Lukas 8,22-25 – Love for Asia

Jesus Calms a Storm
22 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.
23 As they sailed, He fell asleep. A windstorm came down on the lake, and the boat began filling with water, and they were in danger.
24 They went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” He awoke, rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”

Hello everyone, I am Kiki. The Chinese name of our second phase of the program is “读经大讲堂”, and the English name is “Bible Study.”
We will adopt a relaxed and enjoyable learning style to take you into a new world of learning. Each time I will give a personal summary and analysis from the perspective of a learner, and then Sister Ingrid will help me with in-depth learning and discussion with everyone.
I hope this interesting and interactive process can bring a new learning experience to you all.
The following is my interview with Sister Ingrid on related issues. Today is the nineteenth lecture on the Gospel of Luke.
Everyone is welcome to leave a comment for discussion!

2. My Summary of the Nineteenth Study of Luke

Well, everybody! First, here is my personal study summary.
One day Jesus and His disciples climbed into a boat to cross a lake. While they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. Suddenly a fierce storm blew up, waves crashed over the boat, and the disciples feared they would drown.
They woke Jesus, shouting, “Master, we’re going to drown!” Jesus stood, spoke sharply to the wind and waves, and instantly the sea became completely calm. Then He asked them, “Where is your faith?”
The disciples were amazed and whispered, “Who is this man, that even the wind and the water obey Him?”

Now let Sister Ingrid give a further summary.

3. Sister’s Comment on My Study Summary

Hello. The first thing I notice is that they got into a boat. They left the shore, where they could walk safely and firmly, and went into a small boat on the water, exposed to all kinds of weather conditions.

Unfortunately, a storm came, and they were afraid—even though Jesus was with them in the boat.

As disciples of Jesus in the same boat, they had the authority to rebuke the storm too, but they were so afraid that they decided it was better to wake Jesus so He could handle the situation.

Jesus is faithful. He calmed the storm, then told the disciples they could also have calmed it by the power of their faith.

First, He solved the problem; then He corrected them.

Q&A Section (Based on the Nineteenth Study in Luke)

Can you think of a “storm” in your life where you needed faith?
When I gave up my job as a programmer, I had problems with my back and eyes. I left my secure job, planning to enroll at a university to become a teacher. I thought I could use my computer science knowledge to teach in schools.
I had everything prepared—a room in the university town, a part-time job application, and more.
The day before I was to move, I received a letter saying I was not accepted because I was missing one point on my high school degree.
To understand what had happened, I fasted. That evening, even though it was late, the HR manager of the part-time job called and invited me to an interview.
I got the job, and I did not lose my enrollment at the distant university.
So I worked part-time and studied part-time at home. It wasn’t the exact solution I had planned, but it was good.

Why did the disciples wake Jesus during the storm?
Because they feared for their lives and had no faith. They did not believe they could pray to God the Father themselves, or that their boat would not sink as long as Jesus was in it.

How did the storm put the boat in danger?
The boat was filling with water, and since most of the disciples were fishermen, they knew there was real danger.

What did Jesus do when the disciples woke Him?
First, He helped them; then He corrected them by saying they did not have enough faith.

How did the sea change after Jesus spoke to it?
It became completely calm.

Why did Jesus ask, “Where is your faith?”
Because many problems in life can be solved by faith.

What surprised the disciples after the storm stopped?
They were surprised that Jesus had the power to command the wind and the waves.

What does this story teach us about Jesus’ power?
He has power over all nature. He created nature, so He is Master over it.

How might you feel if you were in the boat during that storm?
I would have been afraid too.

Why is faith important when we face scary or dangerous situations?
The water can symbolize a situation in our life where we have left our place of safety and are walking into the unknown.
Often, people in such situations ask friends to pray and intercede for them—and that is totally fine, because the Bible commands us to carry each other’s burdens.
But sometimes it is enough when only Jesus and I know about the problem, because other disciples cannot calm my storm. Jesus, and my faith in Him, will rescue me—and that is something I can rely on.