Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God. Matthew 14:33
One of the most intense storms I have ever witnessed was a thunderstorm that rolled through one night when my brother and I were staying at the old farmhouse. As the storm approached, we went out onto the verandah to witness it. The intensity of that storm still amazes me, as I recall how we were unable to speak to each other for almost half an hour because of the tremendous level of the thunder. Lightning flashes were so brilliant and so constant that the dusk-to-dawn light in front of the house turned itself off and remained off for several minutes. As the world around us was awash with light and sound, we could not help but be filled with awe and fear. Neither of us had the audacity to order the storm to stop, and if we had, we certainly wouldn’t expect it to happen. A different storm of equal severity was ordered to stop one night on Galilee, and it stopped! No wonder the disciples worshipped.
The storm on Galilee had the disciples fearful and the added dread of what they thought was a ghost had them totally distraught, but the instant that Jesus stepped over the gunwale, all was calm. This reminds us of the time when we were saved. Hopeless and helplessness, and dread of the unknown had us at our rope’s end, until the Lord Jesus entered our life. His salvation brought us a calm and comfort that brought us to our knees in worship and thanksgiving. The storm is not forgotten; its memory gives us every day a reason to thank our Lord for saving us, and to praise and worship Him for His almighty power.
Was there a bit of doubt in any of the disciples’ minds that Jesus was the Son of God? We don’t know for sure, although their words in our text seem to suggest that. Maybe they were simply reaffirming their acceptance of His deity. But if they had doubts, they were just like us. We all have those times when we face confusion and uncertainty, but our faith is confirmed when we remember the storm and remember how the arrival of the Lord Jesus brought the storm to an instant and permanent conclusion. We are reassured and comforted, and we worship.
The day of our salvation is certainly the highlight of our entire existence. For time and for eternity, we will be made to worship and acknowledge the Son of God as we recall His calming of the storm. -Jim MacIntosh