and waves of the sea. He calmed the waters of the Sea of Galilee. More importantly, he has calmed the waters of God’s wrath for all who are in the boat with him, being united to him by faith. He, like Jonah, would calm the waters of God’s wrath by being cast into the grave and by going down into Sheol through the suffering and death of the cross, and he, like Jonah, would rise again on the third day in victory.  

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What Does The Story Of The Calming of The Sea Teach Us About Being A Disciple Of Jesus? 

Now we come to our second question. What does this story about Jesus’ calming of the stormy sea teach us about being a disciple of Jesus? 

Firstly, being a disciple of Jesus means that we must get into the boat with him to follow him wherever he leads.

A disciple is a follower or learner. To have faith in Christ is to follow him, learn from him, and obey him. We see an image of this in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These Gospels tell us about men following after Jesus in a very literal way. He called them, and they left their old way of life behind and walked with him in the world to learn from him and obey him. And here in the story that is before us today, we see a particular instance of this. Jesus spoke to his disciples, saying, “‘Let us go across to the other side of the lake.’ So they set out…”  They obeyed his voice. They responded to his call. They got into the boat with Jesus and followed after him. 

Though we do not see Jesus in the flesh presently, the same is still true for you and me. If we have faith in Christ, we are his disciples. This means we are followers and learners of Jesus. Of course, we walk with him by faith and not by sight. He leads us, not in the flesh, but by his word and Spirit. And he is certainly present with us. He is separated from us bodily, being now enthroned in heaven at the Father’s right hand, but he is present with us to lead us and teach us according to his divinity and in the Holy Spirit he has poured out. 

Friends, I ask you, do you think of yourself as a disciple, learner, and follower of Jesus?  The disciples who walked with him in his earthly ministry certainly thought of themselves in this way. In a sense, it was easier for them to be mindful of this relationship. When they woke in the morning, they saw their Rabbi in the flesh with their physical eyes. They could hear his voice with their physical ears. For you and I who live nearly 2,000 years after his resurrection and ascension, things are different. We cannot see him now. And we do not hear his audible voice. But we are no less disciples of his.

Do not forget the commission that Christ gave to his Apostles, and through them to the church, before he ascended bodily. He said,  “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” Jesus did not stop making disciples when he ascended bodily. No, the work was just beginning. Many more disciples of Jesus have been made after he was taken from our sight than in the days of his earthly ministry. How can this be? How can a Rabbi have disciples if he is not present with him? Well, the answer is that he cannot. But Jesus is present with us. We have his word. We have his Holy Spirit. Christ is with us, not in his humanity, but in his divinity, for as the eternal Word or Son of the Father he is as omnipresent as he has ever been. 

I know this might sound strange to you, but our privileges as disciples of Jesus are greater, not less, than the privileges experienced by the disciples of Jesus when he walked with them on earth.  Christ is nearer to us now. He is more intimately involved. He is more active in his teaching now that he has ascended. Christ himself taught this. I am thinking of his words to his disciples as recorded in John 14:18. He spoke of his death, resurrection, and ascension, saying, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” In John 14:23 he said, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” And in John 16:7 he said, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” The Helper that he speaks of is the Holy Spirit. 

A Rabbi cannot effectively teach and lead his disciples if he is not present with them, but Christ is present with us, and we are disciples of his today. Do not forget what Christ said to his Apostles after commissioning them. “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18–20, ESV).

If you have faith in Christ today, he is your Rabbi and you are his disciple, follower, and learner. He is present with you to lead you and to teach you. My question for you is this: are you mindful of it? Do you arise in the morning being mindful of the duty that you have to follow Jesus and to be taught by him? When you open his word to read, you are reading the very words of Jesus, the eternal Word incarnate. And if you are united to Christ by faith, he has given you the Holy Spirit to help you and to guide you into all truth. How does Christ teach his disciples now that he has ascended on high? He teaches us by his word and Spirit. He teaches us and guides us day by day, and Lord’s Day after Lord’s Day. His presence with us is made audible and visible each Lord’s Day through the public reading and preaching of the Word of God and in the sacrament of the Lord’s Table.  Again, the question: Are you living like a disciple of Jesus? Are you hearing, learning, and obeying his word? Are you following his lead? Are you learning from the lessons he brings to you even through the experiences of this life? 

Secondly, true disciples of Jesus will not be immune from the storms of life, that is to say, trials, and tribulations of various kinds.

I will not linger long on this point for I think it is rather obvious. If these disciples of Jesus experienced this great and terrifying storm while Jesus was in the boat with them on the Sea of Galilee, then we should not be surprised to experience storms in this life as we walk with our Savior in this world.  

Peter speaks of the storms of persecution when he says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12, ESV). James speaks of trials and tribulations more broadly when he says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4, ESV)

This story about Jesus calming the wind and waves by the word of his power teaches us many things about being his disciples, one of them being that true disciples of Jesus will not be immune from the storms of life.

Thirdly, true disciples of Jesus do not always display strong faith. This is simply the reality of things. 

The faith of these disciples of Jesus appeared strong when they were on land, the sun was shining, and the skies were blue. But what happened when they were out on the sea and the wind and the waves threatened? They were terrified. “[T]hey went and woke [Jesus], saying, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!”  

Brothers and sisters, I think it is important to notice the weaknesses and failing of true disciples of Jesus as recorded in the Scriptures so that, one, we do not despair over our own weaknesses and failings, and two, so that we do not judge one another too harshly. 

Should we strive to have strong faith? Should we encourage one another to have strong faith? Yes, indeed. But the reality is that, in this present evil age, true disciples of Jesus will not always exhibit strong faith. We often sin. We are tainted by false beliefs. Sometimes we doubt. At other times we are overcome by fear. We long for the day when all these corruptions will be removed. Until then, this is the reality. Imperfections and corruptions remain. The church needs to be reminded of this reality so that we might be patient with one another. 

Three verses come to mind. Romans 14: 1 says, “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.” So then, the church is to welcome and receive into their membership those who are weak in faith. These are to be cared for, but not if they are going to stir up division within the church. Colossians 1:28 also comes to mind. Here Paul says, “[Christ] we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” What was Paul’s aim as a minister of teh word of God? To preach Christ so that those under his care would reach maturity. But this implies that not all are mature now. And with these, we must be patient and kind. The third verse that comes to mind is 1 Thessalonians 5:14. Here Paul instructs the whole church, saying, “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” Even the Apostles of Jesus had moments of weakness. I mention this not to excuse sin, immaturity, and faithlessness, but to encourage patience and kindness amongst the members of the congregation. 

Before we move on from this point, notice what the disciples of Jesus did in their moment of weakness and fear. They ran to Jesus to petition him. And this is what we must do in our moments of faithlessness, fear, and anxiety. We must run to God through Jesus our High Priest to petition him in prayer. “He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:3–4, ESV).

Fourthly, true disciples of Jesus will be tried and tested so that their faith may grow stronger.

Why did Jesus allow his disciples to experience this harrowing ordeal? Why did he take them out onto the sea? Why did he sleep for a time and allow the storm to rage? Why did he permit his disciples to experience this fear and sense this despair? It was to teach them to trust in him. It was to strengthen their faith. And so he spoke to them, saying, “Where is your faith?” 

Certainly, these disciples of Jesus would look back upon this storm to remember the Lord’s faithfulness when experiencing storms of a different kind later in life. And know this, they experienced many storms after Christ ascended. Most of them would be killed for their faith. Peter, tradition tells us, was crucified. John was badly persecuted and exiled for a time. But it was, among other things, this experience with Jesus on the Sea of Galilee that prepared them to face the trials and tribulations of life, and even the great trial of death, with faith and courage. They learned that Christ would always be with him. They learned that Christ had the power to calm the fierceness of God’s wrath and to save them from destruction, and so they were strengthened to walk with him faithfully until the end.  

Those who have walked with Christ for many years will know what this is like. Seasoned believers are able to look back upon earlier storms and remember God’s faithfulness. In this way, they are strengthened to face the present storm, whatever it may be.

Fifthly, and lastly, the faith of Jesus’ disciples will grow stronger as they grow in their understanding of who Christ is and what he has done for them. 

In a way, we return now to the first half of this sermon. Jesus did not take his disciples out on the sea and into the storm to merely test their faith. He took them out on the sea and allowed them to experience this storm to show forth his power and his glory. So then, it was not only the weakness of the disciples’ faith that was exposed, but the power, glory, and greatness of the object of their faith was also put on display. If they had remained on the land, and if the storm had never arisen, the power and glory of Christ would have never been displayed.  

Our faith will grow stronger as we grow in our understanding of who Christ is and what he has done for us. We see this principle play out in the Gospel of Luke and in Acts. The disciples do mature. They grow from being weak in faith to strong and bold in faith. But how does this growth take place? They grow as their understanding of Christ grows. 

 “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” That, my friends, is a very importaint question. These disciples of Jesus would be prompted to ask this same question in different ways many times before Christ ascended into heaven. Even if it is not recorded for us, they must have wondered, who then is this whom the demons obey? Who then is this who has power over sickness? Who then is this who has power over death? 

The disciples of Jesus grew in their faith, not through natural self-improvement, the development of discipline, or by willpower alone, but by growing in their knowledge of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Who then is this? He is the Messiah, the eternal Word of God incarnate. He is our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. Indeed, he is worthy of all our trust and of all our praise. 

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Prayer