Day Three Matthew 8:23-27 and Luke 8:22-25
23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. 27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!” – Matthew 8:23-27 (NLT)
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. 23 As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!” – Luke 8:22-25 (NLT)
Discover
1. What words do Matthew and Luke use to describe the storm in their accounts of the same story?
2. How does each author portray Jesus?
3. Compare the responses of the disciples to the calming of the storm in each account.
Respond
Matthew, Mark, and Luke each chose to include an account of Jesus calming the storm using their own words and unique styles. What’s clear in all three, however, is Jesus as 100% God and 100% man. Deity and humanity are mysteriously and miraculously wrapped together in the person of Christ, and the story of Christmas is exactly that. God didn’t send a younger, hipper version of Himself to rescue humanity. He sent Himself, wrapped in flesh as a baby boy. Today, ask God to allow the truth of that to cause the same reverence, awe, and fear we see in the disciples in this story.
For Families with Kids at Home:
Ask your kids about a scary or intimidating situation they’ve faced. Read the verses above to them and encourage them that if Jesus could calm a storm with just His words, then Jesus is more powerful than anything we could face! And because Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit, He’s with us wherever we go!