In Luke 8:22–25, Jesus calms a storm while the disciples panic, leaving them in awe and asking, “Who is this, that even the winds and waves obey him?” That’s the heart of the story—not just the calm after the chaos, but the question of who Jesus really is. Some of us grew up seeing God mainly as mighty and holy, while others saw him mostly as close and tender—but the truth is, he’s both. He’s the Lord of creation who commands the seas, and he’s also the God who walks beside us in love. Our response, like Kierkegaard said, is “fear and trembling”—awe that such a powerful God would draw so near. Today, remember both sides: pray bold prayers because he’s able, and rest in his calm because he’s with you.

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Good morning, friends. It’s a blessing to be with you this Thursday as we continue our journey through the Gospel of Luke. I hope your week has been a good one, and that today brings you joy and peace.

Today we’re reading from Luke 8:22–25:

One day, he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and while they were sailing, he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger.

They went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”

This story appears in all the gospels. In fact, I’ll be preaching from Matthew’s version next week. Matthew and Luke give us slightly different details—Matthew emphasizes Jesus calming the disciples before calming the storm, while Luke shows Jesus calming the storm first. But the central point is the same: the disciples are left asking, “Who is this?”

That’s really the heart of the story. Yes, Jesus calms the storm—and we all love that moment of peace after the chaos. But the real message is in the disciples’ question: Who is this man, that even the winds and waves obey him? Both Matthew and Luke want us to see the overwhelming authority and power of Jesus.

Now, our response to that truth often depends on how we’ve been shaped in our faith.

• If you grew up with a picture of God as mighty, sovereign, and powerful, you may need to be reminded that he is also near—that he whispers to you in love, that he knows the number of hairs on your head.
• On the other hand, if your faith experience focused mostly on the closeness of God—his intimacy, his friendship—you may need to be reminded of his majesty, his holiness, and his power as the Creator of all things.

For me, I grew up with the image of a mighty, holy God, so I love those reminders of his tenderness and personal love. But the truth is—we need both. He is personal, yes. But he is also the Lord of creation.

That’s why the disciples’ question matters: “Who is this?”
Who is this God who commands the storms? Who is this God who created heaven and earth, who hems in the seas, who spoke light into being? And yet—who is also the same God who comes close to us, who touches Isaiah’s lips in the temple, who walks with us as a friend?

The great philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, in Fear and Trembling, said that our response to such a God is “fear and trembling.” Not fear in the sense of terror, but in awe—recognizing that this God is holy, and we dare not take him lightly.

And here’s the wonder: the more we understand God’s greatness, the more amazing it is that he comes to us so personally. The God who makes mountains quake and seas roar is the same God who knows your heart, your worries, and your prayers.

So today—don’t forget how big God is. Don’t be afraid to pray bold prayers, to ask for the impossible, because our God is able. And at the same time, don’t forget how near he is—that the mighty God of creation walks beside you in love.

The disciples asked, Who is this? The answer is simple and yet profound: He is God.

Thanks for spending time in Luke with me today. Tomorrow, we’ll move into one of my very favorite passages, where we’ll see another powerful picture of Jesus’ greatness. Until then—may you rest in the calm that only he can bring.