"And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
Today's lesson is, in many ways, one of the most profound that can be taken from the New Testament.
It tells us how Jesus, when speaking to the masses, used parables (analogies) to explain who He was, and how His ministry would build and spread His Church, (The kingdom of God) He deliberately confused and confounded the majority of those who were listening. Jesus wanted only those who would be His Apostles to understand the full meaning of His ministry.
The latter portion of this lesson is the profound part, to the storm that so violently tossed their ship, Jesus simply said, "Peace, be still." and the weather obeyed Him. That action is profound enough on its own, but the next thing He said is more profound and awe inspiring. Jesus, talking to His Apostles, said, "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" meaning that any one of those Apostles could have, at any time, made the same "peace, be still," command and the wind and sea would have obeyed them.
This is profound to me because Jesus made the same promise of power to all of us who will place enough faith in Him. If we only had enough faith, we too could command the earth, winds and seas, "verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matt. 17:20 in part)
Other than the assurance of eternal salvation of the soul, there is no greater nor more profound promise than this.~
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