Insights would be good...

[Guest HIS girl]

I am doing a study with one other person and I would like folks to share any insights they may have of Matthew 8 v 23 - 27: where Jesus rebuked the wind and waves after having been woken up from sleep in the boat while the waves swept overboard frightening the disciples.

Thanks guys.

[Guest HIS girl]

A couple of questions that have arisen from it -

Q. Should the disciples have bailed the water out considering it was a storm and storms don't last?

Q. Why was Jesus fast asleep if water was pouring into the boat?

Q. Hadn't these disciples (the fisherman by trade) been through storms before and what would they normally have done if Jesus hadn't been in the boat?

Q. Did they simply "give up" because Jesus was in the boat and left it "all up to Him"?

Thanks.

[Blien]

Hope this helps...

Q. Should the disciples have bailed the water out considering it was a storm and storms don't last?

I saw an archeological dig which had a completely preserved boat from that Era. It was very small so yes, they should have bailed out water.

Q. Why was Jesus fast asleep if water was pouring into the boat?

Remember that even though Jesus is God 100% He is also was 100% like us too. Earlier in the chapter He was healing many and probably needed to recuperate for His next work. It sounds like He was so physically tired.

Q. Hadn't these disciples (the fisherman by trade) been through storms before and what would they normally have done if Jesus hadn't been in the boat?

I have heard that the Sea of Galilee, can get as violent as the open Ocean waters. They can have really high waves and so the fishermen would have taken precaution not to go out at certain times. In another story later on in Matthew Jesus forces the disciples to go into the boat when they clearly did not want to. (Matthew 14:22-33. ).. here is what it says "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd."

Q. Did they simply "give up" because Jesus was in the boat and left it "all up to Him"?

It sounds like it, I'm not sure however.

[nebula]

Q. Should the disciples have bailed the water out considering it was a storm and storms don't last?

Q. Hadn't these disciples (the fisherman by trade) been through storms before and what would they normally have done if Jesus hadn't been in the boat?

The impression I get from the account is that the storm was so bad, even the seasoned fishermen were at their witts end. And if the water if filling the boat faster than you can bail it out, even if they were bailing out the water it wouldn't have changed the danger they were in.

Q. Why was Jesus fast asleep if water was pouring into the boat?

I guess His body just could have been that tired.

Read Jesus' reaction again, only imagine it as this being someone who was forced awake from a deep sleep. One could almost picture Him being a little groggy and grumpy in how He responded. I wonder if after rebuking the disciples He went straight back to sleep?

Q. Did they simply "give up" because Jesus was in the boat and left it "all up to Him"?

I see it as they knew they were in serious trouble, and waking up Jesus was an act of desperation.

[Blien]

Yeah I get the same image as Nebula, that He [Jesus] sounded like a man who just got out of a deep sleep lol

Here is the boat I was talking about..

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jesus-boat

http://www.jesusboat.com/boat.php

It's not actually THE Jesus boat, but a boat from that era

[EricH]

It is actually interesting to compare this storm with the storm that hit Johah's boat. There are key similarities and differences that make it very interesting

[Blien]

It is actually interesting to compare this storm with the storm that hit Johah's boat. There are key similarities and differences that make it very interesting

wow EricH.. I'm going to read Jonah again, you make a good point!!

[Miss Elly]

A couple of questions that have arisen from it -

Q. Should the disciples have bailed the water out considering it was a storm and storms don't last?

Q. Why was Jesus fast asleep if water was pouring into the boat?

Q. Hadn't these disciples (the fisherman by trade) been through storms before and what would they normally have done if Jesus hadn't been in the boat?

Q. Did they simply "give up" because Jesus was in the boat and left it "all up to Him"?

Thanks.

I would imagine the disciples did all they could before they woke Jesus up. The fact that it was a miracle for the glory of God is all I need to know. Not the could have, should have, what ifs, whys, etc.

[Hunterpoet]

Well...sometime back we look at this in bible study.

What I remember off hand is that the Lord was a bit upset with their unbelief, or lack of faith.

Ok..your in a boat in a really really bad storm, however. In that boat with you is the Son of God...do you have any real need of worry??

[Guest HIS girl]

Thanks for the insights posted so far -

Blien, loved the pics of the Jesus boat. Wasn't very deep was it??

Some tidbits that we (friend and I) have received from the study so far......

Jesus was not happy with their faith when He was woken from His sleep and told of the situation - Matthew 8 v 26: He said to them, "Why are you afraid? So little trust you have!" CJB

Why would Jesus scold them when the storm was seemingly dangerous to the point that the disciples were certain they would sink and drown?

Obviously the disciples were looking at the physical aspects of the storm - the very real fact that water was coming into the boat and too much water too soon would sink it. Then on the other hand, you have the Son of Man sound asleep whilst this storm is happening.

What came to us was - Jesus didn't automatically start out to change things - eg: miracle at the wedding of Cana....Jesus wasn't going to do anything about the water/wine situation - He only responded because Mary (mother) approached Him about it, then a miracle happened. We see this type of thing numerous times when Jesus would be walking streets and roads and wasn't going to stop for people but only did when they appraoched Him about a situation/need.

We thought along the lines that, ok Jesus calmed the storm because they were in complete fear and were beside themselves. He ticked them off for their lack of faith/trust because here he was, the Son of God in the boat with them and they, knowing the power that He had, they were STILL frightened.

So we mulled this over and thought, well storms will come and go in ones life - but they don't last BUT they can be at a point where you are feeling swamped and drowning. If Jesus is the foundation you have built your "house" on - you will withstand the storms because He is there with you. But while in this situation, you have to do what is necessary in a storm - batten down the hatches and bail that water out of the boat (don't throw your hands up in dispair and give up ) - all the while knowing that you CAN do this because Jesus is with you during the storm - You WON'T drown. No matter how bad the elements of life look, we are afloat simply because of Jesus - BUT we must continue with head down and feet moving forward, walk through that storm until it passes and we face sunshine once again.

We came to the conclusion that Jesus was not happy with the disciples lack of faith because, 1. fear is the opposite of faith and 2. the "storm" was survivable - because of His presence was with them.