Luke 8:25
"Where is your faith?" He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!"
Where is your faith?
This phrase, spoken by Jesus, is a direct challenge to the disciples' trust and belief in Him. The Greek word for "faith" here is "πίστις" (pistis), which implies a deep conviction and trust in God. In the context of this passage, Jesus had just calmed a storm, demonstrating His divine authority over nature. The question "Where is your faith?" serves as a reminder that faith is not just a passive belief but an active trust in God's power and presence, even in the midst of life's storms. Historically, this moment is pivotal as it reveals the disciples' struggle to fully comprehend Jesus' divine nature, despite witnessing His miracles.

He asked
The act of asking here is significant. Jesus often used questions to provoke thought and self-reflection among His followers. The Greek verb "ἐρωτάω" (erōtaō) is used, which can mean to ask, inquire, or request. This method of teaching through questioning is consistent with rabbinic traditions of the time, where questions were used to engage students and encourage deeper understanding. Jesus' question is not just about the immediate situation but is a broader inquiry into the disciples' spiritual state and their understanding of His identity.

In fear and amazement
The disciples' reaction of "fear and amazement" is telling. The Greek words "φόβος" (phobos) and "θαμβός" (thambos) capture a complex emotional response. "Phobos" can mean fear, terror, or reverence, while "thambos" suggests astonishment or wonder. This dual reaction indicates that the disciples were beginning to grasp the magnitude of Jesus' power and authority. Historically, such reactions were common when individuals encountered the divine or miraculous, reflecting a deep-seated awe and reverence for God's intervention in the world.

They asked one another
The disciples' discussion among themselves highlights their communal journey of faith. The Greek phrase "πρὸς ἀλλήλους" (pros allēlous) suggests a dialogue or conversation, indicating that they were processing their experiences together. This communal aspect is important in the early Christian context, where believers often relied on one another for support and understanding. It underscores the importance of fellowship and shared faith in the Christian journey.

Who is this?
This question is central to the Gospel narrative. The Greek "τίς ἄρα οὗτός ἐστιν" (tis ara houtos estin) reflects a growing curiosity and realization among the disciples about Jesus' true identity. Throughout the Gospels, this question is repeatedly asked, pointing to the mystery and revelation of Jesus as both fully human and fully divine. Historically, this question echoes the messianic expectations of the Jewish people, who were awaiting a savior. The disciples' question is a step towards recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God.

He commands even the winds and the water
This phrase emphasizes Jesus' authority over creation. The Greek word "ἐπιτάσσει" (epitassei) means to command or order, indicating a direct exercise of power. In the ancient Near Eastern context, control over the natural elements was often attributed to deities, so Jesus' ability to command the winds and water would have been seen as a clear sign of His divine authority. This moment is a testament to Jesus' sovereignty and a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies that speak of God's control over nature.

And they obey Him
The obedience of the winds and water to Jesus' command is a powerful demonstration of His divine authority. The Greek word "ὑπακούουσιν" (hypakouousin) means to listen or obey, suggesting a willing submission to His will. This obedience is not just a natural phenomenon but a theological statement about Jesus' lordship over all creation. In the broader biblical narrative, this moment foreshadows the ultimate submission of all things to Christ, as described in passages like Philippians 2:10-11. It serves as a reminder of the power and authority of Jesus, encouraging believers to trust and submit to His will in their own lives.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, demonstrating His divine authority over nature.

2. The Disciples
Followers of Jesus who are with Him in the boat, experiencing fear and amazement at His power.

3. The Sea of Galilee
The body of water where this event takes place, known for sudden and violent storms.

4. The Storm
A natural event that serves as the backdrop for Jesus' demonstration of His divine power.

5. The Boat
The vessel carrying Jesus and His disciples, symbolizing the church or individual believers in the midst of life's storms.
Teaching Points
Faith in the Midst of Storms
Jesus' question, "Where is your faith?" challenges us to trust Him even when circumstances seem overwhelming.

Recognizing Jesus' Authority
The disciples' amazement at Jesus' command over nature invites us to reflect on His divine authority in our lives.

The Power of Jesus' Word
Just as Jesus calmed the storm with His word, His teachings and promises can bring peace to our troubled hearts.

Fear vs. Faith
The disciples' fear contrasts with the faith Jesus calls them to have, reminding us to choose faith over fear.

Jesus' Presence in Our Lives
The presence of Jesus in the boat symbolizes His constant presence with us, offering assurance and peace.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jesus' question, "Where is your faith?" challenge you in your current life circumstances?

2. In what ways can you recognize and submit to Jesus' authority in your daily life?

3. How do the parallel accounts in Mark and Matthew enhance your understanding of this event?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced fear. How can the example of Jesus calming the storm encourage you to respond with faith?

5. How can you apply the truth of Jesus' presence and power in your life when facing personal "storms"?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 107:29
This verse speaks of God calming the storm, highlighting Jesus' divine nature as He performs a similar miracle.

Mark 4:35-41 and Matthew 8:23-27
Parallel accounts of this event, providing additional context and details.

Hebrews 11:1
Discusses faith as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see, relevant to Jesus' question about the disciples' faith.

Exodus 14:21-22
The parting of the Red Sea, another demonstration of God's control over nature.

Colossians 1:16-17
Affirms Christ's authority over all creation, reinforcing His power over the natural world.
Fear RebukedMackay.Luke 8:25
Where is Your Faith?J. Vaughan, M. A.Luke 8:25
Where is Your Faith?Archdeacon Farrar.Luke 8:25
Christ for Our CaptainM. G. Pearse.Luke 8:22-25
Christ Rebuking the ElementsJ. Vaughan, M. A.Luke 8:22-25
Christ the Lord of NatureW. Clarkson Luke 8:22-25
God's Answers to Man's Prayers for HelpBp. W. C. Magee.Luke 8:22-25
Setting SailT. C. Finlayson.Luke 8:22-25
The Miracle on the LakeJames Foote, M. A.Luke 8:22-25
The Miraculous Stilling of the StormBp. W. C. Magee.Luke 8:22-25
The Saviour in the ShipBp. F. D. Huntington.Luke 8:22-25
The Soothing Voice of JesusRichilde.Luke 8:22-25
The Storm on the LakeF. Whitfield.Luke 8:22-25
A Group of MiraclesR.M. Edga Luke 8:22-56
People
Chuza, Herod, Jair, Jairus, James, Jesus, Joanna, John, Mary, Peter, Susanna
Places
Galilee, Gerasa
Topics
Afraid, Amazed, Amazement, Astonished, Command, Commandeth, Commands, Disciples, Faith, Fear, Fearful, Filled, Gives, Manner, Marveled, Marvelled, Obey, Orders, Overcame, Saying, Says, Terror, Waves, Wind, Winds, Wonder, Wondered
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Luke 8:25

     2351   Christ, miracles
     5764   attitudes, negative to God
     5784   amazement
     5815   confusion
     5844   emotions
     5962   surprises
     8026   faith, growth in
     8754   fear

Luke 8:22-25

     1416   miracles, nature of
     5934   restraint

Luke 8:22-26

     5517   seafaring

Luke 8:22-33

     5300   drowning

Luke 8:23-25

     8744   faithlessness, as disobedience

Luke 8:24-25

     2018   Christ, divinity
     8405   commands, in NT

Library
June 28 Evening
The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits.--I TIM. 4:1. Take heed therefore how ye hear.--Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.--Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 24 Morning
My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.--LUKE 8:21. Both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren: saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.--In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.--Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.--Blessed are they
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

Seed among Thorns
'And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.'--Luke viii. 14. No sensible sower would cast his seed among growing thorn-bushes, and we must necessarily understand that the description in this verse is not meant to give us the picture of a field in which these were actually growing, but rather of one in which they had been grubbed up, and so preparation been made
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Christ to Jairus
'When Jesus heard it, He answered, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.' --LUKE viii. 60. The calm leisureliness of conscious power shines out very brilliantly from this story of the raising of Jairus's daughter. The father had come to Jesus, in an agony of impatience, and besought Him to heal his child, who lay 'at the point of death.' Not a moment was to be lost. Our Lord sets out with him, but on the road pauses to attend to another sufferer, the woman who laid her wasted
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Ministry of Women
'And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3. And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto Him of their substance.' --LUKE viii. 2,3. The Evangelist Luke has preserved for us several incidents in our Lord's life in which women play a prominent part. It would not, I think, be difficult to bring that fact into connection with the main characteristics of his Gospel,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

One Seed and Diverse Soils
'And when much people were gathered together, and were come to Him out of every city, He spake by a parable: 5. A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. 8. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

A Miracle Within a Miracle
'And a woman, having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44. Came behind Him, and touched the border of His garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45. And Jesus said, Who touched Me? When all denied, Peter, and they that were with Him, said, Master, the multitude throng Thee and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me? 46. And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched Me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Sower and the Seed.
"A sower went out to sow his seed."--ST. LUKE viii. 5. It is significant that the first of the Saviour's parables is the parable of the sower, that the first thing to which He likens His own work is that of the sower of seed, the first lesson He has to impress upon us by any kind of comparison is that the word of God is a seed sown in our hearts, a something which contains in it the germ of a new life. It is no less significant that He returns so often to this same kind of comparison for the purpose
John Percival—Sermons at Rugby

Our Relations to the Departed
"She is not dead, but sleepeth." Luke viii.52 A Great peculiarity of the Christian religion is its transforming or transmuting power. I speak not now of the regeneration which accomplishes in the individual soul, but of the change it works upon things without. It applies the touchstone to every fact of existence, and exposes its real value. Looking through the lens of spiritual observation, it throws the realities of life into a reverse perspective from that which is seen by the sensual eye. Objects
E. H. Chapin—The Crown of Thorns

Further Journeying About Galilee.
^C Luke VIII. 1-3. ^c 1 And it came to pass soon afterwards [ i. e.,. soon after his visit to the Pharisee], that he went about through cities and villages [thus making a thorough circuit of the region of Galilee], preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God [John had preached repentance as a preparation for the kingdom; but Jesus now appears to have preached the kingdom itself, which was indeed to bring good tidings--Rom. xiv. 17 ], and with him the twelve [We here get a glimpse
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Ministry of Love, the Blasphemy of Hatred, and the Mistakes of Earthly Affection - the Return to Capernaum - Healing of the Demonised Dumb -
HOWEVER interesting and important to follow the steps of our Lord on His journey through Galilee, and to group in their order the notices of it in the Gospels, the task seems almost hopeless. In truth, since none of the Evangelists attempted - should we not say, ventured - to write a Life' of the Christ, any strictly historical arrangement lay outside their purpose. Their point of view was that of the internal, rather than the external development of this history. And so events, kindred in purpose,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

There are Some Things of this Sort Even of Our Saviour in the Gospel...
27. There are some things of this sort even of our Saviour in the Gospel, because the Lord of the Prophets deigned to be Himself also a Prophet. Such are those where, concerning the woman which had an issue of blood, He said, "Who touched Me?" [2431] and of Lazarus. "Where have ye laid him?" [2432] He asked, namely, as if not knowing that which in any wise He knew. And He did on this account feign that He knew not, that He might signify somewhat else by that His seeming ignorance: and since this
St. Augustine—Against Lying

The Right to what I Consider a Normal Standard of Living
"Have we no right to eat and to drink?"--I Corinthians 9:4 The white-haired mission secretary looked at me quizzically. "Well," he said, "it's all in your point of view. We find that these days in the tropics people may look upon the missionary's American refrigerator as a normal and necessary thing; but the cheap print curtains hanging at his windows may be to them unjustifiable extravagance!" * * * * * My mind goes back to a simple missionary home in China, with a cheap
Mabel Williamson—Have We No Rights?

In Troubles --
The king had before this time noticed a spot of immense military importance on the Seine between Rouen and Paris, the rock of Andelys. Indeed he had once tossed three Frenchmen from the rock. It was, or might be, the key to Normandy on the French side, and he feared lest Philip should seize upon it and use it against him. Consequently he pounced upon it, and began to fortify it at lavish expense. Archbishop Walter of Rouen, and late of Lincoln, in whose ecclesiastical patrimony it lay, was furious,
Charles L. Marson—Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln

Faith a New and Comprehensive Sense.

John Newton—Olney Hymns

Sundry Sharp Reproofs
This doctrine draws up a charge against several sorts: 1 Those that think themselves good Christians, yet have not learned this art of holy mourning. Luther calls mourning a rare herb'. Men have tears to shed for other things, but have none to spare for their sins. There are many murmurers, but few mourners. Most are like the stony ground which lacked moisture' (Luke 8:6). We have many cry out of hard times, but they are not sensible of hard hearts. Hot and dry is the worst temper of the body. Sure
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Thankfulness for Mercies Received, a Necessary Duty
Numberless marks does man bear in his soul, that he is fallen and estranged from God; but nothing gives a greater proof thereof, than that backwardness, which every one finds within himself, to the duty of praise and thanksgiving. When God placed the first man in paradise, his soul no doubt was so filled with a sense of the riches of the divine love, that he was continually employing that breath of life, which the Almighty had not long before breathed into him, in blessing and magnifying that all-bountiful,
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield

The General Observations are These.
There are in these relations proper circumstances of time and place, and the names and characters of persons. Of the miracle on Jairus's daughter, the time and place are sufficiently specified by St. Mark and St. Luke. It was soon after his crossing the sea of Galilee, after Jesus had cured the men possessed with devils in the country of the Gergesenes, Mark v. 21. And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him, and he was nigh unto the sea. And behold
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles

R. W. Begins his Fifth Discourse, P. 1, 2. With Saying, that He is Now
to take into examination the three miracles of Jesus's raising the dead, viz. of Jairus's daughter, Matth. ix. Mark. v. Luke viii. of the widow of Naim's son, Luke vii. and of Lazarus, John xi: the literal stories of which, he says, he shall shew to consist of absurdities, improbabilities, and incredibilities, in order to the mystical interpretation of them. I have read over his examination of these miracles, and am still of opinion, that the histories of them are credible. I. I will therefore first
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles

The Second Miracle at Cana.
^D John IV. 46-54. ^d 46 He came therefore again [that is, in consequence of the welcome which awaited him] Unto Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine [see page 114]. And there was a certain nobleman [literally, "king's man:" a word which Josephus uses to designate a soldier, courtier, or officer of the king. He was doubtless an officer of Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee. That it was Chuzas (Luke viii. 3) or Manaen (Acts xiii. 1) is mere conjecture], whose son was sick at Capernaum. [The
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Ancient Versions of the Old Testament.
In the present chapter only those versions of the Old Testament are noticed which were made independently of the New. Versions of the whole Bible, made in the interest of Christianity, are considered in the following part. I. THE GREEK VERSION CALLED THE SEPTUAGINT. 1. This is worthy of special notice as the oldest existing version of the holy Scriptures, or any part of them, in any language; and also as the version which exerted a very large influence on the language and style of the New Testament;
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

General Remarks on the History of Missions in this Age.
THE operations of Christianity are always radically the same, because they flow from its essential character, and its relations to human nature; yet it makes some difference whether it is received amongst nations to whom it was previously quite unknown, either plunged in barbarism or endowed with a certain degree of civilization, proceeding from some other form of religion, or whether it attaches itself to an already existing Christian tradition. In the latter case, it will indeed have to combat
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

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