Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day,
December 26, 2010
Luke 8:22-25
“The Mystery of Miracles”

22 Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.
 23 But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.
 24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.
 25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

Introduction  We have studied the interaction between God and mankind.  We are created in His image, but He is deity and we are human, He is infinite and we are finite, He is supernatural and we are natural.  So many things about Him and His ways are a mystery to us, which we cannot understand unless they are revealed and we are enabled to “get it.”

One such thing is the idea of miracles.  There is the natural and the supernatural.  Some “supernatural” things are just superstitions, explainable by science.  Others are fakes, like magic tricks.  But some are real cases where supernatural power comes into the natural world to cause a different outcome than would have been expected. 

When He was on Earth, Jesus was a miracle worker.  Even today, He enables ordinary people in ordinary life situations, to sometimes do miracles.

I. Ordinary Life Situations - ordinary, natural, normal

A. Endeavor  v22

22 Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.

B. Elements of nature - wind and waves

C. Human limitations - people cannot breathe underwater

D. Jeopardy  v23

 23 But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.

II. Extraordinary Possibilities

A. God the Creator

B. God of the miraculous in history

C. God who controls nature

 24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.

D. No worries

 23 But as they sailed He fell asleep.

E. God loves us, shares miracles with us

 25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

So we have ordinary life situations, and extraordinary possibilities

III. The Choice of Faith or Fear

A. Faith for protection from elements in our endeavors v25a 

 25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

Extreme faith - sleep.

B. Fear

 23 But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.
 24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”
 25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid

IV. From Fear Toward Faith  v24a

 24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”

V. The Victory of Faith  v24-25

 24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.
 25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

A. Jesus’ faith

B. Jesus graciously teaches faith

C. How did He do it? 

1. He rebuked the physical elements which were out of control

2. He commanded the winds and the waves

3. They obeyed Him

4. How did He do it?

a. Angels? 

b. Word?  Wind and waves recognize Him as Creator, His authority

VI. Go ahead and try this at home

 25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

Conclusion  In our ordinary life situations we realize we have extraordinary possibilities, and a choice to make, of faith or fear.  Go get Jesus, trust Him, see the victory of faith in a life of miracles.

John 15:5 Without Me, you can do nothing. 

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Application to My Life