Matthew 8:23-27

23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.

24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.

25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

into a boat (v.23) — to cross the Sea of Galilee from Capernaum to Gadara

tempest (v.24) — A storm so violent that it panicked the disciples, some of whom were fishermen.

Although the Sea of Galilee is but a small body, yet because of its position deep down between high hills, it is subject to sudden storms of great intensity, caused by shifting air-strata and heavy winds coming through the passes with tremendous velocity. These storms come up very quickly and often with scarcely any warning. — Ironside, page 96.

why are you fearful? (v.26) — He had told them to get in the boat and why — to get to the other side (v.18), not to die.

O you of little faith (v.26) — Christ used this phrase four times to His disciples: 1) Matthew 6:30 — in the Sermon on the Mount regarding worry; 2) Matthew 8:26 — in response to their fear; 3) Matthew 14:31 — to Peter when he doubted when walking on the water; 4) Matthew 16:8 — when his disciples were reasoning among themselves how to feed the 5,000.

rebuked (v.26) — He said “Peace, be muzzled” (Mark 4:39)

This event is also recorded in Mark 4:35-41 and Luke 8:22-25.

I think Morgan’s application has some merit. We tend to think that happiness is the default mode in this life and that troubles are the exception, and as soon as troubles arise, we focus on them and fight to be rid of them.

Sometimes it is better not to wake Jesus when we are troubled. There is a higher faith; a faith that waits for deliverance out of a storm; a faith that says, If he is here, it is all right; let the waves roll, let the waters beat. — Morgan, page 88.