What does Luke 8:23 mean?
Not long before this time, Mary and Jesus' brothers had searched Jesus out, worried by what they'd heard (Mark 3:21). His ministry is so successful that the crowds often won't even let Him eat (Mark 3:20). The relentless demands of the crowds, His desire to teach all who will listen, and the lack of rest and food would have made Jesus exhausted.The Sea of Galilee is uniquely situated in a way that invites sudden and violent storms. It sits well below sea level and is surrounded by hills. These are especially steep to the east. The warm air above the lake can be quickly disturbed by colder air sweeping down from the hills, causing unpredictable storms. In the incident described here, waves are breaking over the sides of the boat, filling it with water. The professional fishermen are afraid the boat is going to fill with water and sink. It's night, and if they capsize the survivors will quickly be separated in the tall waves and fierce winds.