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Jesus Calms the
Sea
The disciples were just exhausted. All day
crowds and crowds of people had been following
Jesus, listening as he taught and watching as he
healed the sick. Now the sun was beginning to set over the Sea of
Galilee. Seeing how tired his disciples were,
Jesus said, "Let's get in a boat
and go over to the other side of the lake." It would be good for
all of them to get away from the crowds for a while.
The disciples rowed away from the shore while
Jesus went to the front of the
boat and lay down on a cushion. The
waves lapped gently against the side of the
boat, lulling Jesus into a
peaceful sleep.
But suddenly a wind began to blow dark clouds
across the sky. The waves weren't so gentle
anymore. The little boat began to pitch and rock.
The disciples began to get a little worried. But
Jesus still lay sleeping in the front of the
boat.
Then the wind grew stronger still. The spray
from the waves got the disciples all wet. This was
getting to be a bad storm! But Jesus still lay
sleeping in the front of the boat.
By the time the fishing boat reached the center
of the lake, the wind had turned into an angry
gale that whipped the waves so high they washed
right over the boat. The
disciples were terrified. They thought they might
drown. But Jesus still lay sleeping in the front
of the boat.
Finally, someone went and shook Jesus.
"Master," he cried, "don't you care if we drown?"
Jesus looked around. He listened to the howling
wind. He felt the cold, stinging spray as
waves crashed over the little
boat. He saw the fear in the faces of his
disciples. Then Jesus stood,
stretched out his arms to the wind and the
waves, and commanded: "Peace! Be still!"
And all at once the wind died down and the
waves became completely calm. Then he asked the
disciples: "Why are you so afraid? Where is your
faith?"
Jesus showed his power over the
wind and the waves that day on
the Sea of Galilee. Just as he cared for his
disciples in that little storm-tossed
boat, he will care for you.
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