IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Jesus Calms Storms

Date: Apr. 22, 2021

Passage

Matthew 8:23-34

Jesus Calms a Storm

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Jesus Heals Two Men with Demons

28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Matthew 8:26b

26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

1. Calming the storm outside (23-27)

When a sudden unexpected storm threatened the disciples in their boat, they could not help but cry out to Jesus to save them. Storms of life come up suddenly, seeming to threaten everything we built up in life. While we cannot control what happens, we can cry out to God for help. Jesus hears us. If we are listening carefully enough, we may hear Jesus' voice: 'Why are you so afraid?' Jesus' words give us faith in his power and love to overcome any storm.

2. Calming the storm inside (28-34)

On the other side of the lake, Jesus was met by two demon possessed men. We do not know how these demons happened to come inside them, but they found themselves rejecting society and living among the tombs. Jesus did not avoid these two seemingly hopeless men. Only Jesus had the compassion and power to break the hold that these demons had on them and restore their humanity. Their freed lives were worth more than the herd of pigs, but the people of the town could not see it like Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, you can calm the storms in me by your love and power.

One Word: Calming the storm by faith

Daily Bread

We Are Your Sheep, Lord

Psalm 79:1-13

Key Verse: 79:13

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

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