The Power of His Word

Commentary by — Martin G. Collins

Matthew 8:26

(26) And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

  Mark 4:39

(39) And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

  Luke 8:24

(24) And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
King James Version

As the Son of God and with only the power of His word, Christ speaks, and the wind ceases. After the fierce storm relents, a great calm descends. This miracle over the environment contrasts the disharmony, disorder, and confusion of nature against the power, order, and peace of the Creator (Psalm 89:9).

Christ treats this storm and the sea as if they were antagonistic and rebelling forces under a dominating, unrestrained power, but His word is sufficient to calm them, just as it commands demons to leave those who are possessed. Conflicts and rebellions have their source in Satan, the author of confusion in both the physical and spiritual worlds. Physical evils in nature and among mankind are among Satan’s works that Jesus came to overcome and destroy.

When Jesus speaks to calm the storm, Mark indicates that He addresses more than a meteorological force but a being behind it. When He commands the sea, “Peace, be still!” the Greek phrase means “be muzzled or gagged,” as though the storm were a maniac that had to be bound and restrained.

The waves of the world still rage against Christ’s disciples, yet they will never be overwhelmed because Christ is in them (Psalm 46:1-3; 93:3-4).

— Martin G. Collins

To learn more, see:
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Stilling a Storm

Related Topics:
“Peace, be still!”
Conflict
Confusion
Disharmony
Miracles Of Jesus Christ: Stilling a Storm