Miracle #16. Calming the stormy sea.

1. The Sixteenth Miracle of Messiah
2. Opening-up questions and clues
3. Safe and secure in His Presence
4. Messiah’s rule over nature
5. “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”
6. The disciples were amazed and wondered…
7. “Who is this?”

The Sixteenth Miracle of Messiah:

Mattai 8:18-27

{Classical & Mishnaic Hebrew}

וַיְהִי כִּרְאוֹת יֵשׁוּעַ הֲמוֹן עַם רַב סְבִיבֹתָיו וַיְצַו לַעֲבֹר מִשָׁם אֶל־עֵבֶר הַיָּם׃ וַיִּגַּשׁ אֵלָיו אַחַד הַסּוֹפְרִים וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו רַבִּי אֵלְכָה אַחֲרֶיךָ אֶל כָּל־אֲשֶׁר תֵּלֵךְ׃ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו יֵשׁוּעַ לַשׂוּעָלִים יֵשׁ־חוֹרִים וּלְעוֹף הַשָׁמַיִם קִנִּים וּבֶן־הָאָדָם אֵין לוֹ מָקוֹם לְהַנִּיחַ אֶת־רֹאשׁוֹ׃ וְאִישׁ אַחֵר מִן־הַתַּלְמִידִים אָמַר אֵלָיו אֲדֹנִי הַנִּיחָה־לִּי וְאֵלֵךְ בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה לִקְבֹּר אֶת־אָבִי׃ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו יֵשׁוּעַ לֵךְ אַחֲרָי וְהַנַּח לַמֵּתִים לִקְבֹּר אֶת־מֵתֵיהֶם׃ וַיֵּרֶד אֶל־הָאֳנִיָּה וַיֵּרְדוּ אִתּוֹ תַּלְמִידָיו׃ וְהִנֵּה סַעַר גָּדוֹל הָיָה בַיָּם עַד־אֲשֶׁר כִּסּוּ הַגַּלִּים אֶת־הָאֳנִיָּה וְהוּא יָשֵׁן׃ וַיִּגְּשׁוּ אֵלָיו תַּלְמִידָיו וַיָּעִירוּ אוֹתוֹ לֵאמֹר הוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ אֲדֹנֵינוּ אָבָדְנוּ׃ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם קְטַנֵּי אֱמוּנָה מַה חֲרֵדִים אַתֶּם וַיָּקָם וַיִּגְעַר בָּרוּחוֹת וּבַיָּם וַתְּהִי דְּמָמָה רַבָּה׃ וַיִּתְמְהוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיֹּאמְרוּ מִי אֵפוֹא הוּא אֲשֶׁר גַּם־הָרוּחוֹת וְהַיָּם אֵלָיו יִשְׁמָעוּן׃

{Modern Hebrew}

כְּשֶׁרָאָה יֵשׁוּעַ הֲמוֹן עַם רַב מִסְּבִיבוֹ צִוָּה לַעֲבֹר אֶל עֵבֶר הַיָּם. נִגַּשׁ אֵלָיו אַחַד הַסּוֹפְרִים וְאָמַר לוֹ: רַבִּי, אֵלֵךְ אַחֲרֶיךָ אֶל כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁתֵּלֵךְ. עָנָה לוֹ יֵשׁוּעַ: לַשּׁוּעָלִים יֵשׁ מְאוּרוֹת וּלְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם קִנִּים, אַךְ בֶּן־הָאָדָם אֵין לוֹ מָקוֹם לְהַנִּיחַ אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ. אִישׁ אַחֵר מִן הַתַּלְמִידִים אָמַר אֵלָיו: אֲדוֹנִי, הַרְשֵׁה לִי תְּחִלָּה לָלֶכֶת לִקְבֹּר אֶת אָבִי. אָמַר לוֹ יֵשׁוּעַ: לֵךְ אַחֲרַי וְהַנַּח לַמֵּתִים לִקְבֹּר אֶת מֵתֵיהֶם. הוּא נִכְנַס לַסִּירָה וְתַלְמִידָיו נִכְנְסוּ אַחֲרָיו. וְהִנֵּה סְעָרָה גְּדוֹלָה הִתְחוֹלְלָה בַּיָּם עַד אֲשֶׁר כִּסּוּ הַגַּלִּים אֶת הַסִּירָה, אַךְ הוּא הָיָה יָשֵׁן. נִגְּשׁוּ אֵלָיו וְהֵעִירוּ אוֹתוֹ בְּאָמְרָם: אֲדוֹנֵנוּ, הַצֵּל אוֹתָנוּ, אֲנַחְנוּ טוֹבְעִים! אָמַר לָהֶם: לָמָה אַתֶּם פּוֹחֲדִים, קְטַנֵּי אֱמוּנָה?! הוּא קָם וְגָעַר בָּרוּחוֹת וּבַיָּם וְנִשְׂתָּרְרָה דְּמָמָה עֲמֻקָּה. תָּמְהוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים וְאָמְרוּ: מִי הוּא זֶה שֶׁגַּם הָרוּחוֹת וְהַיָּם נִשְׁמָעִים לוֹ? פ

כשראה ישוע המון עם רב מסביבו צוה לעבר אל עבר הים. נגש אליו אחד הסופרים ואמר לו: רבי, אלך אחריך אל כל מקום שתלך. ענה לו ישוע: לשועלים יש מאורות ולעוף השמים קנים, אך בן-האדם אין לו מקום להניח את ראשו. איש אחר מן התלמידים אמר אליו: אדוני, הרשה לי תחלה ללכת לקבר את אבי. אמר לו ישוע: לך אחרי והנח למתים לקבר את מתיהם. הוא נכנס לסירה ותלמידיו נכנסו אחריו. והנה סערה גדולה התחוללה בים עד אשר כסו הגלים את הסירה, אך הוא היה ישן. נגשו אליו והעירו אותו באמרם: אדוננו, הצל אותנו, אנחנו טובעים! אמר להם: למה אתם פוחדים, קטני אמונה?! הוא קם וגער ברוחות ובים ונשתררה דממה עמקה. תמהו האנשים ואמרו: מי הוא זה שגם הרוחות והים נשמעים לו? פ

When Yeshua saw the large crowd of people around him, he gave the instruction to cross from there to the other side of the sea. One of the scholars approached him and said, “Rabbi, let me follow you wherever you go.” Yeshua said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man does not have a place to rest his head.” A different man from among the disciples said to him, “Master, permit me, and I will go first to bury my father.” Yeshua said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury the dead.” He went down to the boat, and his disciples went down with him. There was a great storm on the sea, to the point where the waves would cover the boat, but he was sleeping. His disciples approached him and woke him, saying, “Save us, our master. We are perishing!” He said to them, “Small ones in faith, why are you afraid?” He got up, reprimanded the winds and the sea, and there was great silence. The men were amazed and said, “Who is this that even the winds and the sea obey (hear) him?”

Markos 4:35-41

וַיְהִי בַּיוֹם הַהוּא לִפְנוֹת עָרֶב וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם נַעְבְּרָה אֶל־עֵבֶר הַיָּם׃ וַיַּנִּיחוּ אֶת־הֲמוֹן הָעָם וַיִּקְחוּ אֹתוֹ בָּאֳנִיָּה אֲשֶׁר הָיָה בָּהּ וָאֳנִיּוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת הָלְכוּ אַחֲרָיו׃ וַתָּקָם רוּחַ־סְעָרָה גְדוֹלָה וַיִּשְּׁטְפוּ הַגַּלִּים אֶל־תּוֹך הָאֳנִיָּה עַד אֲשֶׁר־כִּמְעַט מָלֵאָה׃ וְהוּא יָשֵׁן עַל־הַכֶּסֶת בַּאֲחֹרֵי הָאֳנִיָּה וַיָּעִירוּ אוֹתוֹ וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו רַבִּי הֲלֹא תִדְאַג לָנוּ וַאֲנַחְנוּ אֹבְדִים׃ וַיֵּעוֹר וַיִּגְעַר בָּרוּחַ וַיּאֹמֶר אֶל־הַיָּם הַס וָדֹם וַתָּשָׁךְ הָרוּחַ וַתְּהִי דְמָמָה רַבָּה׃ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם לָמָּה חֲרֵדִים אַתֶּם אֵיךְ חֲסַרְתֶּם אֱמוּנָה׃ וַיִּירְאוּ יִרְאָה גְדוֹלָה וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵהוּ מִי אֵפוֹא הוּא אֲשֶׁר גַּם הָרוּחַ וְגַם הַיָּם שֹׁמְעִים לוֹ׃

בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, לְעֵת עֶרֶב, אָמַר לָהֶם: בּוֹאוּ נַעֲבֹר לַצַּד הַשֵּׁנִי. הֵם עָזְבוּ אֶת הֶהָמוֹן וְלָקְחוּ אֶת יֵשׁוּעַ בַּסִּירָה אֲשֶׁר יָשַׁב בָּהּ. גַּם סִירוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת הָיוּ אִתּוֹ. וְהִנֵּה הִתְחוֹלְלָה רוּחַ־סְעָרָה גְּדוֹלָה וְהַגַּלִּים שָׁטְפוּ אֶת הַסִּירָה עַד שֶׁנִּתְמַלְּאָה. אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הָיָה יֵשׁוּעַ יָשֵׁן עַל כַּר בְּיַרְכְּתֵי הַסִּירָה. הֵעִירוּ אוֹתוֹ וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ: רַבִּי, הַאִם לֹא אִכְפַּת לְךָ שֶׁאֲנַחְנוּ טוֹבְעִים? הוּא הִתְעוֹרֵר, גָּעַר בָּרוּחַ וְאָמַר אֶל הַיָּם: דֹּם! הֵרָגַע! אָז פָּסְקָה הָרוּחַ וְנִשְׂתָּרְרָה דְּמָמָה עֲמֻקָּה. אָמַר לָהֶם: מַדּוּעַ אַתֶּם פּוֹחֲדִים כָּל כָּךְ? אֵיךְ זֶה שֶׁאֵין לָכֶם אֱמוּנָה? הֵם יָרְאוּ יִרְאָה גְּדוֹלָה וְאָמְרוּ זֶה אֶל זֶה: אִם כֵּן מִי הוּא זֶה שֶׁגַּם הָרוּחַ וְהַיָּם נִשְׁמָעִים לוֹ? פ

באותו היום, לעת ערב, אמר להם: בואו נעבר לצד השני. הם עזבו את ההמון ולקחו את ישוע בסירה אשר ישב בה. גם סירות אחרות היו אתו. והנה התחוללה רוח-סערה גדולה והגלים שטפו את הסירה עד שנתמלאה. אותה שעה היה ישוע ישן על כר בירכתי הסירה. העירו אותו ואמרו לו: רבי, האם לא אכפת לך שאנחנו טובעים? הוא התעורר, גער ברוח ואמר אל הים: דום! הרגע! אז פסקה הרוח ונשתררה דממה עמקה. אמר להם: מדוע אתם פוחדים כל כך? איך זה שאין לכם אמונה? הם יראו יראה גדולה ואמרו זה אל זה: אם כן מי הוא זה שגם הרוח והים נשמעים לו? פ

On that day at the turning of the evening he (the Messiah) said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the sea.” They left the crowd of people and took him in the boat that he was in, but other boats followed him. A great, stormy wind arose, and the waves were flooding inside the boat to the point where it was almost full. He was asleep on the cushion in the stern of the boat, so they woke him up and said to him, “Rabbi are you not worried about us? We are perishing!” He woke up and reprimanded the wind, and he said to the sea, “Hush and be silent!” The wind calmed down, and there was a great silence. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Why are you lacking faith?” They feared with a great fear and said to each other, “Who is he, then, that both the wind and the sea listen to him?”

Lukas 8:22-25

וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם וַיֵּרֶד אֶל־אֳנִיָּה הוּא וְתַלְמִידָיו וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם נַעְבְּרָה אֶל־עֵבֶר הַיָּם וַיָּשׁוּטוּ הַיָּמָּה׃ וַיְהִי בְּלֶכְתָּם בָּאֳנִיָּה וַיִּשְׁכַּב וַיִּישָׁן וְרוּחַ סְעָרָה יָרְדָה עַל־הַיָּם וַיִּשְׁטְפוּ עֲלֵיהֶם הַמַּיִם וַיִּהְיוּ בְסַכָּנָה׃ וַיִּגְּשׁוּ וַיָּעִירוּ אוֹתוֹ וַיֹּאמְרוּ מוֹרֶה מוֹרֶה אָבָדְנוּ וַיֵּעוֹר וַיִּגְעַר בָּרוּחַ וּבְמִשְׁבְּרֵי־יָם וַיִּשְׁתְּקוּ וַתְּהִי דְמָמָה׃ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם אַיֵּה אֱמוּנַתְכֶם וַיִּירְאוּ וַיִּתְמְהוּ וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵהוּ מִי אֵפוֹא הוּא הַמְצַוֶּה גַּם־אֶת־הָרוּחוֹת וְאֶת־הַמַּיִם וְשָׁמְעוּ לוֹ׃

בְּאַחַד הַיָּמִים יָרַד לְסִירָה יַחַד עִם תַּלְמִידָיו. אָמַר לָהֶם: בּוֹאוּ נַעֲבֹר לְצִדּוֹ הַשֵּׁנִי שֶׁל הָאֲגָם. אָז הִפְלִיגוּ מִשָּׁם. כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁטוּ הוּא נִרְדַּם, וְהִנֵּה רוּחַ סְעָרָה יָרְדָה עַל הָאֲגָם וְהַסִּירָה נִתְמַלְּאָה מַיִם עַד כְּדֵי כָּךְ שֶׁהָיוּ בְּסַכָּנָה. הֵם נִגְּשׁוּ אֵלָיו וְהֵעִירוּהוּ בְּאָמְרָם, אֲדוֹנֵנוּ, אֲדוֹנֵנוּ, אֲנַחְנוּ טוֹבְעִים! הוּא הִתְעוֹרֵר וְגָעַר בָּרוּחַ וּבַגַּלִּים הַזּוֹעֲפִים. הַלָּלוּ שָׁכְכוּ וְנִשְׂתָּרְרָה דְּמָמָה. שָׁאַל אוֹתָם: אֵיפֹה אֱמוּנַתְכֶם? בִּהְיוֹתָם אֲחוּזֵי יִרְאָה וּפְלִיאָה אָמְרוּ זֶה לָזֶה: וּבְכֵן מִי הוּא זֶה אֲשֶׁר מְצַוֶּה עַל הָרוּחַ וְעַל הַמַּיִם וְהֵם נִשְׁמָעִים לוֹ! פ

באחד הימים ירד לסירה יחד עם תלמידיו. אמר להם: בואו נעבר לצדו השני של האגם. אז הפליגו משם. כאשר שטו הוא נרדם, והנה רוח סערה ירדה על האגם והסירה נתמלאה מים עד כדי כך שהיו בסכנה. הם נגשו אליו והעירוהו באמרם, אדוננו, אדוננו, אנחנו טובעים! הוא התעורר וגער ברוח ובגלים הזועפים. הללו שככו ונשתררה דממה. שאל אותם: איפה אמונתכם? בהיותם אחוזי יראה ופליאה אמרו זה לזה: ובכן מי הוא זה אשר מצוה על הרוח ועל המים והם נשמעים לו! פ

One day, he (the Messiah) and His disciples went down into a boat. He said to them, “Let us cross to the other side of the sea.” So they rowed out into the sea. As they went along in the boat, he lay down and slept. Then a storm wind descended upon the sea and the water flooded over them, and they were in danger. They approached and woke him and said, “Teacher, teacher! We are perishing” He awoke and admonished the wind and the crashing waves of the sea. They were silent and they became calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed and said to one another, “Who is He, then, who commands even the winds and the water and they hear him?”

Opening-up questions and clues:

The following opening-up questions and clues are provided as an introduction to this study on the 16^th Miracle of Messiah:

1.  Look at the symbolism of the above miracle narrative:

2.   What other miracle has occurred at this location, at the Sea of Galilee?

3.  Who alone is able to control the great forces of the winds and the seas? Read 1, 2, 3, 4.

4.  Why was the sleep of the Messiah in the storm sweet and peaceful?

Safe and secure in His Presence:

בְּשָׁלֹום יַחְדָּו אֶשְׁכְּבָה וְאִישָׁן כִּֽי־אַתָּה ה’ לְבָדָד לָבֶטַח תֹּושִׁיבֵֽנִי׃

In shalom I will both (i.e. “at the same time”) lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O Adonai, make me to dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

אִם־תִּשְׁכַּב לֹֽא־תִפְחָד וְשָׁכַבְתָּ וְֽעָרְבָה שְׁנָתֶֽךָ׃

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24)

If Adonai through His Messiah rescued his Jewish disciples from the storm can He not rescue us from the storms of our everyday lives?

Marital conflict? Difficulties at work? Financial problems? Illness? Loss of a loved one? What kind of storm are you in right now? Are you trusting Adonai (the LORD our God) that He will get you through the storm? Are you resting on the Shalom of Abba Avinu that makes us to dwell (תֹּושִׁיבֵֽנִי-Hophal, to make to dwell, to sit) in security and  safety? With a confidant mind (בֶּטַח)?

Messiah’s rule over nature:

Mashiach HaElohim (the Messiah of God) exercises complete authority over nature.

This was clearly demonstrated when Rabbi Yeshua and his disciples encountered a sudden and fierce storm while transiting across the Sea of Galilee. The sea to this day has a reputation for sudden storms that sweep across it. The high hills and narrow valleys that surround the lake act as wind tunnels. Exhausted from a full day of teaching, toward the evening, the Messiah was fast asleep on a cushion in the stern of the boat. While he slept suddenly a violent, furious squall came over the lake. When the disciples became convinced that their boat was about to sink, for the waves were spilling over into the boat and the boat was taking on water, they awakened him; reproaching him for his seeming indifference to their plight.

“You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

In response Rabbeinu Yshua rebuked his panic-stricken disciples. “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He rebuked (commanded) the wind and said to the waves, “Be silent and remain so!”

Immediately there was an absolute calm.

The disciples who were professional fisherman were amazed. They had experienced storms that had suddenly ceased. Yet, this was different. When a storm ceased naturally, the wind would pass first and then the waves would continue to chop for awhile. In this case, when the winds ceased the waves immediately became an absolute calm.

The disciples were amazed and wondered…

The disciples were amazed and they wondered what kind of person was this that even the wind and the waves obeyed him. They were amazed at the supernatural character of the man whose rebuke could bring nature into a perfect state of shalom (peace). The Messiah rebuked his disciples for being afraid in a crisis. Despite their continuous and privileged exposure to the teaching and miracles of the Messiah these Jewish men were not yet aware that the Presence, power and authority of the Holy One was present in M’shicho (His Messiah). This lack of perception and belief is what the Rabbi of rabbis was referring to when He sai:

“Do you still have no faith?”

In supernaturally stilling the storm the Messiah was claiming he was entrusted with the authority (power) over nature that belongs only to God our Father (cf. 1, 2, 3, 4.):

ה’ אֱלֹהֵי צְבָאֹות מִֽי־כָֽמֹוךָ חֲסִין יָהּ וֶאֱמֽוּנָתְךָ סְבִיבֹותֶֽיךָ׃ אַתָּה מֹושֵׁל בְּגֵאוּת הַיָּם בְּשֹׂוא גַלָּיו אַתָּה תְשַׁבְּחֵֽם׃

O Adonai Elohei Tzevaot, who is like You, O mighty Adonai?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
You rule the swelling of the sea;
When its waves rise, You still them.

יָֽסַד־אֶרֶץ עַל־מְכֹונֶיהָ בַּל־תִּמֹּוט עֹולָם וָעֶֽד׃ תְּהֹום כַּלְּבוּשׁ כִּסִּיתֹו עַל־הָרִים יַֽעַמְדוּ־מָֽיִם׃ מִן־גַּעֲרָתְךָ יְנוּסוּן מִן־קֹול רַֽעַמְךָ יֵחָפֵזֽוּן׃ יַעֲלוּ הָרִים יֵרְדוּ בְקָעֹות אֶל־מְקֹום זֶה יָסַדְתָּ לָהֶֽם׃ גְּֽבוּל־שַׂמְתָּ בַּל־יַֽעֲבֹרוּן בַּל־יְשׁוּבוּן לְכַסֹּות הָאָֽרֶץ׃

He established the earth upon its foundations,
So that it will not move out of place forever and ever.
You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
The waters were standing above the mountains.
At Your rebuke they fled,
At the sound of Your thunder they hurried away.
The mountains rose; the valleys sank down
To the place which You established for them.
You set a boundary that they may not pass over,
So that they will not return to cover the earth.

וַֽיֹּושִׁיעֵם לְמַעַן שְׁמֹו לְהֹודִיעַ אֶת־גְּבוּרָתֹֽו׃ וַיִּגְעַר בְּיַם־סוּף וַֽיֶּחֱרָב וַיֹּולִיכֵם בַּתְּהֹמֹות כַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name,
That He might make His power known.
Thus He rebuked the Sea of Reeds and it dried up,
And He led them through the deeps, as through the wilderness.

יֹורְדֵי הַיָּם בָּאֳנִיֹּות עֹשֵׂי מְלָאכָה בְּמַיִם רַבִּֽים׃ הֵמָּה רָאוּ מַעֲשֵׂי ה’ וְנִפְלְאֹותָיו בִּמְצוּלָֽה׃ וַיֹּאמֶר וַֽיַּעֲמֵד רוּחַ סְעָרָה וַתְּרֹומֵם גַּלָּֽיו׃ יַעֲלוּ שָׁמַיִם יֵרְדוּ תְהֹומֹות נַפְשָׁם בְּרָעָה תִתְמֹוגָֽג׃ יָחֹוגּוּ וְיָנוּעוּ כַּשִּׁכֹּור וְכָל־חָכְמָתָם תִּתְבַּלָּֽע׃ וַיִּצְעֲקוּ אֶל־ה’ בַּצַּר לָהֶם וּֽמִמְּצֽוּקֹתֵיהֶם יֹוצִיאֵֽם׃ יָקֵם סְעָרָה לִדְמָמָה וַיֶּחֱשׁוּ גַּלֵּיהֶֽם׃ וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ כִֽי־יִשְׁתֹּקוּ וַיַּנְחֵם אֶל־מְחֹוז חֶפְצָֽם׃ יֹודוּ לַ ה’ חַסְדֹּו וְנִפְלְאֹותָיו לִבְנֵי אָדָֽם׃ וִֽירֹמְמוּהוּ בִּקְהַל־עָם וּבְמֹושַׁב זְקֵנִים יְהַלְלֽוּהוּ׃

For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind,
Which lifted up the waves of the sea.
They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;
Their soul melted away in their misery.
They reeled and staggered like a drunken man,
And were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried to Adonai in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
He caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad because they were quiet,
So He guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to Adonai for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people,
And praise Him at the seat of the elders.
Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters;
They have seen the works of Adonai,
And His wonders in the deep.

“Who is this?”

The Father loves His son and everything is given in his hand.

In this sixteenth miracle the Messiah Rabbeinu Yeshua demonstrated his superiority over the elements of nature. He therefore proved he can calm all of the physical and spiritual storms of our lives with just two Hebrew words:

לדום! הרגע!  פ

Be silent! Calm down!

*At “the moment” (ה-רגע) the Messiah commanded the storm to (stop) “be silent” (ל-דום) it stopped and the sea instantly became calm.

It was only after the disciples witnessed the forces of nature obeying Rabbi Yeshua that they began to exercise a reverential awe toward him. It was when the Messiah calmed the stormy sea that they began to ask the question, “Who is this?” Earnestly, in fear and awe, these men realized that they had yet to fully comprehend the depths of who Rabbi Yeshua really was. “Who is this?” (cf. Ha-Davar, Ma’amar, Memra, Logos and Ha-Davar). The answer:

וְהוּא צֶלֶם שֶׁל הָאֱלֹהִים הַבִּלְתִּי נִרְאֶה, בְּכוֹר כָּל בְּרִיאָה; כִּי בּוֹ נִבְרָא כָּל אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׁמַיִם וַאֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ, מַה שֶּׁנִרְאֶה וּמַה שֶּׁבִּלְתִּי נִרְאֶה, גַּם כִּסְאוֹת וְרָשֻׁיּוֹת וְגַם מֶמְשָׁלוֹת וְשִׁלְטוֹנוֹת. הַכֹּל נִבְרָא בְּאֶמְצָעוּתוֹ וּלְמַעֲנוֹ, וְהוּא קוֹדֵם לַכֹּל וְהַכֹּל קַיָּם בּוֹ. הוּא הָרֹאשׁ שֶׁל הַגּוּף, כְּלוֹמַר, שֶׁל הַקְּהִלָּה. הוּא הָרֵאשִׁית, בְּכוֹר מִבֵּין הַמֵּתִים, לְמַעַן יִהְיֶה רִאשׁוֹן בַּכֹּל, כִּי כֵן הָיָה רָצוֹן לְשַׁכֵּן בּוֹ אֶת כָּל הַמְּלוֹא וּבְאֶמְצָעוּתוֹ לְרַצּוֹת אֶל עַצְמוֹ אֶת הַכֹּל. הֵן מַה שֶּׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם וְהֵן מַה שֶּׁבָּאָרֶץ, בְּאֶמְצָעוּתוֹ, בַּעֲשִׂיַּת שָׁלוֹם בְּדָמוֹ עַל הַצְּלָב.פ

“He (the Messiah) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn (chief: hence, the first in place, time, order, and rank) of all creation. For by him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things endure (hold together). He is also head of the body, the assembly; and he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was (God) the Father’s good pleasure for all *the fullness to dwell in him, and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made shalom by means of the blood of him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”

*At the first God the Father glorified Himself by dwelling in the Shekinah (His Glory Cloud); then God glorified Himself again by Indwelling a man, M’shicho (His Messiah). For this reason all the fullness of God “dwells in him bodily.” So it is written:

אבי, פאר את שמך!פ

“Father, glorify Your Name!”

אז יצא קול מן השמים ואמר: כבר פארתי ושוב אפאר.פ

Then a Voice came out of Heaven and said: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

Therefore, the Messiah is above all and over all. “He is before all things, and in him are all things held together.” He is supreme over all of creation. He is the head of all things (Rosh l’khol-ha’edah) and the head of the assembly (Rosh Ha’edah). He deserves to be first place over everything in our lives. Only when we give the Messiah first place in all of the areas of our lives (especially our fears) does the truth of his shalom truly become visible to those around us.

What has the Messiah promised us on on behalf of our heavenly Father? Answer: He has promised us that he will be with us through all the “storms” of our lives. Understand this: He will never leave us alone in the midst of our troubles. With his help we will overcome every challenge! (cf. Deuteronomy 31:8; Ya’akov 1:12).

ה’ הוּא הַהֹלֵךְ לְפָנֶיךָ הוּא יִהְיֶה עִמָּךְ לֹא יַרְפְּךָ וְלֹא יַֽעַזְבֶךָּ לֹא תִירָא וְלֹא תֵחָֽת׃

Adonai is the One who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ הַמַּחֲזִיק מַעֲמָד בְּנִסָּיוֹן, כִּי לְאַחַר עָמְדוֹ בַּנִּסָּיוֹן יְקַבֵּל אֶת עֲטֶרֶת הַחַיִּים אֲשֶׁר הִבְטִיחַ הָאָדוֹן לְאוֹהֲבָיו.פ

Blessed (אַשְׁרֵי-ashrei) is the man (הָאִישׁ-ha-ish) who perseveres under trial; for once he has passed the test (been approved), he will receive the crown of life (עֲטֶרֶת הַחַיִּים) which the *master (הָאָדוֹן) has promised to those who love him.

*The Messiah.

NEXT, HEALING TWO DEMONIACS…

Messiah in Yom HaBikkurim Chapter 88 >>