Author's Note: All previous volumes of this series are here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." "Part Two," featuring volumes 57-113, was published in December 2022.
Greetings, loyal readers and newcomers. Thank you for spending time with the Word of God over this Labor Day weekend. Today’s study was prompted by a Daily Mail news report headlined: “Mysterious 'Jesus boat' found in Sea of Galilee linked to walking on water miracle.”
Immediately, I wondered if that was the same boat my husband and I saw on a tour of Israel in March 2019. After checking my photos, I confirmed we had seen it.
To clarify, this “Jesus boat” is unconfirmed as the boat mentioned in the story recorded in the three gospels Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, and John 6:16-21.
Carbon dated to the first century, this rudimentary watercraft was likely the standard for fishing on the Sea of Galilee. The article quotes an archaeologist: “Over 600 boats were working on this lake at the time.”
However, it COULD BE, since the Daily Mail’s photo caption shows a rainbow and reads: “The boat was discovered in 1986 during a severe drought that had exposed the Sea of Galilee’s shoreline near Magdala. As the excavation began, rain returned, and a striking rainbow appeared over the site.”
Additionally, the boat’s size is large enough to accommodate Jesus and the 12 disciples.
Here are my takeaways from this report. First, whether you believe this “Jesus boat” is THE ONE or not is immaterial to the gospel passages we discuss today and next week.
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Second, biblical archaeology always confirms or is compatible with the Word. Look for new technologies and changing climate conditions to facilitate the discovery of ancient artifacts and ruins, which keep the Bible alive, relevant, and real. For extra credit, read Vols. 259: “Biblical Archaeology - Evidence for God’s Word” and Vol. 126: “What the Bible Says About Burnt Offerings.”
Now let’s begin a two-week journey on a “Jesus boat.” This week, we will read “Jesus Calms the Storm,” recorded in Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25. Next week, we will study the passage most closely associated with the boat we saw at the Yigal Alon Centre Museum on the edge of the Sea of Galilee.
What follows is Mark’s version of “Jesus Calms the Storm” displayed in full:
“Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’
“Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” (Mark 4:35-41).
Let’s discuss the headline, “Why ‘Jesus Calms the Storm’ applies to your life.”
This passage highlights the importance of “faith in action” during moments of fear and life-threatening danger. Understandably, the disciples were afraid of drowning. Since they knew Jesus and His love for them, it was natural for them to wake Him and ask for help. However, it was unreasonable to accuse Him of not caring about their safety when they said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” The disciples had seen Him perform miracles, but at that critical moment, they were overwhelmed by fear and lost their trust in Jesus.
Those circumstances are common for people overwhelmed by difficult or life-threatening events. During the “storms of life,” it’s easy to feel that God has abandoned us. Believers in Jesus will face storms, but we must trust that He is with us and will carry us through to the other side. This kind of faith isn’t easy to hold onto during a crisis, but the Lord knows that and tests our faith.
When Jesus was awakened, he immediately calmed the wind and waves. Then asked, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” because Jesus saw they were still terrified. And they were terrified after seeing Jesus reveal his divine authority, showing them that, just as God the Father, He also has power over nature.
That part of the story is essential to our lives because having faith in Christ means knowing that He is God with power over nature and us. He can calm the storms in our lives through our faith in Him.
When the disciples asked, “Who is this?” they were confronted with Jesus as a human, their rabbi and friend, along with the realization that He is Almighty God, who commands nature with His voice. Thus, their question is understandable, as they are trying to process what they have just seen.
A key question in this story is Jesus asking them, “Do you still have no faith?” Jesus is challenging his disciples and us. That is a painful question. As believers, we have seen Jesus work miracles in our lives, but then we slip back into unbelief when things don’t go our way or amid a storm.
I deal with those feelings all the time and think of my faith as a pendulum. I have great faith, but then when things don't go my way, the pendulum swings away, and I start to doubt. Then something happens to make me realize that God is there, and the pendulum swings back. Therefore, I am constantly reminding myself to trust God, HE IS IN CHARGE. I am not.
Jesus is always in “the boat,” but sometimes He is sleeping. Our faith can wake Him to deliver us on His timetable, not ours, and however He deems it appropriate, or not at all. In that case, faith is believing that He has something better that awaits us in the future.
Many years ago, I read that Satan’s favorite tools in his evil toolbox are doubt and fear. Both paralyze us, and that's why they are so effective. This passage illustrates both.
See you next week for the “Jesus boat” story that might be the one pictured. Amen!
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer. Her book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible" reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. "Part 2,” reprints Vols. 57 –113. Order it here.
She is also the Executive Director of the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit. You can join our new effort in Orlando, Florida. Contact: <Myraadams01@gmail.com>
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